Event Comment: Benefit for Weston. Tickets delivered for 7 April taken. It is agreed this day between Mrs Abington and Mr Garrick that the former shall be engag'd to him and Mr Lacy, Patentees of the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, for three years from this date, or three acting seasons, at the sum of twelve pounds a week, with a Benefit, and sixty pounds for cloaths--the above agreement to be put into Articles according to the usual form. s@ Frances Abington, D. Garrick for himself and Mr Lacy (Folger Library, Garrickiana 962 MS [Cage, p. 154).] Receipts: #205 14s. 6d. Charges: #66 5s. Profits to Weston: #139 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: G[arrick] This Night was advertis'd for Mr Barry's Benefit but he being ill his Benefit was deferr'd (Hopkins Diary). Garrick is removed from Southampton St. to Adelphi Terrace (Winston MS 10). This day is publish'd Theatrical Biography; or, Memoirs of the principal performers of the three Theatres Royal. Drury Lane: Garrick, Barry, Reddish, Aickin, King, Moody, Dodd, Love, Vernon, Parsons, Baddeley, Mrs Barry, Mrs Abington, Miss Younger, Miss Hayward, Mrs Baddeley, Miss Pope, Mrs Egerton, Mrs W. Barry and Mrs Jefferson. Covent Garden: Ross, Smith, Savigny, Woodward, Yates, Shuter, Bensley, Dyer, Mattocks, Clark, Mrs Yates, Mrs Mattocks, Miss Macklin, Mrs Bulkley, Mrs Green, and Mrs Thompson. Haymarket: Foote, Weston, Aikin, Didier, Davies, Mrs Gardner, Mrs Jewell, and Mrs Didier. Together with critical and impartial remarks on their respective professional merits. Printed for S. Bladon. Receipts: #265 18s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Desire. House (Hopkins Diary). Last time performing Mainpiece this season. Rec'd from Mr Clutterbuck #150; Stopages #7 17s. 10d.; Paid salary list #494 18s. 6d.; Mrs Abington's cloaths acct #2; Mr S. French #1 10s.; Dr Nares & Mrs Cooke's boys 3 nights (13th inst incl.) #6 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #64 14s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Twelfth Night was put up for this Night but Mrs Abington sent word She was hoarse & could not play, therfore it was chang'd to the Fair Quaker & great Bills put up about three (Hopkins Diary). [Twelfth Night was deferred until 10 Dec.] Paid Salary List #529 2s.; King's extra salary #3; Mr J. French on acct #10; Chorus 2 nights (this incl.) #4 1s.; Rec'd stopages #26 6s. 6d. Receipts: #104 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mr Reddish being a little out of his Senses he could not play Morcar in Matilda therefore notwithstanding the Bills were up for it we were oblig'd to change it to the West Indian & about Two o'clock we put up fresh Bills for West Indian and as Mrs Abington was not in humour to play at so Short Notice we were oblig'd to borrow Miss Barsanti to play Miss Rusport (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] Rec'd Mrs Johnson's rent one year to Lady Day 1774 #6 (Treasurer's Book). Tragedy of Braganza is oblig'd to be deferr'd till Thursday on account of Mrs Yates's indisposition. Receipts: #161 17s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: [T+The Cobler prints a Card in the Public Advertiser commending G. F. Theatricus for his bold statement (6 Jan.) about the excellencies of seven dl actors. He takes issue with G. F. that Bensley will surpass Powell, but adds a "puff" for another new actress, Mrs Abington.

Event Comment: Paid salary list 3 days at #72 4s. 1d. per diem #216 12s. 3d.; Mr Weston on his note #5 5s.; Mrs Abington 3 first days not on list #2 10s. (Treasurer's Book). [From a long review in the Public Advertiser 3 Oct.: Two new performers in parts very difficult to execute-Mr Cautherly a pupil of the greatest master of the art of acting that ever graced the English stage (if not European)...has this summer convinced us that he is susceptible of the most refined instructions of his great patron and tutor. Of the Lady, I can say nothing prior to her appearance 30 Sept. as I am noways acquainted with her history any more than that by declaration of common report; she is the spouse of the brother of that Mr Barry who has so greatly pleas'd the town this summer at the Opera House." [Comments on her figure, voice and countenance well adapted to express the stronger passions.] She seemed to be so much in love with Romeo as to forget she represented a young and inexperienced virgin unused to men...The first scene of consequence is the Masquerade scene, which was as to business very badly conducted; but this, I doubt not will be rectified another night, they were discovered in disorder and they went off in confusion. It appeared a tumultous assembly rather than a Masquerade of nobility in an Italian Palace. Romeo stayed so long behind the crow that he was oblig'd to run to his station opposite Juliet to be in time for "Cousin Benvolio, do you mark that lady." [A long and detailed review of the stage action act by act.] In the Garden scene an unlucky accident happened to Cautherly...his nose ran with blood and he was oblig'd to keep his handkerchief to his nose all through, which was a great loss to the audience...The Apothecary is the best figure I ever saw, and spoke more sensibly than I ever heard an apothecary speak in my life. Mr Castle has rescued that character from ridicule, and worked by pity what buffoonery used to run off with-applause." Receipts: #145 11s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book.

Event Comment: CCymon deferred. Mrs Abington ill. Paid printer's bill #9 6s. Receipts: #141 9s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Rec'd stopages #13 2s. 6d.; Paid Salary list #501 3s. 6d.; Paid Mrs Abington on Cloaths acct #2; Paid Mr French, on acct 23rd inst. per order Mr L. #7 7s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #98 4s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid four day's salary at #83 13s. 11d., #334 15s. 8d.; Mrs Abington's Cloaths acct, #2; Mr S. French 7 days, #1 15s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #202 5s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Author's Night for Mainpiece. Fashionable Lover Published by Cumberland at 1s 6d. Paid Salary List #502 2s. 6d.; Mrs Abington's cloaths acct, #2; Rec'd stopages, #11 11s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #200 19s.; Charges #73 10s. Profit to Cumberland #127 9s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: On 21 Feb. Brereton broke his collar bone in fall from a horse at Bath (Winston MS 10). Paid five day's salary, #417 8s. 9d.; Mrs Abington's cloaths acct, #2; Mr S. French 12 days, #3 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #182 16s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Author of the Alterations (Hopkins Diary). [On this day Garrick wrote to Mrs Abington, relative to his practice in casting new plays: "That I may hear no more of this or that part in Mr Murphy's play, I now again tell you that every author since my management distributed his parts as he thinks will be of most service to his interest, nor have I ever interfered, or will interfere, unless I perceive that they would propose something contrary to common sense" (Harvard Theatre Collection, Autograph Letter Signed). Charges: #84 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece Public Advertiser erroneously lists Mrs Abington in place of Mrs Mattocks; see 29 Nov. 1782.] Receipts: #211 14s. (208/5; 3/9)

Event Comment: The Careless Husband [advertised on playbill of 12 Feb.] is obliged to be deferred, on Account of the Indisposition of Mrs Abington. [Afterpiece in place of Tom Thumb advertised on same.] Receipts: #119 6s. 6d. (107.1.0; 12.5.6)

Event Comment: paid Baid +Ben Johnson's Head a bill #1 9s. 10d. Paid for coffeepot #2 15s. 6d. and for Mrs Abington's cloaths #27 7s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #128 17s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Salary List #502 3s. 6d.; Mrs Abington's cloaths acct #2; Mr S. French 6 days #1 15s.; Widow Hunter as usual, per order, #2 2s.; Rec'd stopages #12 6s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #210 2s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The School for Scandal [announced on playbill of 2 Feb.] is obliged to be deferred on account of the sudden Indisposition of Mrs Abington. Receipts: #189 2s. (158.8.0; 30.11.6; 0.2.6)

Event Comment: The School for Scandal [announced on playbill of 3 Feb.] is obliged to be deferred on account of the sudden Indisposition of Mrs Abington. Receipts: #160 14s. 6d. (137.10.0; 23.2.0; 0.2.6)

Event Comment: The Hypocrite [announced on playbill of 22 Apr.] is obliged to be deferred on account of Mrs Abington's Illness. Receipts: #151 2s. (108.3.0; 42.0.6; 0.18.6)