Event Comment: Sunday the 21st about 4 in the afternoon I receiv'd an order form the Duke of Devonshire [Ld. Chamberlain] to Shut up the House 'till farther Notice, -Fryday 26th about eleven in ye Morn[in]g I receiv'd an Order from my Lord to open on the Monday following (Cross). Theatre clos'd from 20 January 1759 on account of the death of the Princess Royal of England, Countess Dowager of Holland & Governant of the United Provinces & of the Miny of the Stadholder (Winston MS 8)

Event Comment: This Day Publish'd elegantly printed in one Volume Octavo (Dedicated to the Right Hon. Garret, Lord Mornington) A General View of the Stage, by Mr Wilks, of Dublin. Printed for J. Coote. [Contains 355 pages on the stage and its usefulness in presenting tragedy, comedy, opera, farce and pantomime. Discusses the art of acting, reviews plays and parts. Chapter VI on [Dress and its propriety" suggests the growing interest in historical authenticity in costume: [The judicious propriety in 'dress' adapted with sufficient exactitude to the age, time, and circumstances of [the] character...may be call'd the last colourings and finishings of [the] picture; and in this case very much will depend on knowledge of ancient history and historical paintings." Thirty-two pages praising Garrick the actor, and discussing in some detail all the characters he had performed to that time.

Event Comment: Benefit for West, Cape, Mortimer, Roberts, Tomlinson. Tickets deliver'd for This Night will be taken. [The Occasional Epilogue is Larpent MS 197, wherein Tomlinson as the habitual stage mute finally speaks, after having acted in dumb show Prelate, Senator, Page, Soldier, Clown, and Lord, thanks the audience and expresses his desire to please.

Event Comment: At Yeates' Theatrical Booth, Greyhound Inn, during the time of Bartholomew Fair. The whole to be decorated with decency, and propriety, together with a grand Band of Music, consisting of French Horns, Violins, Trumpets, Hautboys, &c. N.B. There is a convenient Way to the theatre in Cow Lane for coaches, where Ladies and Gentlemen may have admittance without interruption. Boxes 2s. 6d. Pit 2s. First Gallery 1s. Upper 6d. [Several persons had provided booths in the Inns at Smithfield to perform Drolls and Interludes, as had been customary for many years, and were preparing to exhibit accordingly; but the City Marshall and other officers, by order of the Lord Mayor oblig'd them to take down their Shew Cloths and decamp (Morley, Memoirs of Bartholemew Fair).

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Elliott. Tickets to be had of Miss Elliott, at Mr Davis [first]; Mr Neale's [later bills], a Grocer, in Panton St., near Leicester Fields. Yesterday the Lord Mayor sent an order that Bartholemew Fair should be continued no longer on account of mischief and riots done on Monday night (Morley Memoirs of Bartholemew Fair)

Event Comment: [G$Giardini requests subscription for next year, stating that he would not have begun so early, had he not already received a License for the next Year from the Lord Chamberlain.'

Event Comment: [Forthcoming]: some new Entertainments, which will be given in the Beginning of June, at Seven O'clock in the Evening, by Permission of the Lord Chamberlain

Event Comment: Mainpiece: For the last time this Season. 33rd Night. The Lord Chamberlain's License for the Haymarket ending next Week, Mr Foote will perform every Evening

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. The great concourse of people at this theatre before the usual time of opening the doors, having been so great as to overpower the persons who were placed to receive the tickets; and as many were forced into the Theatre without an opportunity of paying for their admittance, Mr Giardini is under the greatest concern lest offence should be taken by those not being able to get in, who had sent for tickets to this office. He has given orders that those tickets shall be admitted tomorrow, as the opera of Siroe (by particular desire) is to be performed (Public Advertiser, 23 Jan.). [Pickpockets, including one former soldier, took three diamond earrings, and one hair-ornament set with brilliants, from members of the audience on this night (Daily Advertiser). Found, a new Silver Sword in the Opera House Lobby on S. 21 Jan.; the Owner, by describing the Sword-Knot, may, on applying to the Orange-Woman at the House, have it restored (Daily Advertiser, 24 Jan.).] Lost on going to the Opera a Brilliant Diamond Cross composed of nine brilliants, by Lord Conyngham. Reward of 10 Guineas for Return (Public Advertiser, 23 Jan.)

Event Comment: Benefit of Miss Mozart of eleven, and Master Mozart of seven Years of Age, Prodigies of Nature. At the Great Room, Spring Garden, St James's Park. Tickets at half a guinea each. By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. [For Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his sister. Their father had brought them to visit London in May. See hay 21 Feb. 1765. They remained through July 1765. See also Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians, III, p. 539 (3rd edn. New York, 1947).

Event Comment: At the Little Theatre in James Street near the Haymarket. Doors to be opened at 5:00. To begin exactly at 6:00. Boxes 4s. Pit 2s. 6d. Gallery 1s. 6d. to the public. After several of our Lords and Masters, the Men, have with various success made wry faces for the amusement of the town; permit a woman to attempt the arduous task of laughing the men out of their follies; declaring, however, that while she attempts the ridicule of vices peculiar to the other sex, she will by no means spare the slightest foible of her own (Public Advertiser). The Theatre is fitted up in an elegant manner, and constant fires are kept to make the house agreeably warm (Gazetteer & New Daily Advertiser). [This Lecture continued to 6 March.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Paid Mr Vincent for 3 sets of Abels Symphonies #2 5s. (Account Book). Receipts: #116 11s. (Account Book). This was the last time Mr Beard appeared on the stage. John Beard Esq Buried in the vault (at Hampton) 12 Feb. 1791. This celebrated actor was bred up at the King's Chapel, and was afterwards one of the singers at the Duke of Chandos's Chapel at Canons, where he took a part in Handel's Oratorio of Hester. His first appearance on the stage was 30 August 1737, in the character of Sir John Loverule [Devil to Pay], at Drury Lane. In 1739 he married Lady Henrietta Herbert, daughter of James, Earl of Waldegrave, and Widow of Lord Edward Herbert. Upon this event he quitted the Stage. After a few years he returned to it again, and continued to be a great favourite with the public both as an actor and a vocal performer till 1767, when he finally retired from the theatre. Lady Henrietta Beard died in 1753; and in 1759 Mr Beard married a Daughter of John Rich Esq Patentee of Covent Garden Theatre. On this occasion he removed a second time to that theatre, where he had acted from 1744 to 1748; and on the death of his father-in-law in 1761, was appointed Manager. Mr Beard, who was as much esteem'd in private life as he was admired on the stage, was for many years an Inhabitant of Hampton. See Lysons's Middlesex Parishes, p. 89 and 80. Mr Beard died 4 Feb. 1791, aged 74 years. See his Epitaph, ibidem. See Lady Beard's Epitaph in St Pancreas Churchyard (Hopkins MS Notes)

Event Comment: Benefit of the British Lying-In Hospital for Married Women in Brownlow St., By Special Licence of the Right Hon. the Lord Chamberlain...will be performed (for that night only) a new Comedy, never acted before...To avoid giving the least offence by too pressing a Solicitation, no Tickets have been sent to any of the Governours or Subscribers. But the Committee hope that this caution will induce every well-wisher to the useful Charity to exert their interest in its favors

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. The Doors By Particular Desire will be opened at Five. The Play to begin exactly at Half an Hour after Six. Played for the King of Denmark. [The anecodote is recorded by Genest, V, 237, that the king fell asleep. Annoyed, Mrs Yates, playing Alicia, drew near his Box and with violent exertion of voice cried out in her part "O Thou False Lord!" The King aroused declared he would not be married to a woman with such a voice for the world. The London Evening Post, however, for 10 Oct. states, "Mrs Yates had the greatest honour done her, after playing Jane Shore, by the King of Denmark going to her and thanking her for the pleasure she had given him." (Winston MS 10).] Receipts: #157 9s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Rec'd a message that Mrs Barry was better & she would be able to Rehearse on Monday & that Mr Barry would be able to play Lord Townly on Thursday next (Hopkins MS Memorandum Book). [See 2 Nov.

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Sga Frasi. Boxes 10s. 6d. Pit 5s. First Gallery 3s. 6d. Second Gallery 2s. To begin at Twelve. Doors open at 11:00 a.m

Event Comment: DDialogue-Epilogue, an Address to the Town-Sparks and Keen, as Lord Chief Justice Joker and his Attorney General. Benefit for Sparks. Afterpiece: By Thomas Sheridan. [The Dialogue-Epilogue is Larpent MS 309.

Event Comment: By authority from the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Davis, Griffith. To begin exactly at 6 p.m

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Froment, principal dancer at the late Harmonical Meeting, Soho. By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain

Event Comment: Prologue by Garrick; Epilogue by Cumberland, spoken by Foote and Mrs Jewell. A Comedy Never performed [by Foote]. [Audience included Dr Johnson, Mr Colman, Mr Garrick, Dr Goldsmith, Mr Macpherson, Mr Stevens, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Lord Littleton....So much applause that the audience stopped the play and required one speech repeated (Theatrical Intelligencer).

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Mrs Gardner

Event Comment: Miss Younge having been a Season in Ireland is now return'd play'd Well & was receiv'd with Great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Potter, Theatrical Review: We must beg leave to point out a small error in her playing the part of Imogen; and which was too obvious to escape notice: --When Iachimo arrives from Italy...he is introduc'd to her by Pissanio who says..."Madam, a noble gentleman of Rome comes from my Lord with letters." And Iachimo on his first appearance informs her, that "the worthy Leonatus is in safety." These circumstances ought to awaken the highest joy and transport in Imogen, instead of which, we wer sorry to observe, she dropped a solemn curtsey, and without one joyous feature said, with the utmost langor, "Thanks good sir, &c." And even after she had read the letter...she addresses herself to him again with the same indifference. Rec'd Mrs Groath, 1 yrs. Rent to Xmas last #3, and from Mr Atkins on Acct #5 5s.; Advanc'd Mr Barry, Box Office keeper #15; Ditto to Mr Watson, Box Office Keeper #10 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #164 5s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: About Ten o'clock this Morning Orders came from the Lord Chamberlain to Shut up the House on Account of the Death of the Princess Dowager of Wales who died this Morn[in]g between 6 & 7 o'clock (Hopkins Diary). [Closed through Sat., Feb. 15. No record in Treasurer's Book save "The Princes Dowager of Wales died this Morning."] Theatres clos'd on 8 Feb. and reopen'd on 17th Feb. for Augusta Princess Dowager of Wales (Winston MS 10). Paid salary list, at #83 9s. 9d. per diem, #500 18s. 6d.; Mrs Abington's Cloaths acct, #2; Mr S. French, 1 1!2 days 7s. 6d.; Mr Weston's note to Mr Holman, #8 3s. (Treasurer's Book). [The cast scheduled for mainpiece was that of 4 Feb.; for afterpiece that of 30 Dec. 1771. The dance between was to have been Sailor's Revels of 8 Oct. 1771.

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Mrs Jewell