Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bradshaw and Mrs Johnston. Paid Tallow Chandler's 8th bill #36 18s. 7d.; Mr Dibdin's 2 clarinets overcharged 1st inst. #1 11s. 6d. Receipts: #133. Charges: #74 14s. Profits to Mrs Bradshaw and Mrs Johnston: #58 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Pantomime reviv'd not acted these 8 years. [See 17 May 1765.] Paid Mrs Topsham for Women's cloaths as per bill #24 (Account Book). Receipts: #228 5s. 6d

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: Benefit for Mrs Lessingham. Mainpiece: Not acted these 5 years. [See 29 Dec. 1766.] Afterpiece: A Comedy of two acts taken from Vanbrugh's Relapse [by John Lee?]. Tickets by Mas. Harris will be taken. Charges #65 18s.; Profit to Mrs Lessingham #39 18s. 6d., plus #79 13s. from tickets (Box 166; Pit 131; Gallery 185) (Account Book). [The Gentleman who played King Henry was George Savile Carey (Hogan).] Receipts: #105 16s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Mattocks. Mainpiece: Not acted this season. Charges #76 17s. Profit to Mrs Mattocks #84 5s., plus #69 15s. from tickets (Box 279) Paid one year's Assurance on #5,000 in the Royal Exchange Office to 31 March 1775 #12 10s. Receipts: #161 2s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Aickin. The Tragedy of All for Love, which was to have been performed this evening, is oblig'd to be changed, on account of the indisposition of Mrs Barry and Miss Younge; therefore Mr Aickin humbly hopes that his friends will accept of the Tempest in its stead. Tickets deliver'd for All for Love will be taken. Paid extra flute and hautboy 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Aickin did not act (Winston MS 10). [This month published The Sentimental Spouter; or, Young Actor's Companion. The whole comprising the essence of theatrical delivery, and the beauties of dramatic poetry. Price 1s. 6d. Printed for Wheble (Gentleman's Magazine Register).] Receipts: #123 14s. 6d. Charges: #74 14s. Profit to F. Aickin: #49 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Canning. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Receipts: #179 3s. Charges: #65 3s. Profits to Mrs Canning: #114 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: For the Last time this season. Tickets deliver'd by Blurton, Stoppelaer, Besford, Mrs Perry, and Mrs Lawrence? will be admitted

Event Comment: By Permission. Benefit for Williams, Mrs Weston

Event Comment: By Permission. Benefit for Mrs Gardner. Note: For performance at cg 20 September, See Season of 1775-1776, p. 1911

Event Comment: [The Westminster Magazine for October commented in a paragraph in general on ten new performers at Covent Garden this month: Mrs Jewell (?), Mrs Jackson, Mahon, Mrs Hunter, Wilson, Leoni, Mrs Barthelemon, Sheridan, and the dance team of the Zuchellis.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. [See 30 April 1773. See, for afterpiece, the Regatta attached to Queen Mab, 11 Nov.] Mr Moody very bad in Maj. Oldfox , &c. Mrs Greville not much better in Olivia (Hopkins Diary). Rec'd from the late Mrs Johnston for Old Women's Cloaths #10 10s.; By ditto from Mr Garrick for wax candles #1 12s. Receipts: #150 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)