Event Comment: [For Cross' comment, see dl.] Receipts: #203 8s. 6d. Paid Barry one third of the surplus of this night's receipt over and above #80 allow'd for the charges:-#41 2s. 10s. Paid Lambert (Scene Painter) 3 month's salary to 16 Nov. last:-#25 (Account Book). [Lee, who seems to have entered earlier on a percentage-of-Box-Receipts: basis for his salary, received only one-third of receipts above a house charge of #100.] The Tragedy of King Lear was presented on this stage; King Lear by Mr Barry, and Cordelia by Mrs Bellamy; The latter was received with universal satisfaction; but on the former's appearance, after a thundering Peal of Applause, a few misguided persons made it necessary for Mr Barry to inform the audience that it ever had been his study to contribute his utmost to the entertainment of the town, and that all reports of his having been exorbitant in his demands were injurious and totally groundless. Upon this he was desired with one general acclamation to proceed in the play. The disturbers of the public were ordered to be silent or to be turned out of the house; and this great actor proved, by the improvement he has made in this character, that excellent as he is, he is still capable of reaching new strokes of perfection; and in the conclusion of the play the applause he met with was the tribute of hearts gratefully agitated through the whole performance with a variety of passions thrown into a ferment by powers most wonderfully suited to tenderness and compassion (London Chronicle, 3-6 Dec.)

Event Comment: Receipts: #76 15s. 6d. Rec'd #27 12s. for the deficiency 21 Dec. Paid Barry his one third of the surplus above the #80 House Charges: #0. Paid Mrs Martha Bedwell, Mrs Creighton, Mr Bedwell and Mr Griffin their renter's interest, #24 12s. Gave King's Footmen and Chairmen #4 4s., the Prince of Wales's Footmen and Chairmen #2 2s., and the Princess of Wales's Footmen and Chairmen #2 2s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Receipts: #107 19s. [Additional Renters coming in at 1 share each were Frederick Hesse Esq and James Mann.] Paid Mr Blackmore a Bill for Sundrys for Dioclesian #104 14s. Paid Mr Bingner (Wigmaker) in full of Bill #13 13s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Frasi. By Mr Handel. This is the only Opportunity the Public will have of hearing this favourite Oratorio, Mr Handel being determined not to perform it this Season. Tickets: Pit and Boxes Half Guinea. First Gallery 5s. Upper Gallery 3s. 6d. Galleries to be opened half an hour after four, Pit and Boxes at Five; to begin at half an hour after Six

Event Comment: Account Book: Receipts: #224 10s. 6d. Paid Ridout 1!3 of the surplus above the House Charge of #80 (#48, 3s. 6d.). Paid Mr Finny in full of the New Building pursuant to an agreement, #131 8s. [Two New Renters came in for 1 share each: Mr Lacam and Mrs Lacam.] Paid out #25 14s. to shareholders of 43 new shares for the Oratorios: By Rent of New Shares for the Oratorios at 2 shillings per share @No. Shares No. Nights Interest@9 10 #9@1 9 #0 18s.@4 8 #3 4s.@1 7 #0 14s.@8 6 #4 16s.@1 5 #0 10s.@14 4 #5 12s.@1 3 #0 6s.@3 2 #0 12s.@1 1 #0 2s.@Total 43 58 #25 14s.

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr Berry. Tickets of Berry at Mr Pope's Peruke Maker, Russel St., Covent Garden, and of Varney at the Stage Door, where, Places may be taken. Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Legg, Bennet, and White, Mr Barry's sudden indisposition rendering him incapable of performing, Mr Ross will do his part [i.e., Essex]

Event Comment: An additional Scene by Mr Massy and Mr Skeggs

Event Comment: Benefit for the Use of the Marine Society. Towards collecting clothing and equipping the distressed (both men and boys) who are inclined to serve in the Navy. Boxes 10s. 6d. Pit 5s. First Gallery 3s. Upper Gallery 2s. Tickets to be had of Mr John Stephens, Secretary to the society, in Princes St., near the Bank; Batson's Coffee House, Cornhill; and of Mr Varney at the Stage Door, where Places may be taken. As this is the Entertainment exhibited this season for this most beneficial undertaking, by which so many distressed Persons as well as Vagabonds have been preserved and rendered useful in the highest degree, it is hoped the polite, the brave and humane, of both sexes, will shew their approbation of this design, by interesting themselves in the promotion of it

Event Comment: Benefit for Berry, who having been confined for some time past by a severe Illness, humbly hopes those Gentlemen and Ladies, who intend to favor him at his Benefit, will send for Tickets to his Lodgings at Mr Pope's, a Peruke Maker in Russel St., Covent Garden; the Star Tavern, in Coleman St.; or to Mr Varney at the Stage door where Places for the Boxes may be taken. Receipts: #130 (Cross); #104 8s. 6d. (Winston MS8)

Event Comment: Benefit for Morris, Gray, West, Mortimer, and Cape. Tickets deliver'd out by Mr Page and Mr Roberts will be taken. Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Receipts: #59 14s. Paid Dall [Scene painter] on acct of his salary, #1 10s.; Paid Austin [Dall's assistant] six days salary 12s.; Paid Besford (porter) a week's salary 12s.; Paid Mr Warring in full for assisting to examine Mr White's acct #10 10s. [Dall and Austin received the amounts recorded here each week. No further records of these payments will be made except for special variations.

Event Comment: Receipts: #142 4s. Paid Kemp for 5 nights #8; Mr Dall at work upon scenes of Oratorios, for which his salary is stopp'd from 28 Jan. 60; Paid Meares 6s.; Heaford (plaisterer) #78 10s.; Pearce (bricklayer) #79 18s.; Martin (wardrobe keeper) on acct of his salary #5. [I] was in both the Galleries both before and after the plays, met Mr Ware going into Covent Garden Gallery who said his sisters were there but I did see them (Hailey, "Brietzcke Diary," Vol. 197, p.71)

Event Comment: The Twenty-Third Day. Daily Advertiser, 18 Aug.: Last Saturday John Sterne was committed to Newgate by Justice Welch, for the Murder of Mr Matthews, an eminent Surgeon in Brook St., Holborn. [Sterne had been an usher in Mathews' Academy, was discharged, but Matthews let Sterne live in Matthews' house for a long time, then expelled him and put his belongings on the stairs. On Friday 15 Aug. Sterne got two pistols and came back to Owen's Coffee House. Here] he waited three Hours for Mr Matthews, who was gone with a Friend to the little Theatre in the Haymarket and afterwards into Company at the Pewter Platter, a publick house in Cross St. [There Sterne shot Matthews.

Event Comment: We are well informed that Mr Shuter intends to entertain the Town, at his Great Tiled Booth on the Bowling Green, Southwark, during the Time of the Fair, which begins on Thursday next, with a New Entertainment of Wit and Humour. Many wagers are depending among the Theatrical Geniuses upon the Merit and Execution of this Piece: and the Odds are it is the best that ever appeared in this Way. The knowing Ones say, those who take the Odds will be fairly taken in: for Mr Shuter will start in fine Order, to win this Plate, in such a handsome manner as shall give entire Satisfaction to all the Spectators. A sufficient number of Theatrical Racers are already entered, and two remarkable Spanish Courcers will enter at the Post, so that excellent Sport may be depended upon (Public Advertiser)

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: Benefit for Holland. [Farce is the first act of Taste (Foote) connected with a New additional act (never perform'd before) call'd Modern Tragedy written by Mr Foote, with a new character (Genest, IV, 661.] Holland's Bt. deferred till this date so that Mr Garrick may have time to be prepared in the Character of Mercutio" (Folger Bill). The new last act to Taste--great hissed--and almost d-d (Hopkins MS Notes)