Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. Miss Pritchard did Juliet for the First time of her Acting & Met with uncommon Applause, tho' so frightened the first Act, we Scarce cou'd hear her (Cross). Miss Pritchard's was a most remarkable first appearance--the Particularity of the public for her mother--Garrick's patronage and tuition, her own beautiful face, which was fascinating to a degree, had all great attraction. Mrs Pritchard, as Lady Capulet, leading in her daughter as Juliet, the distress of the young lady, the good wishes and tenderness of the town, all combined made an affecting scene--but that partiality dwindled away in the early part of the season (Genest, IV, 474, from Tate Wilkinson). Receipts: #226 (Cross)

Event Comment: Last Night the Princess Carolina dy'd & this Morning about 8 we receiv'd an order from the Chamberlain not to play 'till farther orders,--we obey'd & order ye Bills posted for this Night, to be pull'd down (Cross). [The Fatal Marriage and The Male Coquette had been scheduled.] Yesterday about 11 o'clock died at her Apartments in St James's Palace, Princess Caroline Elizabeth, 3rd daughter of our most Gracious Sovereign. Her Royal Highness was in her 45th year of her age, being born on the 10th of June 1713, and has been in a bad state of health for several years past. Her burial, it is said, is by her own Desire to be very private (Public Advertiser)

Event Comment: 22 M2 March Died at his lodgings in High Holborn Leveridge in his 88th year sung d[uring] reigns of William, Anne, George I. Retired about 8 years ago, lived with daughters (Winston MS 8). [See Cross' note, 4 Feb. 1755.

Event Comment: [G$Goldsmith's comment in The Bee (1759, p. 14) the following season seems to have glanced at Mrs Pritchard's performance of Jane Shore, since Mrs Pritchard was growing quite stout at this time: In his remarks of "casting" he is distressed at "an actress that might act the Wapping Landlady without a bolster, pining in the character of Jane Shore, and while unwieldy with fat endeavoring to convince the audience that she is dying from hunger." The part at Drury Lane for the next eight years went to Mrs Yates, Mrs Pritchard playing it only once again "for that night only" at her daughter's benefit, 7 April 1766.] Receipts: #140 (Cross); #138 18s. (Winston MS 8)

Event Comment: A concert of Vocal and Instrumental Music. Likewise will be performed a new Burletta, composed by Galuppi. Cloaths and Scenes entirely new. Doors to be opened at Five. To begin exactly Half an Hour after Six. Prices 2s. 6d., Tea and Coffee included. [This notice, plus the advertisement of Daughter Trotter's plumb cakes-see 16 April-is repeated, and will not be further listed here.

Event Comment: Benefit for Bransby and Miss Young. British Chronicle, 16 April 1760: Died the celebrated Charlotte Charke in the Haymarket, daughter of Colley Cibber, Esq, poet laureate-a gentlewoman remarkable for her adventures and misfortunes

Event Comment: Not acted in 5 years. [See 4 Feb. 1758.] The Drummer was revived at this period at both theatres...to take advantage of the reigning weakness of the people, who went in crowds many days and nights to an Haunted House, by what was called the Cock-Lane Ghost-a delusion set on foot, and very ingeniously carried on by a girl of 12 years of age, daughter of a clerk of St Sepulchre's Church, who resided in Cock Lane near Smithfield. [The Ghost was supposed to be that of one Fanny, a gentleman's mistress buried in the church. By knockings and scratchings she supposedly haunted the girl intimating foul practices concerning her death.] It would be incredible to relate the numbers of persons of distinction that attended this delusion! many of whom treated it as a serious and most important affair...at last the girl's father and three or four others were tried in the King's Bench, found guilty' Pillioried and imprisoned. This most effectively laid the Ghost; and is the best and properest cure for every ghost that may arise hereafter. (Victor, History of the Theatres, III, 18 ff). [The theme exploited again by Garrick in The Farmer's Return from London, dl 20 March.

Event Comment: Benefit for an Ancient Widow Gentlewoman and her Daughter (in great distress); Rawlins, Potter, Waylin. None admitted behind scenes. Tickets delivered by Mas. Besford, and Mrs Naylor, &c. will be taken

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never acted there. Neville MS Diary: Both theatres opened again with The English Merchant. Went into the Pit of cg. Shuter did Freeport pretty well, but had not that appearance of blunt honesty which Yates has in that character....I like Miss Pope better in Molly than Mrs Mattocks. Mrs Goodman by Mrs Ward, who is a very different figure now from what she was some years ago. Her daughter did Amelia pretty well, but has a stiffiness and an indifferent voice. End Act III, The Irish Lilt-The celebrated dancer Aldridge, Sga Manesiere. Entertainment Harlequin Dr Faustus. I hope this emulation between the 2 Houses will cause exertion. Receipts: #146 8s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Ward (Daughter of the late Mrs Ward). Tickets deliver'd for Cyrus will be taken

Event Comment: The Witches after this night's performance must be laid aside. Paid Licence for The Fashionable Lover & the Grecian Daughter #4 4s. (Treasurer's Book) Receipts: #133 17s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Dodd. Afterpiece: Not acted these 9 years. [See 26 March 1763.] Married at Marylebone Church-W. Lacy, Esq one of managers of Drury Lane to Miss Orpen, daughter of an eminent hatter (Winston MS 10). Married: Willoughby Lacy, Esq to Miss Orpen of St Mary-le-bon (Gentleman's Magazine, 1744, p. 141). Receipts: #166 16s. Charges: #64 12s. Profits to Dodd: #102 4s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: A drunken man and a livery servant were both very troublesome in the first gallery [according to an account in the Morning Chronicle, 11 Dec., which continued]: It is a very great insult to respectable citizens and gentlemen of moderate fortunes, who from principles of economy choose to sit in the first gallery, that they admit too men in liveries. Their prices of admission have been raised within these thirty years, and every art practised for interest of the managers; and in these times, when every necessary and convenience of life is considerably enhanced, it is a matter of prudence in persons of the middle rank of life to prefer the gallery to the pit. But this is no reason why livery servants should be allowed to place themselves by the wives and daughters of private gentlemen and reputable tradesmen, to whom they often behave with great insolence and indecency. [It is desirable] to know why a constable does not make his appearance in the back row of the first, as well as the second, gallery, being frequently as much wanted in the one as the other (John Hampden Diary, p. 122)

Event Comment: Benefit for Barry. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire, perform'd but once. Part of Pit laid into Boxes. Tickets deliver'd for The Grecian Daughter will be admitted. Send servants by 4 O'clock. Come early to avoid confusion

Event Comment: Benefit for Fawcett and Wheeler. Tickets delivered for The Grecian Daughter will be taken. Receipts: #233 12s. 6d. Charges: #66 5s. 6d. Profits to Fawcett & Wheeler #167 7s. (Treasurer's Book)