Event Comment: Paid Quin on account #100. Gilbert Walmesley to Garrick, 3 Nov,: I see by the prints you are engaged with Mr Rich. I hope you will take care not to hurt your health by playing more than you can well bear....But I must not forget to tell you what Lord Chesterfield says of you. He says you are not only the best tragedian now in the world, but the best, he believes, that ever was in the world; but he does not like your comedy, and particularly objects to your playing Bayes, which he says is a serious solemn character and that you mistake it. He spoke much in praise of Barry's handsome figure, but made a joke of his rivaling or hurting you.-Boaden, Private Correspondence of Garrick, I, 44. Receipts: #170 9s

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by the late Mr Farquhar. Alexander is deferr'd on account of the Indisposition of Mr Barry

Event Comment: Admission: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for Boxes to taken of Mr Sarjant at the Stage Door of the Theatre. Play to begin exactly at o'clock. [This information, appearing at the foot of each bill, will not be repeatdd hereafter, except for significant differences.] Receipts: #111 5s. Deficit brought over from last season accounts, Journal T. Folio, 182, #164 0s. 6d. Paid Mr Lambert 3 month's salary to 15 Aug. last #25 (Covent Garden Cash Book). [Goldsmith's Bee (1759, p. 9) remarks on the better business used by Lovegold in the French theatre than used at cg: "Lovegold [in France] in the height of his passion stops to pick up a pin, quilting it in his coat, and snuffs out an extra candle." Implies that such subconscious revelations of the character of the miser might well be used by the English.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 12 years. [See 24 Jan. 1758.] Prologue written by Paul Whitehead. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Sarjant (only) at the Stage-Door. No persons can be admitted behind scenes, nor any Money returned after curtain is drawn up. To begin exactly at 6 o'clock. [Customary note in succeeding bills.] Receipps: #190 14s. (Account Book). @The New Occasional Prologue@As when the merchant to increase his store@For Dubious seas, advent'rous quits the shore;@Still anxious for his freight, he trembling sees@Rocks in each buoy, and tempest in each breeze@The curling wave to mountain billow swells,@And every cloud a fancied storm fortells:@Thus rashly launch'd on this Theatric main,@Our All on board, each phantom gives Us pain;@The Aatcall's note seems thunder in our ears,@And every Hiss a hurricane appears;@In Journal Squibs we lightning's blast espy,@And meteors blaze in every Critic's eye.@Spite of these terrors, still come hopes we view,@Hopes, ne'er can fail us--since they're plac'd--in you.@Your breath the gale, our voyage is secure,@And safe the venture which your smiles insure;@Though weak his skill, th' adventurer must succeed,@Where Candour takes th' endeavor for the deed.@For Brentford's state, two kings could once suffice;@In ours, behold! four kings of Brentford rise;@All smelling to one nosegay's od'rous savor@The balmy nosegay of--the Public favor.@From hence alone, our royal funds we draw,@Your pleasure our support, your will our law.@While such our government, we hope you'll own us;@But should we ever Tyrant prove--dethrone us.@Like Brother Monarchs, who, to coax the nation@Began their reign, with some fair proclamation,@We too should talk at least--of reformation;@Declare that during our imperial sway,@No bard shall mourn his long-neglected Play;@But then the play must have some wit, some spirit,@And We allow'd sole umpires of its merit.@For those deep sages of the judging Pit,@Whose taste is too refin'd for modern wit,@From Rome's great Theatre we'll cull the piece,@And plant on Britain's stage the flow'rs of Greece.@If some there are, our British Bards can please,@Who taste the ancient wit of ancient days,@Be our's to save, from Time's devouring womb,@Their works, and snatch their laurels from the tomb.@For you, ye Fair, who sprightlier scenes may chuse,@Where Music decks in all her airs the Muse,@Gay Opera shall all its charms dispense,@Yet boast no tuneful triumph over sense;@The nobler Bard shall still assert his right,@Nor Handel rob a Shakespear of his night,@To greet the mortal brethren of our skies [upper galleries]@Here all the Gods of Pantomime shall rise:@Yet midst the pomp and magic of machines,@Some plot may mark the meaning of our scenes;@Scenes which were held, in good King Rich's days,@By sages, no bad epilogues to plays.@If terms like these your suffrage can engage,@To fix our mimic empire of the stage;@Confirm our title in your fair opinions,@And crowd each night to people our dominions.@--(Poems and Miscelaneous Compositions, Ed. Capt. Edward Thompson, 1777) Covent Garden opened with the Rehearsal with alterations. I was in the Pit. Powell, from Drury Lane, one of the new managers who have bought the patent from Rich's heirs, spoke an occasional Prologue. Shuter did Bayes pretty much to my liking, adding many crochets of his own.... Entertainment The Mock Doctor,...Young Jasper pretty well by one Massey, being his first appearance on that stage (Neville MS Diary)

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

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A Comic Opera altered [by Colman] from Gay. The Music entirely new by Dr Arne. Now acted for the first time in 2 Acts. [The 1776 Edition in Bell's British Theatre lists: Achilles-Dunstall; Ulysses-$Owenson; Diomedes-$Fox; Argytes-$Baker; Deidamia-$Mrs Mattocks; Artemona-$Miss Brown; Philoe-$Miss Valois; Thetis-$Miss Catley. [$Miss Pearce">Mattocks; Peripas-$Reinhold; Lycomedes-$DuBellamy; Diphilus-$Dyer; Ajax-$Dunstall; Ulysses-$Owenson; Diomedes-$Fox; Argytes-$Baker; Deidamia-$Mrs Mattocks; Artemona-$Miss Brown; Philoe-$Miss Valois; Thetis-$Miss Catley. [$Miss Pearce may have played Lesbia).] Paid Banks for the Head of a Figure used in The Fair #1 1s.; Paid Mr Gard for performing 5 nights in the Fair and 3 in the Sorcerer #1. Paid Joseph Besford for performing 5 nights in the Fair 12s. 6d. (Account Book). [Afterpiece unfavorably reviewed in the Westminster Magazine.] Receipts: #149 18s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mon: 29 Sept. Mr Rich open'd wth ye Nonjuror. Mr Smith not coming to town, Mr Palmer, from Drury Lane, play'd Frankly wth great Applause (Cross). Jno. Rich paid to Charlotte Lane for the Theatre for Mr Sparks in Dr Wolfe for a superfine full trim'd black cloth coat and breeches, 14s. Sewing silk & twist 4s. 6d. Buckram stays 2s. 6d. Frilly sleeve lining, pockets, & interlining Cuffs 2s. 6d. Hair Cloth, wadding & Poll Davy 5s. Dimety lining, leather pockets, & silk garters 6s. 6d. 4 doz 2 Coat Death's Head Buttons at 14d.-4s. 11d. 12 breast ditto at 7d.-7s. 7d. 5 yds fine black shaloon at 2s. 2d.-10s. 10d. Making a Camblet Surtout Coat, 7s. 6d. Sewing silk, twist, buckram & stays, 4s. Velvet to line the collar, 1s. 17 Coat, 1 breast black basket buttons, 1s. 8d. (MS list Folger Library, Davies, Life of Garrick, Extra Illustrated, II, 322)

Event Comment: Both pieces By Command of their Majesties. Afterpiece: Not acted these 7 years. [See 27 Nov. 1760.] Present their Majesties, Dukes of Gloster and Cumberland, Princess of Brunswick and Lady Louisa. Gave Yeomen of the guard #2 2s.; Paid Mr Cousins for hair dressing in the Fairy Favour #1 4s. and Mr Thompson for the same #1 12s. Paid Ellis (scourer) a bill for the Men's Wardrobe, #1 4s. 6d. Paid for the license of Love in the City #2 2s. (Account Book). Receipts: #231 16s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Receipts: #41 13s. 6d. Paid J. Powell 6 nights Renters to instant: #72 6s.; Guards 6 nights #4 4s.; Mrs Rich 6 nights to instant #31 10s.; C. Rich ditto #6; J. Rich #20; Mr Gum for Scenemen #6 9s. 3d.; Performers 5 nights #185 11s. 6d.; Servants 6 nights #23 13s. [The expenditures for renters (100) at 2s. 4d. each per acting night, is a weekly constant. The amount for Mrs Rich of #5 5s. each acting night as well as that of #1 for C. Rich each acting night, is a constant. These will not be further recorded, nor will the nightly constant of 13s. for the guards, and 5s. 4d. nigthly for the barber.

Event Comment: Paid from treasurer's funds #16 12s. for a Lottery Tickett No. 5,603. Paid for playing the Organ 9 nights in the Oxonian in Town #2 5s. (Account Book). [Colman seems to have been dissatisfied with Mrs Lessingham's performance, for the Harvard Extra Illustrated Vol. of Genest (opposite p. 185) contains a MS note dated Tuesday Morning: "Mrs Bulkley's compliments to Mr Hull, as she is ready in the part of Mrs Sullen he need not call any rehearsal on her account." Presumably this note was written to the prompter the following Tuesday (24 Nov.). The next performance this season of the Stratagem did not occur, however, until 22 April 1768, at which time Mrs Bulkley played Mrs Sullen, for the 1st time.] Receipts: #155 15s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Cibber. Afterpiece: A Dramatic piece of one act taken from the French. Never perform'd before. The characters in it to be newdress'd. Pit and boxes laid together and amphitheatre on stage. Tickets deliver'd for 3 March will be taken. [See, 20 March. The note in Have at you all; or, The Drury Lane Journal (19 March) seems to comment on this performance: Those heroic full-bottomed perukes, whose bushy expanse is spread over the whole back of the wearer, have lately been exploded on the stage, and a more natural, I mean a less enormous covering for the head substituted in its stead. Unfortunately Mr Barry this night chose to appear in one of the most curiously frizzled out and of the fullest tragical flow I ever saw: When in the last act it was our heroes turn to be kill'd, honest Ryan being eager to dispatch him, just as he was to plump down upon the carpet, entangled his hand in the vast profusion of Macbeth's hair; and by jerking back his sword after the concluding stab, away came poor periwig along with it, while our hero was left expos'd, in the last agonies of death-bare headed. Ryan in the meanwhile with some confuconfusion contemplated Full-Bottom, which he held dangling in his hand, but sadly tumbled out of curl; at length he good naturedly adjusted it on the bald pate of the tyrant, who was then enabled to make his dying speech with proper regularity and decorum."

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Hamilton. Mainpiece: Not acted these 16 years. Ladies send sevants by 3 o'clock. Mrs Hamilton is obliged to change her Farce on account of Miss Brent's indisposition. Receipts: #85 10s. 6d. in cash, plus #161 1s. from tickets (Boxes 230; Pit 481; Gallery 314). Total income #246 11s. 6d. Charges #64 5s. Paid Stede a bill for writing #10 13s. 6d. Paid Mr Long for 3 dozen drums #2 14s. [To the house charges this season Rich adds extras: candles (wax) #1 5s.

Event Comment: Tickets deliver'd by Mrs Lampe, Mrs Jones, Mrs Morris, Miss Cranfield and Mr Hollingsworth will be admitted. Doors opened at half past 5. To begin at half past 6

Event Comment: A Free Benefit for Ryan. Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years. [See 3 April 1756.] Written by the late Mr Hughes. [For Afterpiece, see note.] Receipts: Door, #87 7s. Tickets #121 17s. (boxes 267; pit 286; gallery 122). (Account Book). [Ryan had advertised his benefit on 15 March to be The Siege of Damascus and a new Dramatic Satire called The Anniversary, being a Sequel to Lethe. On 16 March the following letter appeared in the Public Advertiser: "Upon reading Ryan's advertisement of a New Dramatic Satire, I was extremely pleas'd with a Description of the motive that occasioned it. He being last week at dinner with a set of particular friends, they inquired what Play and Farce he had chose this year for his Benefit. He inform'd them the Siege of Damascus and Lethe. Lethe, replied a Gentleman is very pleasing, but your friends have seen it, and you must fall into the fashion of having a new additional Scene; for a little bit of novelty may give assistance to its merit, and prove to your advantage. Why, then, said a facetious Gentleman, who sat very near him, Pray sir, do you write him one; 'twill cost you little trouble, and, you know, you are very capable. No more capable than yourself, Good Sir, answered the other; but to show I am full as willing, if you'll attempt to please his friends with one, upon my word I'll use my best endeavor to do the same, in writing of another. We need not fear Severity, for none will blame a friendly inclination to serve a man, who, I believe everyone wishes well. "Twas agreed, but Ryan judiciously observed, 'twould be a shame that two Gentlemen, each capable of writing to give an audience satisfaction, should condescend to make mere Lacqueys of their pens, and send them forth to hold the tail of Lethe; therefore if they should once begin, let them each write only one Hour longer, and they might raise a Structure of their own. They kindly undertook it, and in a Week sent him the piece he has now advertised."

Event Comment: Benefit for Woodward. Mainpiece: Not acted these 20 years. To prevent mistakes, Ladies are desired to send their servants by 3 o'clock. Tickets and places to be had of Mr Sarjant, at the Stage Door and NO WHERE ELSE

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A Pantomime Entertainment not acted these eight years. [See 20 Oct. 1768.] New Scenes, Dresses and other Decorations. Doors open at 5 o'clock. To begin exactly at 6 o'clock. Theatrical intelligence, Covent Garden: Mrs Hunter, lately returned from Ireland was very well receiv'd in Mrs Oakly, and to do her justice she played the part throughout better than it has been performed for some time at either house. The labourings of Mr Wroughton's jealousy in Oakly reminded us of the progressive workings of a fatt of small beer, when inflated with powerful yeast....Orpheus and Eurydice was reviv'd after the play-the dullest of all dull Pantomimes (Harlequin's Jacket excepted). The two additional scenes we were summoned by the bills to behold, are two of the late memorable regatta:-The first is a perspective of Ranelagh Gardensv to the water, illuminated with party-coloured lamps, which terminates with the temporary obelisk erected on that occasion:-Behind this we just catch the streamers of the barges and etc., supposed to be rowing up to the stairs, and landing their company, to martial music and under the discharge of cannon, imitated by the unnatural slamming of one of the Green Room doors. This scene, however, had a tolerable appearance, but being on too confined a scale, its intended effect must have been lost. The other represented the inside of as much of the Temple of Neptunev as was possible to give the spectators in a theatre:-we cannot extol it by any means as a perfect representation:-and to prevent it coming too near the original, Harlequin, Perot, Pantaloon, and etc. were made to lounge in the orchestra instead of its being occupied by a good band of music:-in short the whole pantomime went off rather flat. It is recommended to the managers here never to suffer the scene shifters to appear again in such garb as they did; old greasy plush waistcoats, with red-stocking sleeves!-such a habit may be in keeping with a blacksmaith's forge, but not for a theatre royal in the metropolis of a polished country (Folger News Clipping)

Event Comment: Benefit for Bencraft and Mrs Vincent. Mainpiece: Containing the Memorable Battle of Agincourtv; with the total overthrow of the French Armyv; and many other historical passages. Tickets to be had of Mrs Vincent at the Cock and Turk's Head, in Bedford St., Covent Garden; of Bencraft at the corner of the Piazzas; and of Mr Page at the Stage Door of the Theatre

Event Comment: Benefit for a Widow Gentlewoman and her Children, who have suffered the loss by Two Ships, to the amount of #2000. Urged at the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Tickets to be had at Mr Harper's at the Corner of Avemary Lane; Mount's Coffee-House, Grosvenor St.; Smyrna Coffee-House, Pall Mall; Sam's Coffee-House in Change Alley, Cornhill; and of Sarjant at the Stage Door, where Places for the Boxes may be taken