Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New Tragedy [by Joseph Cradock] never performed. The Music composed by Mr Fisher. Words of the Epithalamium to be had at the Theatre. Paid Palmer (wax chandler) #140; Paid Buxton & Enderby (oyl merchants) #136 3s. (Account Book). Receipts: #220 16s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: An alteration by Cumberland from his Summer's Tale (Genest, V, 321). Theatrical Review, 14 Dec.: We confess we pitied the situation of the performers, who all exerted their utmost efforts to support it in the representation; but it is not the eminent abilities of a Vernon, a Parsons, a Hunt, or a Fitzgerald, that can render a piece worthy of notice, which has nothing interesting in it, and is absolutely devoid of merit. Paid Salary list, #501 3s. 6d.; Mr S. French 6 days #1 10s.; Mrs Abington for cloaths #2; Rec'd stopages #13 18s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipt2: #128 17s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit of the New Building of the City of London Lying In Hospital, in the City Road, Old Street. Paid Weston's note to Mr Curtis #5; Mrs Bolter for 25 yds. white and silver silk, #28 15s.; 8 extra Trumpets 4 nights (13th inst. incl.) #12 (Treasurer's Book). This day published The Theatres; a poetical dissection by Sir Nicholas Nipclose (Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser). [It is packed with embittered comments on managerial policy and upon theatrical personalities.] Receipts: #228 18s. 6d. Charges: #84; Profit to Hospital #144 18s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mr Thos. French 5 days, #2; Tallow Chandler's 3rd bill, #38 5s. 9d.; Extra Flute and Hautboy 21st inst 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #203 19s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Theatrical Review, 8 Jan.: Mr Baddeley's conception of Polonius's character is just and natural, and in every respect apparently agreeable to the author's intention. It is worthy to be remarked, that through the whole, he never sports with propriety, or through wantonness, degrades, this loquacious old Courtier into a buffoon, as some we have seen have done. Receipts: #287 12s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: This Comedy was written by Mr Cumberland was very well receiv'd & great Applause but it will not be so Successful as the West Indian was (Hopkins Diary). New Scenes and Dresses for the Mainpiece. [See Theatrical Review, 20 Jan. See also account in Town and Country Magazine (Theatre No. XXXIII). Larpent MS 329 again includes scene description by the author: "Hall in Lord Abberville's Housev with a staircase seen through an arch in the Flat."] Receipts: #248 17s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Dan Malthus, Esq, 1 year's Rent to Xmas last, Land Tax #3 5s. to Mich last deducted #29 15s.; Mr Thomson (Smith &c.) #1 1s. 8d. sewer tax; #36 1s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #189 12s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Play not acted: theatres closed for death of Augusta Princess Dowager of Wales. [For comment Theatrical Review, II, p. 93 attaches to the evening of 7 Feb.]: Another additional scene was introduc'd this evening, for the first time in which Mr Dunstall, in the character of a Female Ballad Singer, entertained the audience with the following new song, relative to the tricks of the Stockwell Conjuror, which it exposes with some degree fo humour, and which has a good effect, from the manner in which it is introduc'd; but from such poetry, Heaven delvier us!@The Stockwell Wonder@Ye beaux, belles and flirts, who the Pantheon stock well,@Come and see the renown'd Pandemonium at Stockwell.@Where the house and the furniture's all in bon ton@And the pewter and crockery dance cottillon. Derry Down, down, down Derry Down.@A pickling-pan first, which exceeds all belief,@Jumps and skips to the tune of old English Roast Beef;@While a barrel so lively, it cannot be said,@That the beer that is in it can ever be dead, Derry Down &c.@ @The tables, chairs, jars, frisk about too, and soon@The pestle and warming-pan move to some tune;@The clock too chimes in, and we very well know@That a clock that don't stand must undoubtedly go, Derry down, &c.@But let not amazement your fancies perplex@The enchantment arose from th'enchanting fair sex;@A sweet girl was the cause, and girls wonders are rich in@For we all know sweet girls-are extremely bewitching.@Derry down, &c.

Event Comment: Paid 1!2 year's cleansing & Lighting for St Martin's Mich. last, #10 2s.; Tallow chandler's 5th bill #24 6s.; A bill for cotton #2 11s. 4d. (Treasurer's Book). Mr Crofts Chamont; very bad (Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #173 3s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Author's night. Afterpiece: Not acted in 2 years. [See 16 May 1769.] Theatrical Review, 29 Feb.: A tolerable representation of the ceremony of drawing the tickets, at Guildhall, is introduc'd, and the whole together is rendered a very diverting performance. Rec'd Stopages, #11 6d.; Paid salary list #500 18s. 6d.; Mrs Abington's cloaths acct, #2; Mr S. French 6 days #1 10s. (Treasurer's Book). This day publish'd (From the Subscription Quarto, a neat pocket edition) Dramatic Genius, in Five Books...Printed for T. Becket. Receipts: #252 11s.; Charges: #73 10s.; Profit to Murphy: #179 1s. (Treasuer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mr Chapman for horsekeeping [for Jubilee] #12 6s. (Treasurer's Book). [Published this month A Letter to David Garrick, Esq. on his conduct as Principal Manager and Actor at Drury Lane. Printed for S. Bladon. Accuses Garrick of controlling the press, save for two papers, and thus getting more favourbale treatment than his position and actions deserve. "You are a mere actor. You affect to feel where you do not, and imitate tones, looks and gestures, while your heart is at ease. This should heighten our opinion of you as an artist, whatever we might think of you as a man. I believe you are not generally judged of in this manner. It is not difficult to impose on the world." The author (David Williams?) deprecates Garrick's supposed handling of the actors of his company, and desires to see more Shakespeare. Suggests Garricks' acting perfection lies in the extreme, in exaggerated gesture, and sudden bursts of passion." Suggests he is getting old and should try his hand at Shylock.] Receipts: #271 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Mr Ximenes...is a very spirited and very chaste performer (Theatrical Review, 13 March). This Day Publish'd (in Quarto, price 2s.) Sanitas, Daughter to Aesculapius, to David Garrick, Esq, a Poem