Event Comment: By Command. Afterpiece: Written by Mr Garrick. Acted by children. Prince of Wales & 4 more went off very well (Cross). New Scenes, Habits and Decorations. Full prices. Prologue-writ by Garrick, spoken by Woodward; Epilogue-Lady Flimnap. [The run of seventeen performances of the afterpieces seems to contradict the judgement of the author of the Theatrical Examiner (1757, p. 89): Lilliput is, I think, the most petit, trifling, indecent, immoral, stupid parcel of rubbish, I ever met with; and I can't help judging it a scandal to the public, to suffer such a thing to pass a second night, which at best was alone calculated to please boys and girls, and fools of fashion; it may gratify them; the manager to debauch the minds of infants, by putting sentiments and glances in their breasts and eyes, that should never be taught at any years, which are sufficiently bad when naturally imbibed. The question of Gulliver, in answer to the infant lady's gross adresses, is horrid, if we allow an audience a common share of delicacy, what should we do with her? and what the devil does it mean. Finally where is the instruction, or even tolerable language, to gild the dirt over. O tempora! O mores!"] Receipts: #210 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for raising money towards cloathing Friendless and Deserted Boys for the Sea. [The Prologue and Epilogue were printed in the Public Advertiser the following day. The Prologue, written by Derrick, very Patriotic and anti-Gallic. In the Epilogue, written by Mr Lockman, Secretary of the Free British Fishery, Shuter as Boatswain followed by a "considerable number of the Boys" for Britain to maintain rule of the Waves. Finances for this evening appeared in the Public Advertiser on 24 Dec.] @Cash at the House #185 4s.@Tickets 137 16s.@#323@Deductions: @Expense of Play #84@Building on stage 3 13s. 6d.@Present to Treasurer 1 1s.@Prologue 2 2s.@Total #90 16s. 6d.