Event Comment: The Duke's Company. If the run of The Wits occurred as it is outlined above, this would presumably be the first day of Hamlet. Pepys, Diary: To the Opera, and there saw Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, done with scenes very well, but above all, Betterton did the prince's part beyond imagination. Downes (p. 21): The Tragedy of Hamlet: Hamlet being Perform'd by Mr Betterton, Sir William (having seen Mr Taylor of the Black-Fryars Company Act it, who being Instructed by the Author Mr Shakespear) taught Mr Betterton in every Particle of it; which by his exact Performance of it, gain'd him Esteem and Reputation, Superlative to all other Plays...No succeeding Tragedy for several Years got more Reputation, or Money to the Company than this

Event Comment: Benefit for Berry. Tickets at Pope's Peruke Maker Russell St. Rec'd Cash #93 3s., plus #92 11s. from tickets. Total #185 14s.; Paid Salary List #203 7s.; Norton 5 chorus #1 5s. (Treasurer's Book). To the Public, Gentlemen and Ladies, I am very sorry that a long, sharp, and severe fit of Illness prevents me the satisfaction of making my personal application to my friends as usual, against my Benefit; but finding myself every day rather worse than better, I hope you will be so kind as to take this notice, that the Stratagem, will be performed on Saturday the 21st of April; the part of Archer by Mr Garrick, for the benefit of Mr and Mrs Mills; with a Farce and all other usual Entertainments. From your most oblig'd Servant, William Mills. Mr Mills hopes his friends who intend to honour him with their company, will be so kind as to send to him for Places, Tickets, &c., or call upon him at Mr Gardner's Printing Office in Russel St., Covent Garden; or at Hobson's at the stage door (General Advertiser). Receipts: #180 (Cross); charges, #60 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Clarke. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Charges #76 6d. Profit to Clarke #40 19s. 6d., plus #110 2s. from tickets (Box 228; Pit 276; Gallery 117). Paid Hewetson & Lonsdale (lacemen) #45 8s., Hughes (linnen draper) #18 14s.; and Hughes & Bates (linnen drapers) #20 3s. Receipts: #117. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Pitt and Stoppelaer. Charges #67 15s. Deficit to each #4 6s. 9d., cover'd by income from tickets: Mrs Pitt #53 7s. (Box 48; Pit 185; Gallery 136); Stopplear, #86 5s. (Box 112; Pit 271; Gallery 176). Paid Bates for performing 4 nights in the Sorcerer to 11 Oct. last 10s., 5 nights in Henry VIII to 14 Feb. last #1 5s., and 5 nights in the Fair to 13 Nov. last 5s. Paid half year's Poor's rate for the theatre due Lady day last, #24 15s. 10d., and ditto for House in Bow Passage 17s. 9d. Receipts: #59 1s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Tickets delivered by Rudd, Ledger, Stevens, Mountford, Mrs Heard, Mrs Morris and Miss Bassan [Account-Book adds: Thompson, Jones, Bates] will be taken this Evening. Miss Brown being ill, Lionel and Clarissa [announced on playbill of 8 May] is obliged to be set aside. Receipts: #158 1s. (40.4; 1.9; tickets: -116.8)

Event Comment: Tickets delivered by Dagueville (ballet-master), Cushing, Simpkinson, Master Jackson, J. Bates and Mrs Ackman for Tuesday the 25th instant will be admitted this Night. Brunsdon's outstanding Tickets for Cymbeline will also be received

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 6 years [acted 18 Sept. 1778. Miss Scrase (see 19 Sept.) had become Mrs James Bates on 23 Sept.]. Receipts: #195 13s. 6d. (193/3/6; 2/10/0)

Event Comment: Tickets delivered by Jones, Painter, Bates, Goodwin, Atkins, Mrs Davenett, Miss Francis, Mrs Branson, Mrs Sharpe, and the Widow of the late Dr Arne will be admitted this Evening. Receipts: #229 3s. 6d. (46/11/6; 2/7/0; tickets: 180/5/0)

Event Comment: There are two Kemble playbills for this night, one announcing Douglas, and a second, which reads: "On Account of the sudden and severe Indisposition of a Principal Performer . . . Douglas is unavoidably postponed, and This Evening will be presented . . . Macbeth. Macbeth-Holman; Lady Macbeth-Mrs Bates. The rest of the Characters, with the Vocal Parts, all as usual [see 4 Oct.]."