Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Hamilton. Mainpiece: Not acted these 16 years. Ladies send sevants by 3 o'clock. Mrs Hamilton is obliged to change her Farce on account of Miss Brent's indisposition. Receipts: #85 10s. 6d. in cash, plus #161 1s. from tickets (Boxes 230; Pit 481; Gallery 314). Total income #246 11s. 6d. Charges #64 5s. Paid Stede a bill for writing #10 13s. 6d. Paid Mr Long for 3 dozen drums #2 14s. [To the house charges this season Rich adds extras: candles (wax) #1 5s.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted this season. [The Ode, by Robert Lloyd and A. Murphy (according to J. P. Kemble's note on the playbill), combines an Elegy on the death of George II with a compliment on the accession of George III.

Event Comment: Comedy Never Acted before. All the Characters New Dress'd. No money return'd after the Curtain is up. [By Macklin. Not printed. Plot account in Kirkman, Life of Macklin. It persisted for nine nights against continual opposition (Genest, IV, 625).] Boxes #95 17s. Macklin's fifth above house charges: #31 15s. 9d. (Account Book). [See note, 2 Feb.] Receipts: #221 19s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Hamilton. Mainpiece: Not acted in 10 years. [See 16 Jan. 1753.] Afterpiece: By Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Ladies send servants by 3 o'clock. Receipts: #56 16s. plus #154 13s. from tickets (Box 203; Pit 514; Gallery 268) (Account 8ook). Charges: #64 5s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Beaumont and Fletcher, reviv'd. Afterpiece: Not acted these three years. [See 8 Aug. 1761.] Mr Powell made his first appearance this Night in Philaster. His Reception was very great, he play'd the part amazingly well, & Seems to have Requisites to make a very Capital Performer. N.B. Covent Garden Theater begun to play every Night (Hopkins). Philaster by Mr Powell. Prodigious applause (Cross Diary). This play [Philaster] was wrote by Beaumont and Fletcher, and is now altered by Mr Colman. Mr Powell, a young gentleman clerk to Sir Robert Ladbrook, made his first appearance in the character of Philaster.--A greater reception was never shown to anybody,--he was so very much frightened, he could not speak for some time, and, when he did, the tears ran fast down his cheeks,--but he soon recovered himself, and went through the part with a great deal of nature and feeling,--Continued claps and huzza of bravo! &c. &c. Upon the whole I think him possessed of every requisite necessary to make him an ornament to the stage.--N.B. Mr D. Garrick instructed him in this part--when I see him in another shall be able to judge better of his capabilities.--Miss Pope appeared this Night in the character of Maria in the Citizen,--by endeavoring to be very fine she overdid it,--and it was plain to see she wanted her master. N.B.--Covent Garden began to play of our nights--the first time they ever begin first since Mr Garrick was manager (Hopkins Diary--MacMillan). Receipts: #258 11s. 6d. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 15 years. [See 26 Dec. 1746.] Afterpiece: By Desire

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted this season

Event Comment: For the benefit of Mr Love and Mr Sanderson for the pantomime (Hopkins Dairy). Characters in Mainpiece dress'd in the habits of the times. Not acted these two years. [See 4 Jan. 1764.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted this season. Benefit for the Increase of a Fund Establish'd by the Performers at the Theatre Royal Covent Garden, for the support of such actors, and their families, who from age or infirmities shall be incapable of their business. Such of the Nobility, Gentry, &c., who are pleased to favour this undertaking, are desir'd to send for places, Box or Pit tickets to Mr Sarjant at the Stage-Door. Charges #65. Profits to the Fund #13617s., plus #22 6s. from tickets (Box 82, Pit 12). Paid Mr Weller as per bills for property and machinery in Faustus #14 13s. (Account Book). Receipts: #201 17s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Comedy (by Colman) never before acted. [Prologue is Larpent MS 265, super patriotism.] Rec'd stopages #3 13s. 6d.; Paid salary list #441 4s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #235 3s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Poitier. Afterpiece: Alter'd from Addison. The Music entirely new set by Mr Arnold. [Original three acts reduced to two.] To be performed for this night only. Charges #75 14s. [Profit to Mrs Thompson #59 7s. 6d. plus #48 9s. from tickets (Box 135; Pit 98) (Account Book). As indicated by the name Mrs Thompson in the Account Book, Miss Poitier was already married by this time, although she does not appear in the Bills under the name Mrs Thompson until 16 Sept. 1767. She was first married to Vernon, the singer at Drury Lane.] Receipts: #135 1s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: A Tragedy for Warm Weather. Written after the manner of the Worst, as well as the Best of the English Poets, containing amongst a Variety of Particulars, curious, entertaining, and pathetic, the Rebellion of the Journeymen Taylors on the Score of Wages, etc. Neville MS Diary: Half past Six went to ye Haymarket Theatre but could not get into ye Pit or first Gallery, so stood on ye last row of the shilling Gallery, tho' I could see little, to see how ye Taylors, a new tragedy for warm weather, would go off, being the first night of its performance. 3rd Act hiss'd-ye Gods in ye shilling Gallery called for ye Builder's Prologue-hissed off ye part of ye Old Maid twice and Davies who came to make an excuse. The Gentlemen, many of whom were there, cried No Prologue" but to no purpose. At last Foote said if he knew their demands he would be ready to comply with them. The noise ceasing, after some time he was told the Builder's Prologue was desired. He said he had done all in his power to get the performers, having seen them. After some time he came and informed them he had got the performers together, and if the House would be pleased to accept of ye Prologue in our dresses as we are you shall have it." This was followed by great clapping which shows the Genius of our English mobility ever generous after victory. Left ye House after ye Farce began. [Flints were journeymen tailors who refused to comply with the masters' terms and the regulations of the magistrate, in contradistinction to those who submitted and were in derision stiled Dungs. The term dates from 1764-OED. An extract from the Occasional Prologue (the Builder's Prologue) in prose on the opening of the Theatre Royal in the Haymarket, by Foote published in the London Magazine July 1767, p. 351. Foote, Scaffold, and Prompter are the three participants. Foote tells Scaffold he will be paid by the audience. Scaffold notes that the audience must in that case be pleased at all times. Foote promises no long processions [will] crowd my narrow scenes." He assumes that any of the reforms he plans will but echo the public voice. The Prompter then calls the actors on.

Event Comment: At 5 went into the Pit at Covent Garden to see Mrs Yates do Lady Townly. Yates is an excellent Sir Francis, but Powell does not shine in Lord Townly....The Entertainment was the new comedy in two acts called the Oxonian in Town, with a prologue by Woodward in the character of a student....It being suspected that a number of sharpers whose characters and practices are laid open in this piece, would attempt to damn it tonight (the 3rd of its being Performed) under pretence of its casting odium on the Irish, bills were dispersed in the House during the play vindicating it from any such intention. Woodward was allowed to speak the prologue, but as soon as the curtain drew up catcalls began. When the performers retired, Powell spoke several times, but was not heard. I was told that the author (Mr Colman) desires to know whom he has offended. The Pros were a very great majority, and at last after a contest of better than 1!2 an hour, the victory was over and the piece was performed. I think it contains many good sentiments, and excellent instruction to young men and is not unworthy of Mr Colman. If vice must not be exposed to hatred and contempt, the usefulness of our theatres is at an end. Only I think the Covent Garden pleasures are represented in too favourable a light. When all was over Powell came on the stage and thanked the audience for their generous protection (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #212 12s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted for three years. [See 24 Jan. 1766.

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Clive. Part of Pit laid into Boxes

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bellamy. Mainpiece: Never acted there. Thomas and Sally oblig'd to be deferr'd on account of Indisposition of Mrs Pinto (playbill). Charges #64 5s. balance to Mrs Bellamy #62 15s. plus #110 8s. in tickets (Box 293; Pit 231) (Account Book). Receipts: #127 (Account Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A Pantomine not acted these two years. [See 22 Sept. 1768.] Alterations to The Elopement (Cross Diary). [The Rejoicing Night Scene described in Town and Country Magazine (from Theatre No XXI) as representing Ludgate Street and St Paul's with Houses illuminated.

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: Mainpiece: A New Comedy [by R. B. Sheridan] never perform'd. New Scenes and Dresses. [Gentleman's Magazine for Jan. states: "Tuesday 17, Was performed for the first time at Covent Garden a comedy call'd The Rivals, said to be written by Mr Sheridan. Some objections being made both to language and character, the author has thought proper to withdraw his piece for correction, and it has since been played with applause." See 18 and 28 Jan. The Westminster Magazine, Jan., remarked: "This comedy was acted so imperfectly, either from the timidity of the actors on a first night's performance, or from an improper distribution of parts, that it was generally disapproved....The author promised some alterations, which implied that he would be glad the Town would suspend judgment till a farther hearing" See 28 Jan. John Hampden quotes from Lloyd's Evening Post, 18 Jan., the Morning Chronicle and Morning Post of the same date, and the London Chronicle of 19 Jan. articles damning the casting and the imperfectness of the actors, the impudence of Shuter in particular, and the fatigue of the audience.

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).