Event Comment: Afterpiece: Not acted these 2 years. [See 2 Nov. 1770]. [N.B. a different hand appears in the Account Book for two weeks, and off and on thereafter.] Receipts: #136 1s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: [This New Comedy (by Mrs Elizabeth Griffith) seems not to have been performed this night, according to the author's Preface to her Edition of 1772. Shuter had been unattentive and absent from many rehearsals]: At length though late [in the season] a day was appointed for the representation, and on that morning Mr Shuter appeared at rehearsal, pretty much in the same state as before, and confessed himself incapable of performing his part, that night. Upon which the play was oblig'd to be further postponed, and handbills were sent about at noon, to advertise town of the disappointment....A further final day was afterwards determined on, but the audience being out of humour at their former disappointment, called Mr Shuter to account for it, on his first appearance; which threw him into such confusion, that he was not able to get the better of it, throughtout the whole performance...in the hurry of his spirits the actor not only forgot his part, the deficiency of which he endeavoured to supply with his own dialect, but also seemed to lose all idea of the character he was to perform; and made the Governor appear in a light which the author never intended: that of a mean, ridiculous buffoon. [Mrs Griffith concluded her preface by relating how her friends stood by the piece, but two or three in the gallery, when it was given out again objected and threw an apple at the chandeliers, which so perturbed the management that the play was withdrawn. She therefore published it by subscription, prefixing the names of about 440 subscribers, persons of the first quality, including James Boswell, Edmund Burke, Col. Burgoyne, the Duke of Devonshire, David Garrick, Mrs Montague, William Richardson, and a host of writers, players, and people of fashion. This list provides a pretty good roster of those who filled the boxes and part of the pit of both theatres at the time.] Paid Younger #2 2s. for the license for A Wife in the Right (Account Book). Receipts: #218 12s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By the Author of the Register Office [Reed]. By Permission and Particular Desire. The tragedy was originally written in Italian by Sg Fonidoso Dellarundo, of Civita Vecchia, and bequeathed by him, at his Decease, to an English Gentleman, with whom he had contracted an intimate Acquaintance. It was translated into English by the celebrated Mr Rone, and (considering the difference of the idiom between the two languages) it is thought equal at last, if not superior to the original (Public Advertiser)

Event Comment: Mrs Smith Patty for the first time very well & great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Paid Tallow chandler's 2nd bill #36 9s. 5d.; Mr L. Frederick for sattin, #21 9s.; Mr Weston per order Mr G. G. #7 7s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #156 2s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The Rose is a New Musical performance of Two Acts by Dr Arne a very dull insipid piece. Mr G. protested against its being perform'd its being perform'd it was hiss'd from the beginning & wd not Suffer it to be given out again, therefore Mr King went on & told them it Should not be perform'd again until it be alter'd (Hopkins Diary). [Macmillan's note from Kemble differs slightly. See critical damnation of The Rose in British Theatre Article in The London Magazine, Dec. 1772.] Book of the Entertainment to be had at the Theatre (playbill). Paid Mr Petit for men's cloaths, #8 8s. CTreasurer's Book). [Reviewer for Town and Country Magazine (Theatre, No. XLI) disappointed with the Rose: "We are told that this precious piece of stuff is the production of an Oxford student; it may be so, of this every auditor is certain, that the collegian who penned it was so entirely lost in the pursuit of some abstruse study, that he has totally forgot grammar, common sense, and even his mother tongue...it was unanimously damn'd."] Receipts: #172 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Order of the Grand Buck for the Benefit of Wignell and Davis. N.B. Places will be kept in the front boxes for the brethren of the Mcst Noble Order, who are desired to meet the Grand Buck and His Council at the Shakespeare's Head in the Great Piazza, by 5 o'clock, from thence to proceed to the theatre, and bring the ensigns of the Order with them (playbill). Charges #66 3s. 6d. Deficit to beneficiaries #4 6s. 3d. apiece, cover'd by income from tickets: Wignell #78 4s. (Box 82; Pit 290; Gallery 142); Davis #74 4s. (Box 59; Pit 281; Gallery 173) (Account Book). Receipts: #57 11s

Event Comment: Benefit for Wheeler and Jacobs. Tickets deliver'd by Kear and Mrs Marklew will be taken. Doors open by 5 o'clock. Play to begin at 6 o'clock. Paid Chorus this night #1 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #228 13s. 6d. Charges: #74 14s. Profits to beneficiaries #153 18s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Rec'd Stopages #18 3s.; Paid salary list #567 6s.; Mr Vascour and Wife, 3 days not on list #1 5s.; Mrs Hartle, 12 days not on list #2; J. French on account #5 5s. Receipts: #104 1s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for King. The Play was very Imperfect. Bon Ton is a Comedy in Two Acts. Written 15 or 16 years ago Mr G. out of Friendship for Mr King gave it him to get up for his Benefit-It was verY well perform'd & receiv'd with the highest Applause (Hopkins Diary). Mainpiece: Not acted these 16 years. [See 29 Jan. 1759.] Part of Pit laid into boxes. Paid 4 days salary, list #377 4s.; J. French on acct #5 5s.; Mr Carter in full for Music for Rival Candidates #42 (Treasurer's Book). [Rather unfavorable review of Bon Ton in Westminster Magazine for March. Ascribes it to Burgoyne, with touches form Garrick.] Receipts: #291 2s. 6d. Charges: #66 7s. 6d. Profits to King: #224 15s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Not acted these 6 years. [See 11 May 1772.] [Young gentleman identified by Hopkins MS Notes. Genest, V, 517, also calls attention to the fact that the text lists Douglas as Norval and Old Norval as Stranger (1757) or Prisoner (1768). Webster first named as Douglas on bill for 27 Feb. 1776. Review of Webster's acting appeared in the Westminster Magazine for Jan.: "His person is rather elegant; his voice is full and harmonious, his pronunciation distinct and correct, and his delivery graceful and unembarassed. Those are his excellencies, and considering it was his first performance, he seems to possess them in a degree far superior to the various candidates for theatrical fame which the managers of both houses have brought forward for some years past. On the other hand he is aukward, and in some parts unanimated. His arms are too long, or he flung them about in a very disgusting manner. He seemed to express the sense of his author much better than his own feelings. His voice though full, wants variety and modulation; not but on some occasions he managed it with infinite grace and judgement. But if this want of variety of tones and extent of voice, which is so indispensibly necessary to constitute a first rate actor, be not the effect of Nature, the Public may behold with less anxiety their decayed veterans giving nightly proofs of their increasing infirmities, and quick approaching theatrical dissolution."

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. Mrs Davies Miss Tittup--La! La! King sent a letter to $Sheridan desiring to be off his Engagement--all made up at night. Mattocks came and told me that Lacy had sold Half his Share of the Patent to Mr Langford (The Auctioneer) and Captain Thomson (Authour of the Syrens &c.). I acquainted Sheridan of it--he had not heard it before (Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #267 6s