Event Comment: Paid Three days Salary at #80 12s. 3d. per diem--#241 16s. 9d. Paid Mrs W. Barry (half salary) 17s. 6d. [Mr Carver (presumably Robert Carver the scene painter) received, according to the treasurer's book, one pound daily throughout the season. This payment is listed separately each Saturday, and will not be mentioned hereafter.] Paid Lampmen #2; Bill-stickers #3 12s.; Handbills 8s.; Candlemen #1 8s.; Carpenters #7 5s. 2d.; Taylors #16 11s. 10d.; Mantua Maker #3 12s.; Stevens (Porter) 18s.; Supers & Kettle Drum #3 4s. (Treasurer's Book). [As these were constant weekly items in the Treasurer's Book their averages and season totals will be given in the following table, after which no further itemization will be made.] Receipts: #197 9s. (Treasurer's Book). Item Weekly Average Season Total@Lampmen #3 4s. #115 4s.@Bill Stickers #2 14s. #97 4s.@Handbills 12s. #21 12s.@ Candlemen #8 #288@ Carpenters #5 #180@ Tailor #6 #216@Mantua Maker #2 #72@ Stevens (porter) 18s. #32 8s.

Event Comment: [Theatrical Review, 6 Dec.: re afterpiece: "Thomas is well supported by Mr Vernon who...is the best acting singer on the stage...Mr Davies appeared for the first time in the character of the squire, and discovered no inconsiderable degree of merit.--Dorcas by Mrs Love--This character is better played here by Mrs Dorman. [Both surpassed by Mrs Thomson at cg.] Mrs Scott does justice to the songs, being an accomplished singer, but as an actress she is insufferably insipid and inanimate."] Paid Mr Russell for men's cloaths #30; Paid Mr Follett on note #10 10s.; 2 Clarinets 6 nights (2nd incl.) #9 9s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #243 19s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Tallow Chandler's 4th Bill #41 6s. 5d.; Spermacetti Candles, #132 18s. Mr Tomlinson for Men's cloaths #11 11s.; Mr J. French on acct #20; Miss Hopkins, 15 nights (19th Dec. incl.) #3 15s. (Treasurer's Book). [The sixth edition of Wm. Law's Absolute Unlawfulness of Stage Representations was published this year (1st. edn. 1726) This day was published the Preliminary Number of the Westminster Magazine, which, monthly, included a section called The English Theatre, which observed generally on the state of the Stage, and commented specifically on new plays. Its view of the stage in general was not as sanguine as had been that of the writer for the Town and Country Magazine (1 April 1772). "We are of opinion, that the English Theatre is now in its decline. Whether it is that the stores of Dramatic Subjects or of Dramatic Genius are exhausted, is not immediately obvious; but there is a fault somewhere....We have seen the Morning star of Wit--the Noon too is past; we have now arriv'd at its evening...There is in Arts, as in Empires, a progress which leads to Refinement; and this refinement leads to Ruin." According to the writer the meridian glory of the English stage was during the reign of Queen Anne. Reviewer damns the Irish Widow, refuses to discuss the Gamesters (revived), damns the Rose and praises the Garrick alteration of Hamlet. This year also appeard Granny's Prediction, a 53-page pamphlet attack on Mrs Barry, condemning her on moral grounds (polygamy) and on aesthetic grounds, commenting on each of her characters. By a spiteful female relative Elizabeth Franchetti.] Receipts: #142 10s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mrs Parks boy 4 nights #1 10s. Receipts: #276 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

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: Benefit for Hopkins, prompter, and Mrs Hopkins. Mainpiece: Not acted these 7 years [acted 18 Feb. 1773]. Afterpiece: A Dramatic Entertainment (in 2 parts) of Singing, Dancing and Dialogue. In Honour of Shakespeare. In which will be introduced a Pageant. The Music by Dibdin. Public Advertiser, 27 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Hopkins, No. 7, Little Russel-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #229 9s. (129.14; 30.18; 2.10; tickets: 66.7) (charge: #64 4s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Cargill. Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years [not acted since 24 Apr. 1776]. Receipts: #195 13s. 6d. (71.11.0; 29.17.0; 1.1.6; tickets: 93.4.0) (charge: none listed)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years. [In mainpiece the playbill does not list the Child; for the assignment see Morning Post, 10 Oct., and edition of 1787 (Rachael Randall).] "[Mrs Siddons's] merit in the character was infinite, and the applause she received unbounded. In various of her scenes the plaudits were repeated . . . During the fourth and fifth acts there was almost an incessant clapping, and when Isabella expired her death was rendered glorious by the theatre's resounding with thundering applause for more than a minute" (Morning Chronicle, 11 Oct.). "L'actrice la plus noble dans ses manieres, madame Siddons, ne perd rien de sa dignite quand elle se prosterne contre terre . . . Enfin, il arriva ce moment terrible ou Isabelle, s'etant echappee des mains des femmes qui veulent l'empechcr de se tuer, rit, en se donnant un coup de poignard, de l'inutilite de leurs efforts. Ce rire du desespoir est l'effet le plus difficile et le plus remarquable que le jeu dramatique puisse produire; il emeut bien plus que les larmes: cette amere ironie du malheur est son expression la plus dechirante. Qu'elle est terrible la souffrance du coeur, quand elle inspire une si barbare joie, quand elle donne, a l'aspect de son propre sang, le contentement feroce d'un sauvage ennemi qui se serait venge!" (Mme de Stael: Corinne, livre XVII, chapitre iv). Receipts: #181 11s. (147/0; 34/6; 0/5)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Ward. [Afterpiece in place of Who's the Dupe?, announced on playbill of 1 May.] Receipts: #165 12s. (48/1; 17/7; 0/13; tickets: 99/11) (charge: #110 12s. 7d.)

Event Comment: Tickets delivered by Kenny, Briggs, Pemberton, Newton, Leslie, Miss Heard, Miss Richards, Mrs Enoe will be taken. Receipts: #40 11s. 6d. (27/5/0; 13/6/6; 0/0/0; tickets: none listed)

Event Comment: Benefit for Spencer and Mrs Hedges. Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. Receipts: #173 16s. 6d.(17/3/0; 10/6/0; 0/11/6; tickets: 145/16/0) (charge: #105 11s. 4d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Crouch. Morning Herald, 12 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Crouch, No. 6, Leicester-street, Leicester Fields. Receipts: #280 9s. 6d. (92.2.0; 15.14.0; tickets: 170.18.0) (charge: #106 12s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Wilson. Public Advertiser, 1 May: Tickets to be had of Mrs Wilson, No. 13, King-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #196 4s. 6d. (30.13.0; 22.10.6; 1.5.0; tickets: 141.16.0) (charge: #106 6s. 11d.)

Event Comment: [Wroughton was from cg. This was his 1st appearance as a regular member of the dl company; he had previously acted at this theatre on one occasion, 1 Apr. 1780. Mrs Taylor was from the York theatre.] "On every first appearance, it falls to a performer to chuse their own parts. They do that part once, and in all probability they never do it again. We fear this will happen to Mrs Taylor. In Elwina there was nothing to recommend [but see 4 Oct., 27 Nov.]" (World, 1 Oct.). Receipts: #189 0s. 6d. (134.4.0; 53.9.0; 1.7.6)

Event Comment: Julia [advertised on playbill of 26 Nov.] is obliged to be deferred on account of the Indisposition of Mrs Siddons. Afterpiece: 7th time [i.e. in continuation of the reckoning for the previous season]. Receipts: #81 4s. 6d. (52.17.0; 27.3.0; 1.4.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Phillimore and Spencer. Comus [advertised on playbill of 22 May] is obliged to be deferred, on Account of the Indisposition of Mrs Crouch. Receipts: #261 18s. (18.14; 8.15; 0.15; tickets: 233.14) (charge: #106 6s. 6d.)

Event Comment: The Maid of the Mill [advertised in Public Advertiser, 19 Sept.] is obliged to be deferred on account of the Indisposition of Mrs Crouch. Paid Booth tailor, #4 6s. 6d.; Scenemen #5 4s.; Carpenters #3 16s.; Renters' Income #30 [this last paid daily]. Receipts: #111 8s. 6d. (71.11.0; 39.4.0; 0.13.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 6 years. [Mrs Farmer is identified by MS annotation on Kemble playbill. Her 1st two appearances had been at the hay on 29 Aug. 1787 and 9 Sept. 1788.] Receipts: #157 19s. 6d. (121.1.0; 36.12.0; 0.6.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Fawcett and Mrs Hedges. Receipts: #218 7s. (22.17.0; 16.9.6; 1.0.6; tickets: 178.0.0) (charge: #106 18s. 11d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bannister. Public Advertiser, 21 July: Tickets to be had of Mrs Bannister, Frith-street, Soho. Receipts: #250 (Gazetteer, 5 Sept.)

Event Comment: Account-Book: Paid Mrs Phillimore on Account of moving the Wardrobe to and from the Opera House #4 4s. Powell, 22 Sept.: Henry V rehearsed at 10; No Song No Supper at 12; 23 Sept.: No Song No Supper rehearsed at 10 (for Bannister and Mrs Bland); Provoked Husband a 11. Receipts: #308 2s. 6d. (218.11.0; 88.15.0; 0.16.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Gibbs. Mainpiece: Not acted these 6 years [acted 22 June 1790. Miss Logan is identified in MS list, in hay playbills now at Harvard, of new performers for the 1795 season. Mrs Kemble's 1st recorded appearance as Portia was at Edinburgh, 26 Jan. 1795]

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Pritchard. Tickets of Mrs Pritchard in Great Queen St. Lincoln's Inn-Fields, and at Stage Door. Part of the Pit will be taken into the Boxes, and servants will be admitted to keep places on the stage. [A Complaint of the Tragic Poets, addressed to Dr Young appeared in the Public Advertiser, praising him on the Brothers: "And your last efforts prove your strength divine."] Receipts: #250 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Cibber (Cross). Tickets delivered for the 11th will be taken (playbill). Receipts: #280 (Cross)

Event Comment: DDrury Lane Theatre open'd Sat: Sept 13th. The House new Gilt, Painted & ornamented wth Festoons &c. Mr Mossop left us. Mr Wilder discharg'd. Mrs Mills is gone to end her Days in Wales, wth an Allowance of #20 per An: from the Managers (Cross). Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. No money returned after the Curtain is up. No Persons to be admitted behind the Scenes. Places for Boxes to be had of Mr Varney at the Stage Door. [Notice customarily repeated and will not be further noted.] Receipts: #109 (Cross)