Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Barry. Mrs Barry hopes that those Ladies and Gentlemen who have taken places will be so good as to excuse the Alteration of the Play; as she has given the earliest notice in her power. N.B. Tickets deliver'd for the Countess of Salisbury will be taken

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New Comedy [by Charlotte Lennox]. Never Performed. Prologue by Colman. Epilogue by Goldsmith. Treated so badly by the audience this first night that Mrs Lennox withdrew it. Burgoyne's The Heiress [dl, 14 Jan. 1784] draws upon it (Genest, V, 242). Receipts: #234 5s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Bannister and Mrs Dorman

Event Comment: Benefit for T. Smith, Furkins, Roffe [sic], Miss Stede, Mrs Hartle. Tickets deliver'd by Morgan, Stephenson, Claridge, Bagg, Wilkinson, Whatley, Pullin, Miss Brown, Mrs Griffiths, and Mrs Walters will be taken. No charges. House received 1!2 value of Tickets and the Receipts. @Tickets Box Pit Gallery Value 1!2 Value @T. Smith 10 48 75 #17 4s. #8 12s. @Furkins 10 20 24 #7 18s. #3 19s. @Rose 27 48 29 #6 17s. #8 8s. 6d. @Miss Stede 6 13 50 #8 9s. #4 4s. 6d. @Morgan 3 10 35 #5 15s. #2 17s. 6d. @Mrs Hartle 40 69 104 #30 15s. #15 7s. 6d. @Stephenson 21 66 129 #28 1s. #14 6d. @Claridge 15 16 19 #8 1s. #4 6d. @Bagg 3 4 9 #2 5s. #1 2s. 6d. @Wilkinson 30 13 5 #9 19s. #4 19s. 6d. @Whatley -- 4 33 #3 18s. #1 19s. @Pullen 2 41 64 #13 1s. #6 10s. 6d. @Miss Brown 11 37 31 #11 8s. #5 14s. @Mrs Griffiths -- 25 21 #5 17s. #2 18s. 6d. @Mrs Walters 2 19 83 #11 13s. #5 16s. 6d. @Money Value #48 5s. 6d. @Box 180 Pit 433 Gallery 711 Total House Value #229 6s. 6d. 1!2 Value #90 10s. 6d.@ [The house made no charges, but received the half value from each beneficiary as listed above (Account Book). About 1,324 Tickets given out. Capacity of the house must have been about 1,700 at this time. See 14 April.

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By particular Desire. Juliet by Mrs Morland from the Norwich Theater a thin small figure too long a waist--wants power has a small impediment in her Speech she may be useful but never Capital--Pretty well receiv'd (Hopkins Diary). Mrs Morland the late Miss Westray (O. Smith) (Winston MS 10)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Lessingham. Mainpiece: (Never Perform'd) alter'd from Gay [The Distress'd Wife].Afterpiece: (By Particular desire and for the last time this season). Part of Pit will be laid into Boxes. Ladies send servants by half past 4 o'clock. [See afterpiece again on 6 May.

Event Comment: Benefit for Kear, Booth, Jacobs. Tickets deliver'd by Watkins, Costin, Miss Berkeley, and Mrs Hayward will be taken

Event Comment: Paid Mr Heath for point lace, 9s.; Mr Cropley (linen draper) 2 bills #93 12s. 6d.; 8 extra trumpets for 6 nights, #18; Wax Chandler's Bill #21 3s. 4d.; Mr Squire, Chorus, 15 nights #3 15s.; Printer's Bill #9 6s.; Mr Weston's Note & Bill to Mr Flaherty #5 6s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Mrs Robinson Angelica-very indifferent (+Hopkins MS Notes). Receipts: #133 11s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr and Mrs DuBellamy. Mainpiece: Not acted these 7 years. [See 5 March 1767.] Tickets deliver'd for the 5th instant will be taken. Charges #69 1s. 6d. Profit to the DuBellamys #11 3s. plus #189 9s. from tickets (Box 427; Pit 494; Gallery 86) (Account Book). Receipts: #80 4s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Abington. Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. [See 12 April 1771.] Afterpiece: Taken from Sir John Vanbrugh. Boxes and Pit are laid together. Paid Mr Loutherbourg on acct (per Mr Johnston) #41 13s. 4d.; The Author of the Fair Quaker (vide 23 Nov. last) #78 8s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #276 15s. 6d. Charges: #65. Profit to Mrs Abingston: #211 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid 3 day's salary list at #76 14s. 1s. per diem, #230 2d. 3d.; Mrs Greville on note #21; Tallow chandler's 1st bill #24 8s. 5d.; Lampmen #2; Bill stickers #3 12s.; Handbills 8s.; Carpenter's Bill #13 3s. 10d.; Taylor's Bill #6 13s. 6d.; Mantua maker's Bill #4 6s. 2d.; J. Stevens 18s.; Mr King's extra salary #1 10s.; Mrs Abington's Cloaths #1; Painters salaries #14 2s.; Mr J. French on Acct #15 5s.; Hire of Violin &c. 7s.; candlemen #1 13s. (Treasurer's Book). [The following items of those listed among the above Saturday expenditures were constant. The averages and total payments for them will be given in the following table, and no further itemization of them will be made]: @Item: Weekly Average Total Season Payment@Lampmen #4 8s. #162 16s.@Billstickersers #2 14s. #99 18s.@Handbills 12s. #22 4s.@Carpenters #9 10s. #351 10s.@Taylors #9 5s. #342 10s.@Mantua Makers #3 #111@J. Stevens 18s. #33 6s.@Mr King (extra as a deputy Manager?) #3 #111@Mrs Abingtons Clothes #1 12s. 4d. #60@Painter's Bills #10 10s. #388 10s.@Candlemen & extras #8 14s. #313 4s.@ Neither Carver or Royee is listed this season, but the amount customarily paid them for the two preceding seasons is made this season as a constant outlay, but "To Painters." DeLoutherbourg receives his first payment 14 Oct.

Event Comment: This Comedy is written by Mr Cumberland but I think inferior to his other Productions was tolerably well receiv'd but a most excellent Epilogue was Written by Mr G. & Spoken by Mrs Abington which gave a great Lift to the Play Uncommon Applause to the Epilogue (Hopkins Diary). [Macmillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] Paid Mr Lauchery per order #1 1s. (Treasurer's Book). [From the Westminster Magazine, Dec. 1774: We cannot think Mr Cumberland has courted the Comic Muse in this play so successfully as in the West Indian, and the rest of his comedies. His language is unexceptionably good; he is often as witty as Congreve, as easy as Vanbrugh, and as satirical as Wycherly. But language alone will not do. The plot is ill conducted.] Receipts: #243 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

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: Benefit for Yates. Receipts: #148 11s. Charges: #67 3s. Profits to Mrs Yates: #81 8s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Vernon. Rec'd Mrs Johnston's rent 1 year to Lady Day #6. Paid Powney (stationer) #7 2s. 6d.; Ray (linen draper) #25 6s. 6d.; Vaughan (haberdasher) #4 10s. 6d.; Norfolk (glazier) #2 3s.; Barrow and Co. Oil #54 15s. 6d.; Pryer (turner) #5 18s. 6d.; Carter (scowerer) #9 8s. 6d.; Evans for Spermacetti Candles #5; Watch Rate half year #18 15s.; Cubit (tinman) #2 6d. Receipts: #160 10s. Charges: #66 16s. Profits to Vernon: #93 14s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr and Mrs Hopkins. Receipts: #57 4s. 6d. Charges: #66 3s. Deficit to the Hopkins: #8 18s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs King. Paid Paccini in lieu of benefit #80 (Treasurer's Book). Mainpiece: With a Medley Overture of favourite Sea-Tunes. Receipts: #78 9s. 6d. Charges: #67 16s. Profits to Mrs King: #10 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Jewell. By Permission. A Tragedy for Warm Weather, not acted these ten Years, written after the manner of the worst as well as the best English Poets [author unknown] Containing, amongst a Variety of Particulars curious, entertaining, and pathetic, the Rebellion of the Journeymen Tailors, their Military Preparations and Election of a Chief, their Skirmishes, Ambushes, Sieges, Councils and Combats; their Division into Flints, and Dungs; with the Defection of the Dungs, at the Pass of Butcher Row and total Overthrow of the Flints at the famous Battle of Temple Bar; together with the Captivit and End of their valiant leader. [Colman's shortened version of the 1767 play (Biographia Dramatica).

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; T 5, by George Edward Ayscough, based on Semiramis, by Voltaire. Prologue by the author. Epilogue by Richard Brinsley Sheridan (see text)]: With New Scenes and Dresses. This Tragedy is a translation from Voltaire by Captain Ayscough. Mrs Yates played finely, and met with the Applause she deserved. Mrs Reddish, alias Mrs Canning, who played the part of Azema, was hissed all through, and must never perform again. Indeed she was very bad. The Play was greatly applauded (Hopkins Diary). Public Advertiser, 24 Dec. 1776: This Day is published Semiramis (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #226 3s. 6d. (224.16.6; 0.0.0; 1.7.0)

Event Comment: On Account of Mrs Yates's Indisposition A Trip to Scarborough [announced on playbill of 20 Mar.] is obliged to be deferred. [The playbill retains Mrs Abington as Miss Prue, but "Last Saturday night, Mrs Abington being suddenly taken ill, Mrs Mattocks supplied the Part in Love for Love; and though we will not pretend to put her comic Abilities on a Level with those of Mrs Abington, yet her Performance was exceedingly humourous and entertaining" (Gazetteer, 24 Mar.).] Paid Mrs Abington in lieu of a benefit #200. Receipts: #218 8s. (188.0.0; 28.15.6; 1.12.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr and Mrs Jerrold. Afterpiece: Containing the Life and Death of King Chrononhotonthologos, the valiant Exploits of Bombardimian, his general, the unsuccessful Love of Fadladinada, Queen of Queerumania, to the Antipodean King, concluding with the marriage of the aforesaid Queen to her two fortunate Lovers, Aldiborrontiphoscophornio and Rigdum Funnidos. Mr and Mrs Jerrold present their humble respects to the Ladies and Gentlemen, and as through the badness of the weather, and being Assembly-Night on their former Benefit, there was not the Expenses in the House; therefore solicit the Favour of their Company, and Interest in this their second Attempt. To begin precisely at 6:30. Pit 2s. Gallery 1s. Tickets to be had at the Crown, and at the Cock, Well's row

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time at a public theatre; C 3, by Elizabeth Craven, Baroness Craven, afterwards Margravine of Anspach, 1st acted privately at the Town-Hall, Newbury, 6 Apr. 1780. Text (G. Riley, 1781) assigns no parts. Prologue by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Epilogue by Joseph Jekyll (see text)]: With new Dresses, &c. "The Prologue [the first 30 lines and the concluding couplet of which were used by Sheridan as the Prologue to Pizarro (see dl, 24 May 1799)] was so much admired that at the request of the Duchess of Devonshire and several other of the nobility it was respoken after the piece; but as King was absent from the theatre, it was delivered by Palmer" (Town and Country Magazine, May 1780, p. 23 ). "The chief singularity was that [Lady Craven] went to it herself the second night, in form; sat in the middle of the front row of the stage-box, much dressed, with a profusion of white bugles and plumes, to receive the public homage due to her sex and loveliness. The Duchess of Richmond, Lady Harcourt,...Mrs Damer, Lord Craven,...and I were with her. It was amazing to see so young a woman entirely possess herself-but there is such an integrity and frankness in her consciousness of her own beauty and talents, that she speaks of them with a naivete as if she had no property in them, but only wore them as gifts of the gods. Lord Craven on the contrary was quite agitated by his fondness for her and with impatience at the bad performance of the actors, which was wretched indeed, yet the address of the plot, which is the chief merit of the piece, and some lively pencilling carried it off very well, though Parsons murdered the Scotch lord, and Mrs Robinson (who is supposed to be the favourite of the Prince of Wales) thought on nothing but her own charms, or him. There is a very good though endless prologue written by Sheridan and spoken in perfection by King, which was encored (an entire novelty) the first night: and an epilogue that I liked still better and which was full as well delivered by Mrs Abington, written by Mr. Jekyl. The audience, though very civil, missed a fair opportunity of being gallant, for in one of those ----logues, I forget which, the noble authoress was mentioned, and they did not applaud as they ought to have done, especially when she condescended to avow her pretty child and was there looking so very pretty...Yet Lady Craven's tranquillity had nothing displeasing;...and it was tempered by her infinite good nature, which made her make excuses for the actors instead of being provoked at them" (Walpole [28 May 1780], XI, 178-80). Public Advertiser, 14 July 1781: This Day at Noon will be published The Miniature Picture (price not listed). Receipts: #144 9s. (94.9; 48.3; 1.17)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Webb. Mainpiece: Never performed Here. [Miss Stuart was from cg.] Tickets to be had of Mrs Webb, No. 15, Bedford-street, Covent Garden

Event Comment: Duplicity [announced on playbill of 25 Oct.] is again obliged to be postponed on account of Henderson's Illness. [Afterpiece in place of Comus, announced on playbill of 25 Oct. In mainpicce the playbill retains Mrs Mattocks as Mrs Racket and Miss Younge as Letitia, but "Miss Younge having yesterday lost a near Relation could not play her part in the Belle's Stratagem, in consequence of which an apology was made for her Absence ... To remedy the inconvenience Mrs Mattocks last night played the character of Miss Hardy, and Mrs Whitfield that of Widow Racket" (Morning Chronicle, 27 Oct.).] Receipts: #100 6s. (97/1/6; 3/4/6)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Written by the Author of The Son-in-Law [John O'Keeffe]. The Overture and New Musick composed by Dr Arnold. "The same person who, in the play, performed the school-fellow of the Nabob with a great deal of nature, and original humour, here acted the part of the school-master; his name is Edwin, and he is, without doubt, one of the best actors of all that I have seen ... [He], in all his comic characters, still preserves something so inexpressibly good tempered in his countenance, that notwithstanding all his burlesques, and even grotesque buffoonery, you cannot but be pleased with him . . . Nothing could equal the tone and countenance of self-satisfaction, with which he answered one who asked him whether he was a scholar? 'Why, I was a master of scholars.' A Mrs Webb represented a cheesmonger, and played the part of a woman of the lower class, so naturally, as I have no where else ever seen equalled. Her huge, fat, and lusty carcase, and the whole of her external appearance seemed quite to be cut out for it" (Carl Philipp Moritz, Travels in England in 1782, London, 1924, pp. 73-74)