Event Comment: Receipts. #132 18s. 6d. British Chronicle: Rich has cleared #5000 besides his Expenses by the run of The Beggar's Opera (Winston MS 8)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 6 years [see 20 Dec. 1753.] Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for the General Lying-In Hospital, Duke Street. Receipts: #56, plus #142 6s. from tickets. Total #198 6s. Charges #84. Paid J. Rich on acct, #547 10s

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Henry Jones. Afterpiece: [See note under cg play this night. During this year appeared An Essay Upon the Present State of the Theatre, in France, England, and Italy, a "work absolutely necessary to be read by every lover of Theatrical Exhibitions," printed for J. Pottinger. It contains twenty-two chapters on tragedy, thirteen on comedy, opera, authors, and the art of acting. Pages 147-51 discuss the obligation of English farces to French ones.] Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Receipts: #115 3s. [The Weekly Magazine; or, Gentleman and Lady's Polite Companion (1760), pp. 61-63, deplores the lack of new plays and lack of competition for the Patent houses. "Our theatres seem now to aim at glorious opposition: Harlequin is set against Harlequin, one dancing master opposes another; the scene shifters, the singers, and even the drummers figure at each house by turns, and it is to be hoped soon that the mere actor will become useless....The Fair has scarce even pantomime probability...for instance Harlequin should never exercise his magical power without reason, and should never make escapes without being pursued, but here he conjures, leaps, runs and waggles without any apparent design; and the whole seems destitute of plot, a if contrived by a dancing master. Harlequin's Invasion at the other House is still rather more absurd." The author expected a speaking Harlequin, Pantaloon, Pierot, Mezzetin, &c. but found the customary figures banished for the substitution of a "stupid Taylor and his more stupid wife." Regrets the sinking of stage performance to such absurdity.

Event Comment: Benefit for Vaughan, Condell, Green (boxkeepers). Receipts: #18 18s. in cash. Charges #64 5s. Deficit to each #17 0s. 8d. covered by tickets: Condell #74 12s. (Boxes 132; Pit 212; Gallery 98); Vaughan #71 2s. (Boxes 151; Pit 147; Gallery 113); Green #73 13s. (Boxes 206; Pit 119; Gallery 456). Total income #238 9s. Paid Kemp #8 6s.; Paid Pattinson (Tallow chandler) 6 bills to 8 May #100 14s. 6d.; Advanced to Barrington #21. [The house is now, according to the books, showing a deficit of #634 14s. 6d.

Event Comment: Benefit for Varney. Part of Pit laid into Boxes. Tickets delivered for the 10th instant will be taken

Event Comment: By Command of the Prince of Wales

Event Comment: MMr Larpent...called upon me at Somerset House & went to Drury Lane & see Richard 3rd & Harlequin's Invasion & sat in the front Boxes. It was the first play I have seen this winter & I think I shan't be in a hurry to go again till there is better Co[mpany]y in the Boxes. It was not over till 11, went to the Turk's Head & home (Hailey, Brietzcke Diary, N & Q, Vol. 199, p. 260)

Event Comment: No Persons to be admitted behind the scenes. Boxes: #9 17s. 6d. (Account Book). Receipts: #79 19s. (Account Book)