Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by John Burgoyne, based in part on Le Pere de Famille, by Denis Diderot. Prologue by the Hon. Richard Fitzpatrick; Epilogue by the author (see text)]: With a Variety of new Scenes [by Greenwood (Daily Universal Register, 16 Jan.)], Dresses, and Decorations. Public Advertiser, 4 Feb. 1786: This Day is published The Heiress (1s. 6d.). "It rarely happens that all the characters of a piece are so well sustained" (Morning Chronicle, 16 Jan.). "We never saw a play more admirably performed in all its parts" (Gazetteer, 16 Jan.). "In point of performance the comedy had every advantage" (Morning Herald, 16 Jan.). Receipts: #226 2s. (205/10; 20/7; 0/5)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Joseph Richardson, based on The Coxcomb, Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher. Prologue by Richard Tickell. Epilogue by John Burgoyne (see text)]: With new Dresses, Decorations, &c. Morning Herald, 1 May 1792: This Day is published The Fugitive (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #315 7s. 6d. (275.0.0; 39.2.0; 1.5.6)

Event Comment: Not Acted these Fourteen Years. Written by the late Mr Farquhar. N.B. In Consideration of the Diversion the French Children have given the Town, Mr Rich has engag'd their Stay in England for some time longer, and on Thursday next they will perform again. Receipts: #25 1s

Event Comment: [By Thomas Southerne.] Receipts: #93 10s. 6d. Victor, History of the Theatres, II, 152: I happened to be behind the Scenes the first Night of this Comedy, and was very sorry to find that the Audience did not take the Age, as well as the great Merit of this Author, into their Consideration, and quietly dismiss this last weak Effort to please them. When they were hissing dreadfully in fifth Act, Mr Rich, who was standing by Mr Southern, asked him, if he heard what the Audience were doifg? His Answer was, No, Sir, I am very deaf.

Event Comment: LLondon Daily Post and General Advertiser, 6 Feb., contains a letter: To Mr John Hill, on his Answer to Mr Rich's Defence

Event Comment: We hear that the play Venice Preserv'd is in Rehearsal at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden, and is to be perform'd on Friday next; and that the part of Pierre will be attempted by a Gentleman who never appear'd on any stage before (General Advertiser). [This month was published A Letter to a certain Patentee, in which the Conduct of Managers is impartially considered, and a few Periods bestowed on those darlings of the Publick, Mr G k, Mr F te, Mrs P d, &c." Addressed to Rich it is criticism of his personnel policies as manager, with side comments on his morals, and some on his performances: of his Orpheus and Eurydice, the author agrees that three flaming scenes of Hell, now left out, should have been omitted from the beginning. The Serpent, however, generally behaves himself so well, that "I have had more real pleasure in his appearance than if he had been a living one." Dislikes his replacing Ryan with Hallam, dislikes his abuse of Mrs Pritchard, criticizes his casting Hippisley as Polonius, since Polonius requires more than Hippisley can give, the latter being able to act only in the comic way.

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. No persons to be admitted behind the scenes, nor any money to be returned after the curtain is drawn up. Places for boxes to be had of Mr Page at the Stage door. To begin at 6 o'clock. [Usual notice not to be repeated.] Rec'd from Mr Delamain for balance of his acct: #30; Commenced with a deficit brought over from Day Book I: #212 13s. 6d. Paid Nightly charges; #54 11s. 2d. Bridgewater in part of his bond: #50. Rich on Acct. #5 5s. (Account Book). [The income reduced the initial deficit to #124 10s. 2d. Day Book No. I, referr'd to seems not now to be extant. See note of solvency 9 Feb. 1750]. Receipts: #167 19s. 6d. (Source for all cg receipts is Account Book. Covent Garden, British Museum Egerton 2269.

Event Comment: Paid Charlotte Lane for making a white cloth coat and blue sattin waistcoat, loop'd and bound with silver for Mr Dyer, 18s.; for sewing silk and twist, 4s. 6d. Buckram and stays, 3s.; Hair cloth and wadding, 4s. dimety sleevelining & linnen pockets, 2s. 6d.; 2 doz. & 4 rich silver wire buttons at 8d.-18s. 6d. 19 breast buttons ditto at 4d.-6s. 4d. Dimety body lining to waistcoat and cuffs at 12s.-#1 13s.; 8 yds blue allopeen at 21!2 d.-17s. 4d. 21!4 yds white serge desoy at 5s.-11s. 3d. Also for Mr Dyer for making a yellow sattin waistcoat & cuffs, and mending a coat for Ranger, 8s.; sewing silk and twist, buckran & stays 4s.; three quarters yds white shallbon and interlining at 4d.-6s. 4d. Dimety body lining to waistcoat, 3s. 4d.; Stuff to make the backs 1s. 2 and 3!4 yds Blue Sattin for ye n silver'd buttons at 1s. 6d.-4s. 6d.; 11!2 doz. breast buttons ditto at 9d.-1s. 11!2d; For new buttoning and lacing a coat for Mrs Vincent 6s.; 2 doz. and 4 coat silver'd buttons at 1s. 6d.-3s. 6d.; 11!2 doz. breast buttons at 9d.-1s. 1 1!2d.; Sewing silk &c., 1s. 6d. (MS list in Davies, Life of Garrick, II, 322)

Event Comment: Receipts: #115 9s. Paid Blackmore for the following Cloaths: A Blue velvet Coat & Breeches, with white sattin waistcoat emb. with gold, #18; a Light cloath coat & waistcoat (yellow) emb. with silver #12; A Blue & Silver stuff suit, #8; a crimson velt suit #6; a black velvet suit #4 10s.; a scarlet cloath suit trimm'd with black, #1 10s.; Paid into the hands of Mr Forrest [attorney] by John Rich #200. Mr Austin advanc'd 6d. each acting night form 29 Oct. for snuffing the candles

Event Comment: Benefit for Beard. Last time of performing till Easter Holidays. Pit and Boxes to be laid together. Several of Mr Beard's Friends being pre-engag'd for Monday 23 March, advertised for his benefit, and Mr Rich having kindly given him Saturday the 14th, he humbly hopes (the shortness of the Time not permitting him to wait on his Friends as usual) those Ladies and Gentlemen who desire to favour him with their presence, will be pleased to sen for their tickets and places, to his House next Old Slaughter's Coffee House in St Martin's Lane. Receipts: #100 2s. 6d. plus #206 15s. from tickets (Box and Pit 827) (Account Book). Charges: #63 (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. [See 11 April 1771.] Paid Mrs Rich the balance of the Benefit for the Dispensary #36 11s. 6d., and paid Garton the balance due the Theatrical Fund #143 3s. (Account Book). [The Westminster Magazine this month comments upon the revival of the pantomime and the new scene of the Pantheonv: "This thought evidently was borrowed from the ludicrous situations of the Macaroni in the pantomime of the Pigmy Revels at the other theatre; but no one in the world borrows with less ceremony than Mr Colman, especially from Mr Garrick."] Receipts: #126 2s. 6d