Event Comment: Mainpiece: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. A few nights ago was buried under the Tower of St Bride's, Mr Benjamin Annable, the best Ringer that was ever known in the world. Till his time Ringing was only call'd an art, but from the strength of his great genius, he married it to the Mathematics and 'tis now a science. This man in figure and ringing was like a Newton in Philosophy, a Ratcliffe in Physic, a Hardwicke in Wisdom and Law, a Handel in Music, a Shakespeare in writing and a Garrick in acting. O Rare Ben! (Public Advertiser). Receipts: #170 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Tickets for Merope will be taken. Benefit for Mr Holland. Tickets at Holland's lodgings, a Peruke-Maker's, opposite Cecil St., Strand. While he was speaking his first Speech to the Ghost, an Ignorant man took up his hat & clapt it upon his head, Holland unconcern'd play'd with it so, & went off wth it, (great Prudence) (Cross). Receipts: #270 (Cross)

Event Comment: During this month was published The Case of Authors...Stated with Regard to Booksellers, the Stage, and the Public by James Ralph. Pages 23-31 condemn both Garrick and Rich for their treatment of authors: "Those who have custody of the stage claim also custody of the Muse...There is no drawback on the profit of the night in old plays....To fly from Garrick in case of any contempt or neglect to Mr Rich, is enough to deter any man in his senses from embarking a second time on such a hopeless voyage.

Event Comment: Benefit for the Use of the Marine Society. Towards collecting clothing and equipping the distressed (both men and boys) who are inclined to serve in the Navy. Boxes 10s. 6d. Pit 5s. First Gallery 3s. Upper Gallery 2s. Tickets to be had of Mr John Stephens, Secretary to the society, in Princes St., near the Bank; Batson's Coffee House, Cornhill; and of Mr Varney at the Stage Door, where Places may be taken. As this is the Entertainment exhibited this season for this most beneficial undertaking, by which so many distressed Persons as well as Vagabonds have been preserved and rendered useful in the highest degree, it is hoped the polite, the brave and humane, of both sexes, will shew their approbation of this design, by interesting themselves in the promotion of it

Event Comment: Receipts: #131 7s. 6d. Paid Blackmore for a dark cloth suit of man's cloaths lac'd with broad gold lace #15 15s., and for a dark cloath coat & breeches with a pin satten waistcoat & cuffs embroider'd with silver, #10 10s

Event Comment: Receipts: #146 2s. Paid Meares #5 16s. 6d.; Monck #1 10s.; Hargreaves (smith) #13 6s. 11d.; Kemp, six nights for lamps, #9 12s. At the Bedford tonight & slept [slipt?] in at Covent Garden Mr Bettenson was at the Bedford, we were talking about the Count, a poor man that comes there slept in after the play at Drury Lane Gallery (Hailey, "Brietzcke Diary," Vol. 197, p. 69)

Event Comment: MMr Hartry is oblig'd to postpone his Comic Lecture...being engaged in making many alterations therein. The serious part will be consideredly shortened, some other pieces expunged, and many scenes of humour added, which he hopes will be entertaining. He is extremely troubled that anything in his Lecture on Tuesday should have given offence to any one person present, and is no less concerned that those Ladies and Gentlemen who were desirous to hear him perform (that part which appeared exceptionable to others) were disappointed. He is sorry there was any disaffection either way. He is not conscious of having attempted anything with an intention to offend, or that has not already been allowed of inclusion though more unpardonable. The foibles and peculations of private characters have been brought on the stage by others, those only of public men by him. He hopes it will not appear vain or arrogant to say that after such unequaled peals of applause which he met with for some time while uninterrupted, it would be paying an ill compliment to so crowded and brilliant an audience not to flatter himself will possessing some degree of merit: And if he afterwards failed in any or every particular it was altogether owing (notwithstanding the seeming spirit he assumed) to the confusion he was in at the Party Affair which followed. It was his first appearance in public, and in such a situation it is no wonder he was robb'd of his comic powers; but he hopes when his Lecture is alter'd there will be found in it nothing which can give offense, or deprive him of that generous indulgence to a young performer which characterizes a British audience. [No further performance of the Lecture seems to have been given.

Event Comment: Benefit for the Author. [At the half-price riots (25 Jan.) Moody had stopped a man from setting fire to the house. When called upon to apologize for interfering with a gentleman and for taking the manager's part he thought to restore good humor by assuming the tone of a low-bred Irishman, saying he was sorry he had displeased them by saving their lives and putting out the fire. The reply inflamed the rioters more (Genest, V, p. 15). On 5 Feb. Moody inserted the following apology in the Public Advertiser: Mr Moody begs leave to inform the Public that the impropriety of his behavoir at the theatre was intirely owing to the confusion of mind he was then under; which unhappily for him was misconstrued into disrespect; tho' nothing could at that, or that, or at any other time, be farther from his thoughts. He therefore earnestly hopes and entreats that he may be permitted to appear before them again; as he hereby most humbly asks their pardon for whatever he inadvertently said or did to incur their displeasure."

Event Comment: N.B.: The Cunning Man is oblig'd to be deferr'd. Rec'd Condell's first [fruit concession] payment #20; Paid French on account #20; Mr John Palmer on his note #10. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #127 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Rec'd stopages #3 4s. 6d.; Paid salary list #441 4s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #171 18s. (Treasurer's Book). Pay List 24 Jan. 1767 at #73 10s. 8d. per diem, #441 4s. per week (Winston MS 9), at close of season 1766-67. @Men Daily Weekly@James Lacy #2 15s. 6d. #16 13s.@David Garrick #2 15s. 6d. #16 13s.@#2 18s. 4d. #17 10s.@Yates & Wife #3 6s. 8d. #20@Holland #2 #12@Powell #2 #12@Palmer & Wife #2 #12@King & Wife #2 #12@Dance & Wife #1 1s. 8d. #6 10s.@Hopkins & Wife 18s. 4d. #5 10s.@Havard 16s. 8d. #5@Dodd 16s. 8d. #5@Baddeley & Wife 13s. 4d. #4@Bransby 11s. 8d. #3 10s.@Burton 10s #3@Moody 10s. #3@Rooker 10s. #3@Packer 8s. 4d. #2 10s.@Parsons 8s. 4d. #2 10s.@Aickin 8s. 4d. #2 10s.@Hurst 6s. 8d. #2@Ackman 6s. 8d. #2@Hartry 6s. 8d. #2@Weston 6s. 8d. #2@Clough 5s. #1 10s.@Raftor 5s. #1 10s.@J. Johnston 5s. #1 10s.@J. Palmer 5s. #1 10s.@Castle 4s. 2d. #1 5s.@Strange 4s. 2d. #1 5s.@Fox 4s. 2d. #1 5s.@Marr 3s. 4d. #1@Mas. Burton 3s. 4d. #1@Philips 3s. 4d. #1@Keen 3s. 4d. #1@Watkins 2s. 6d. 15s.@Mortimer 2s. 12s.@West 2s. 12s.@ Women Daily Weekly@Pritchard #2 6s. 8d. #14@Clive #1 15s. #10 10s.@Abington 16s. 8d. #5@Pope 16s. 8d. #5@Barry 10s. #3@Reynolds 8s. 4d. #2 10s.@Bennett 8s. 4d. #2 10s.@Bradshaw 6s. 8d. #2@Lee 6s. 8d. #2@Plym 6s. 8d. #2@Cross 5s. #1 10s.@Simpson 4s. 2d. #1 5s.@Smith@Speres@Miss Simson@Mills@Pearce@Mathews 3s. 4d. each #1@ Singers@Arne #1 10s. #9@Vernon #1 #6@Vincent 16s. 8d. #5@Scott 13s. 4d. #4@Champness 13s. 4d. #4@Dorman 5s. #1 10s.@Fawcett 5s. #1 10s.@Kear 3s. 4d. #1@The Band #7 14s. 8d. 46s. 8d.@ Dancers@Guidetti 17s. 6d. #5 5s.@Grimaldi & Wife 16s. 8d. #5@Giorgi & Wife 16s. 8d. #5@Duquesney 10s. #3@Tassoni 6s. 8d. #2@Granier@Mathews@Roullet@Luchi@Tetley 5s. each #1 10s.@Walker 4s. 2d. #1 5s.@Hurst@Pope@Mas. Lelly@Eagan@Heath 3s. 4d. each #1@Heyward@Reinhold@Wallis@Brawn 2s. 6d. each 15s.@Office Keepers 2 at #1@3 at 15s.@1 at 12s.@Box Keepers 15 Doorkeepers (Palmer included) 9s.@Men Dressers 1 at 12s.@11 at 9s.@Women Dressers 16 at 9s.@Treasurer: Victor 8s. 4d. #2 10s.@Sub. Treas.: 5s. #1@Wardrobe: Heath & Wife 6s. 8d. #2@Wardrobe: Slaughter 5s. #1 10s.@Wardrobe: Johnston 3s. 4d. #1@Properties: Berkely Jr 3s. 4d. #1@Properties: D Jr 1s. 9d. 10s. 16d.@Numberer: Fosbrook 2s. 6d. 15s.@Housekeepers: Johnson 8s. 10d. #2 13s.@Hulett 2s. 6d. 15s.@Sceneman 1s. 8d. 6s. 4d.@Soldiers 14s. #4 4s.@Sweepers 11s. 6d. #3 9s.@Barber 4s. #1 4s.@Constable 2s. 12s.@Candlewoman 2s. 12s.@Pensioner: Waldgrave 1s. 9d. 10s. 6d.@Sinking Fund 1s. 15d. 10s. 10d.@Salary Fund 1s. 15d. 10s. 10d.