Event Comment: The Tragedy of Hamlet having been greatly Altered by D. G. was perform'd for the first time Mr Garrick playd divinely & Merited the great Applause he receivd It is Alterd much for the better in regard to the part of Hamlet & I think the alterations very fine & proper (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble considerably briefer. See "Garrick's Long Lost Alteration of Hamlet," PMLA, Sept. 1934.] Paid Mr George Garrick on account #100; Mr Bulkley for Mr Weston, #2 8s. (Treasurer's Book). [Reviewer for Town and Country Magazine comments unfavorably on the Hamlet alteration: "How far the critics will approve these mutations we will not at present determine; but the admirers of Shakespeare must certainly be displeas'd, whenever they see his immortal works mutilated."] Receipts: #284 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: New Overture and Pieces of Music Between the Acts. Music by Barthelemon. New Scenes, Habits and Decorations. The Scenes designed by DeLoutherberg, and painted by Messrs French, Royer, and Greenwood. Books of the songs and Chorusses to be had at the Theatre. This piece is got up in a most Superb manner. The Scenery is beyond description fine -& the whole Performance tho' the most complicated upon the stage went off with uncommon Applause. Mrs Abington played finely--Mr Slingsby & Sga Hidou danc'd for the first time & were Amazingly well Rec'ed. The Ballets are very Grand (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] Rec'd stopages #17 18s.; Paid salary list #567 16s.; J. French on Acct #5 5s. (Treasurer's Book). Mainpiece: Never performed before, by John Burgoyne. [The review in the Westminster Magazine, Nov. 1774, tells the plot, and concludes: "After some superb exhibitions of transparent scenery, several characteristic airs, and elegant dances, Mr Oldworth...proclaims Maria his only daughter and gives her to Sir Harry. After a dance of Cupids, Hymen, &c....offering them eternal wreaths, the Druid of the Oaks, freed by the present powers of Beauty from that sequestered habitation to which by mystic spells he had long been doomed, appears to ratify their union, and astonishes the spectators by his magic influence, in a glorious vision of that felicity the virtues of the happy pair had so justly insured. An admirable vaudeville, and a grand dance, conclude the dramatic entertainment....Had it not appeared obvious that the whole was intended as a mere vehicle for the splendid spectacle, we do not suppose, in spite of the managers Orders and Puffs, that the author's labors would have been tolerated. The very excellent scenery, however, of the ingenious Mr Loutherbourg preserved this piece from that damnation, which as a dramatic production, it justly merited."] Receipts: #263 14s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By Particular Desire. House. So Ends the Season 56 different Plays 37 different Farces 188 Nights in all (Hopkins Diary). Paid Mr J. French on acct #5 5s.; Subscription to Chas Standen #1 1s.; Returned Mr J. Palmer part of his Benefit Balance #30; Sga Hidou in full of 500 Guineas for this season #27 5s. Receipts: #118 14s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). After season receipts and expenses (Treasurers's Book). Receipts: 29 May: Stopages #6 1s.; Watson & Mortimer #25 returned from cash advanced at beginning of season; Mrs Smith in full of debt #14. 2 June: Mr Heath's rent 1 yr to Xmas last #10; Mr Brereton's salary stopt & Benefit after money 3rd May #17 11s. 6d.; Ditto for Reddish #10; Ditto for Dibdin #24 12s. 24 June: Public Advertiser this season #50; Ditto for Gazetter #50; Mr Pope one yrs rent to Lady Day last (#1 10s. land tax deducted) #28 10s.; Harrison's rent ditto (#8 15s. deducted) #34 18s. 4d.; also deducted #2 6s. 8d. sewer's tax; Mr Parsonage 1 yrs ditto (#5 land tax and 15s. Repairs deducted) #42 5s.; Late Mr Banks 1 yrs ditto #3; Their Majesties account #80. 30 June: Mr Burges, 1 yrs rent to Xmas last (#4 4s. land tax deducted) #16 16s.; Discount on #362 1s. 3d. amount of tallow chandler's 10 Bills this season at 8%-#28 19s. 2d.; Remainder of Sinking Fund, #159 12s.; Mr Reddish's Benefit Acct #78 16s. 6d. 15 July: Sundry salary forfeits taken up by Evans #144 18s. 4d.; Music forfeits #18 4s. 6d. B. Richards forfeits #6 12s. Expenditures: 29 May: Salary List #510 6s.; Davies on note #9 9s.; Slingsby in full of #350 for this season #3 1s. 8d.; Mrs Yates ditto of #800 this season 11s. 8d.; Mr Courtney Chorus 27 nights at 5s. per night in full #6 15s.; Advanced to Everard to compleat his ticket acct #1 5s. 6d.; Mr Page on note #5 5s.; Mr Page in full of #25 this season #1 12s. 6d. 3 June: Miss Berkley on note #5 5s.; King in full of #500 salary #32 10s.; Mrs Moffat, dresser, per order D. Garrick #5 5s.; Lamash on note #6 15s.; One yrs watch & rector's rate to Lady Day last (Cov. Garden) #1 10s. 24 June: Repaid Mr Bannister his Bt balance #35 16s. 6d.; Lent Mr Baddeley per order Mr D. Garrick #20; Mr G. Garrick in full of #400, #50; Mr Smart, attending practices of Dances #10 10s.; Mr Pope's bill for Wigs #17 7s. 6d., and his bill for 64 extra nights for dressing #6 8s.; Mr D. Richards 31 weeks 1 day extra salary #31 3s. 4d.; Chaise to Hampton, Mr Evans & Becket 19s. 8d.; J. French on acct #7 7s. 30 June: Mr Vernon's balance of Acct in full #18 9s. 6d.; Mrs Chitty for coals #77; Barrow & Co. for Oil #187 6s. 6d.; Burges (bricklayer) #134 11s.; Tallow chandler's 10th and last bill #28 4s. 10d.; Chettell (timber merchant) #76 12s. 6d.; R. Palmer Jr 47 nights in Maid of Oaks and Harlequin's Jacket #4 14s.; Loss on sale of 75 Guineas & half light cash of Sinking Fund #3 9s. 6d. 5 July: Bibb (sword cutler) #3 6s.; Scott (copper laceman) #100 3s.; Powney (stationer) #5 16s.; Mrs Jones (worsted lace) &c. #8 2s.; Hopkins & Co. (ironmongers) #33 3s. 6d.; Blakes (hatter) #10 4s.; Jennings (glover & furrier) #23 7s. 6d.; Mrs Lowe@and@Co. (glaziers) #2 16s.; Mr Hadley (engine maker) #13; Thomson (smith) #14 9s.; Carter (scowrer) #9 4s.; Cubitt (tinman) #4 8s. 6d.; Hewetson & Co. (laceman) #17 2s. 6d.; Gardner (shoemaker) #3 19s. 7 July: Waller & Co. (hosiers) #24 4s. 6d.; Carpue (silk dyer) #8 10s. 6d.; Cropley (linen draper) #13 9s. 6d.; Mr Knyvett (harpsichord performer) 14 nights #5 5s.; Mrs Vaughan (haberdasher) #13 12s.; J. French on Acct #8 8s.; Cole (turner) #35 5s. 6d. 12 July: Mr Stafford (glassman) per Mr Johnston #29 5s. 6d.; Mr King & Co. for Women's cloaths, per Mr Johnston #10; Mrs Garwood (laundress) per Mr Johnston #15 15s.; Mr Palmer for Spermacetti Candles, per Mr Johnston, #172 4s. 15 July: J. French on Acct #15 15s.; J. Johnston's Music Bill, #12 11s. 10d.; Repaid Mr Reddish's Benefit Acct to Mr Burns for his creditors, #78 16s. 6d. 19 July: Lent to Miss Berkley on note #5 5s.; Mr Victor's Gratuity #30, and two weeks' extra salary #5; Mr Evans in lieu of Benefit #42 and two week's extra salary #3. Books closed and balanced paid. VIZ. Total income #33,614 16s. 6d. Total profit #389 5s. 7d. Total expense #29,719 10s. 11d. Paid Patentees #2840. To Clutterbuck #1000. Left in Victor's hands carried to next season 55 5s. 7d

Event Comment: Mrs King was put in the Bills in the following manner: Rosalind By Command by Mrs King. A Circumstance I never knew before, nor do I know by what accident it happened. I'm Sure it's a particular Honour, which her acting cannot deserve (Hopkins Diary). By Command. [Macmillan's note form Kemble comments on Hopkins' astonishment at the command procedure: "This circumstance was a contrivance of Mr Garrick's in order to mortify Mrs Yates, Mrs Abington, and Miss Younge."] Paid Mr Loutherbourg on acct. #31 13s. 4d. (Treasurer's Book). [This payment occured monthly, and was made up to #261 10s. 4d. by a final payment of #8 on 29 June 1776. No further itemization of it will be made.] Receipts: #260 12s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mrs Abington continuing ill, The Maid of the Oaks oblig'd to be deferr'd. Soon after the Farce began off off--no, more, no more, was the General Cry with much hissing--Mr King went on Two or three times to know their pleasure but they would not hear him. They Call'd for Mr Garrick he attended--but they would not hear him for a long time tho' Attempted Several times to speak--at last Somebody said hear him! hear him!--Mr G. told them that he would wait their [sic] all Night with pleasUre if they requir'd it--hear him! again was bellow'd out--he told them he waited to know their pleasure--whether they would have the Blackamoor go on or if they would have any other Farce then a great Noise ensued; as soon as they were quiet Mr G. told them that his Theatrical Life would be very Short and he should be glad to end it in peace--A man in the Pit said if you have a mind to die in Peace don't let this Farce be play'd again Mr Garrick was on and off the Stage several times nothing would content them--at Length Mr King told them that the Author had taken the Copy from the Prompter and was gone away with it.--Soon after this they withdrew So ended this troublesome Affair (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble is considerably lengthened.] Paid Mr Rowland's bill for dinners #8 9s. 3d. Receipts: #284 18s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: House (Hopkins Diary). Garrick's last time of performing Benedict . In the Farce the whole set of Clouds fell down upon the Stage but did no Damage (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly.] King was hoarse. Spleen deferr'd. Receipts: #270 10s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)