Event Comment: BB. Johnson's Head Bill 11s. (Treasurer's Book). Drank tea with my Landlady and went with her husband and two gentlemen to see the new Play...as I did not care to refuse. Could not get into the Pit, at which I was not displeased. I fancy this comedy will take, tho it had nothing else to support it but the character of Freeport, which is played by Yates...We had a Prologue written by the author of the play and spoken by King; and an Interlude by way of Epilogue written by Garrick and spoken by King and Mrs Abington. A concerto on the Harpsichord by Burney Jr and dance. The play is taken from L'Ecosseisse of Voltaire (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #193 17s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Vernon. House Charges #67 9s. 6d. [Profit to Vernon #52 1s. 6d.] Paid Burney Jr 8 days salary #1 13s. 4d.; Chorus singers #2 10s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #119 11s. (Treasurer's Book). Fifteen minutes past 4 took my seat in the 4th row of the first Gallery at Drury Lane...Lord Ogleby was excellently played by King. Heidelberg inimitably by Mrs Clive. After the Vintage, King by desire presented the Public again with Linco's Travels, but omitted a few things spoke last night. Cupid in Daphne and Amintor by Miss Rogers...Eleven o'clock when we got out (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Music [to afterpiece] by Barthelemon. I often go to both theatres, have seen Garrick and Mrs Yates, who are the first in this theatrical sphere. The former has hitherto [i.e., this season] appeared only in comedy, --his manner, his humour, and his judgment are not to be equall'd. The adoration he meets with from the English is equal to his merit. His every motion they attend to, and every turn of his eye seems to transport them. Mrs Yates [at Covent Garden] has much tragic merit. Her low voice is very tuneful, her feeling great, her action peculiarly graceful and her figure uncommonly fine. She has more power than Mrs Dancer (at Drury Lane] and more variety than Mrs Fitz-Henry, tho' less strength and compass. On the whole she is superior to the former and inferior to the latter. Barry and Mrs Dancer are engag'd here (MS Letter from Henry Grattan to Cornet Broome giving his first impressions of living in London, 27 Oct. 1767, in Folger Library). Neville MS Diary: Went into the Pit to see As You Like It a second time. Reddish did Orlando for the 1st time. He is a pretty good player. End Act I, Hearts of Oak. The Entertainment was the new Farce called a Peep Behind the Curtain. Glib by King who is the author. The piece is not unentertaining, whatever other merit it may have. The Prologue and an Address to the Town by way of Epilogue, are spoken by Mr King, the music by Barthelemon

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. At 5 went into the Pit to see Love do Kite--like him better than Bransby in that character. End Act II a Pantomime dance by children called the Lilliputian Camp: Adjutant by Miss Rogers. J. Palmer did Bounce in Harlequin's Invasion, but not as well as Bransby. When King runs off in the Dancer's scene, Rooker comes on, jumps, King not being able, having had his thigh-bone broken 2 years ago (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: Rec'd a Message from Mr Barry that he was not able to play King Lear on Fryday, which was at the bottom of today's Bills, but that he believ'd he could play on Saturday. He did not play again till Mond. the 15, King Lear (Hopkins MS Memorandum Book)

Event Comment: Bills were put up for a Word to the Wise. As soon as the Curtain was drawn up a great hissing Mr Garrick went on the Stage Several Plays were propos'd to be done but Mr Kelly's Party would have none but a Word to the Wise & the other Party would not Consent, Mr Garrick offer'd to play himself but that would not satisfy them. at Length the House was dismiss'd about Nine O'Clock (Hopkins Diary). A Word to the Wise, Damn'd (Cross Diary). We stayed from 6 to past 10 in which time Garrick came out 6 or 7 times and talked to the audience, tho' often 5 or 6 minutes before he could be heard. Once he said the author was willing to withdraw his play, but then the party for Kelly [opposed by the Wilkesites] said he had no right to do so: they insisted on the play, the other that it should not be, etc.; the same about what play to be given out, one party calling for the new play and the other against it. When King came on, being called to speak the prologue, the hubbub forced him back, and one or two oranges struck him. The people came away in great numbers after ten and we amongst the rest, and had our money returned. Parson Horne [Horne Tooke] there but did not interfere, tho'at the bottom of it (John Baker, Diary, p. 189)