Event Comment: For the author. No Prologue or Epilogue. Paid Reynolds (oyl) bill #48 11s.; Powney (stationers) #8 17s. 5d.; Inns of Court their Christmas box #3 1s. 6d.; Mr Bibb (sword cutler) 3 bills #13 1s.; Vaughan (Haberdasher) #21 7s.; Mrs Amy Vaughan #1 11s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). [This day at Noon will be publish'd. Price 2s. The Kellyad, or a critical examen into the merits of Thespis. By Louis Stamma. Who steals my purse..." Also publish'd this day The Anti-Thespis; or, a vindication of the principal performers belonging to Drury Lane Theater, from the false criticisms, illiberal abuse, and gross misrepresentations of the Author of Thespis. Players are the abstracts and brief chronicles of the times..."] Receipts: #73 10s. (Treasurer's Book)

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

Event Comment: BB. Johnson's Head Bill 11s. (Treasurer's Book). Drank tea with my Landlady and went with her husband and two gentlemen to see the new Play...as I did not care to refuse. Could not get into the Pit, at which I was not displeased. I fancy this comedy will take, tho it had nothing else to support it but the character of Freeport, which is played by Yates...We had a Prologue written by the author of the play and spoken by King; and an Interlude by way of Epilogue written by Garrick and spoken by King and Mrs Abington. A concerto on the Harpsichord by Burney Jr and dance. The play is taken from L'Ecosseisse of Voltaire (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #193 17s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. With the latest improvement by Mr Handel. Pit and boxes to be put together. Tickets will be deliver'd that day, at the Office in the theatre at Half a Guinea each. First Gallery 5s. Second Gallery 3s. 6d. Galleries to be opened at Half an Hour past Four. Pit and Boxes at Five. To Begin at Half an Hour after Six (Public Advertiser, 4 March). [N.B. This is an Advance notice. No notice occurs on this day, but the following: This Day publish'd Esther: An Oratorio, with the last improvements by Mr Handel. To be performed, by Their Majesties Command at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden. Price 1s.] Went into the First Gallery at Covent Garden to hear the Oraortio, Esther, composed by Handel. The Stage was formed into an orchestra, like one side of an amphitheatre divided by an organ, atop of which was a head of Handel in a radiated frame. In the front sat the vocal performers, Champney, Vernon, Mrs Arne, Mrs Pinto, Miss Young, and Mrs Frasi. Stanley played on the Organ but retired after the 1st or 2nd act. The house was not much crowded, tho the King and Queen, those idols of fools, were there (Neville MS Diary). Charges: #35 (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Clive. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Pit and Boxes will be laid together, where servants will be admitted to keep places. Ladies desired to send servants by 3 o'clock. Rec'd from Mr Stevens 1 yrs. rent due at Xmas #10; Paid Locke (hatter) for Garrick #1 4s. 6d.; Re-paid Garrick the cash advanced by Monet for Guidetti #21; Paid B. Johnson's Head bill #3 17s. 11d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #98 13s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Shuter. Tickets to be had of Shuter at Number 2, in Martlet Court, Bow St. Covent Garden; and of Mr Sarjant, Book-Keeper. Charges: #65 2s. [Profits to Shuter #150 6d., plus #70 11s. from tickets (Box 233; Pit 82).] Paid Miss Elliott the balance of her two nights Jan. 13 and Feb. 18, #90 13s. 6d. and gave her as a present from the managers by deducting the charge of the Farce for her 2nd night, Feb. 18th, #21 (Account Book). Receipts: #215 2s. 6d. (Account Book). About 5 with great difficulty got into the Pit at Covent Garden to see...the benefit for Mr Shuter. Stood all night at the bottom of the Pit in a most disagreeable situation, though I saw very well and heard too, unless when prevented by the noise on occasion of which Shuter very smartly applied the Passage, But if we all speak together, how shall we hear one another," and again when a great noise was made about someone in the Gallery, he cried 'Give him a knock o' the head and make him quiet,' and another bawling Silence," he cried Silence, Silence why don't you be quiet.'At the end of Act II, the Cries of London', with additions by Shuter. In going off he shook his head on hearing it encored, but was oblig'd to comply by repeating the greater part. End of Opera Shuter entertained us with his Serious, Comic Post-Haste Observations in his Journey to Paris, to hear which was a principal reason of my not dining at Holliss's. The Barber in the Upholsterer inimitably played by Woodward (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Macklin. Afterpiece: For only time this season. Pit and Boxes to be laid together. Ladies send servants by 3 o'clock and to prevent disappointments come early themselves. Tickets to be had of Miss Macklin at the Golden Fan in Leicester Fields and of Mr Sarjant at the Stage-Door. Charges #64 12s. [Profit to Miss Macklin #90 2s. 6d., plus #165 from tickets (Box and Pit 648; Gallery 30).] (Account Book). Receipts: #154 14s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Vernon. House Charges #67 9s. 6d. [Profit to Vernon #52 1s. 6d.] Paid Burney Jr 8 days salary #1 13s. 4d.; Chorus singers #2 10s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #119 11s. (Treasurer's Book). Fifteen minutes past 4 took my seat in the 4th row of the first Gallery at Drury Lane...Lord Ogleby was excellently played by King. Heidelberg inimitably by Mrs Clive. After the Vintage, King by desire presented the Public again with Linco's Travels, but omitted a few things spoke last night. Cupid in Daphne and Amintor by Miss Rogers...Eleven o'clock when we got out (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: Benefit for Weller, Murden, Lewes. Afterpiece for 52nd and last time this season. Tickets deliver'd for Friday the 15th will taken. Tickets sold at the Door will not be admitted. Charges #65 10s. [Deficit to each beneficiary #1 14s. 4d., covered by income from tickets. Weller #41 14s. (Box 7; Pit 145; Gallery 182); Murden #41 12s. (Box 31; Pit 111; Gallery 172); Lewes #61 10s. (Box 45; Pit 239; Gallery 144).] Paid the Duke of Bedford half year's ground rent due Lady Day last for the theatre #41 13s. 4d. (#50 minus half year's Land Tax #8 6s. 8d.). Paid Duke of Bedford half year's ground rent for the New Building adjoining the theatre #12 10s. (#15 minus half year's Land Tax #2 10s.). (Account Book). Receipts: #60 1s. (Account Book). At 5 went to Covent Garden to see Conscious Lovers &c....Got a bad place hn the First Gallery...Lewis did Harlequin, but not so well as Woodward; and Miss D. Twist did ye Miller's Bride, Miss Wilford's Character. Mrs Mahon does the jealous fellow's wife (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: Benefit for Theatrical Fund. Doors open at 5 o'clock. Play to begin at half past 6. Last night of season. Cash in the Galleries #88, from Mr Johnston #211 18s. Total #299 19s. Paid in sundries (Rent #8; Soldiers 14s.; Properties 2s.; Bill Stickers 18s.; Candles, Oyl, Lampmen #3 18s. 6d.; Printer #2 13s. 6d.; Total #16 5s. 6d.; Box tickets 680 #170). Ladies and Gentlemen who have taken tickets for the Pit and Boxes are requested to be early at the Theatre, to prevent their being incommoded in getting to their Place. [N.B. 27 June 1767 the Gentleman's Magazine reports that Sg Tenducci "renounced the errors of popery, and embraced the protestant religion in Dublin."] Receipts: #299 19s. (Treasurer's Book). Instead of going to dinner put The Suspicious Husband in my pocket and read Ranger's part at the Somerset Coffee House. Dressed and at half past 5 went into the Front Boxes at Drury Lane to see The Suspicious Husband for the Fund for the Relief of Decayed Actors, being the last time of performing this season. The Pit and Boxes were laid together. Mr Garrick spoke an occasional Prologue and played Ranger. Though in the back row I saw him very well by the help of my glass...Before the Dance Mr Garrick saying that he would not have been able to do it after, in the name of the company and managers thanked the public for the favors received this season. Mr @@ asked me to go to Vauxhall after ye Play, but I chose rather to see Daphne and Amintor ye characters as usual (Neville MS Diary)