Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Abington. Pit and Boxes Laid together. Paid Mr Burges (bricklayer) #116 1s.; Rec'd Mr Burges's Rent to Xmas last (#4 4s. tax deducted) #16 16s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #276 17s. 6d.; Charges: #64 13s.; Profit to Abington: #212 4s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Permission. Positively the last Night of Performing this Season. Benefit for Dancer, Mrs Fearon, and VanRymsdyck. Tickets delivered by Lloyd and Vowell will be taken

Event Comment: Paid author of The Irish Widow, an overcharge on his Bt. 31 Oct. last, #10 10s.; Paid Mr Wallis on note #3 3s.; Mr Nickels for ropes #10 12s.; Mrs Chitty for coals, #47 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #250 4s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Louisa Dudley first time Miss Hopkins very well receiv'd (Hopkins Diary). Mrs Smith being hoarse, the Wedding Ring deferr'd. Paid Miss Berkley on note 25 Aug. #2 2s.; Mrs Sykes for women's Cloaths #21. Receipts: #163 16s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted in 7 years. [See 20 Feb. 1767.] Mr Barry being ill Mr Palmer play'd the Bastard--with applause $Mrs Barry not so well in Constance as was expected (Hopkins Diary). Paid properties #2 8d. Receipts: #162 18s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bradshaw, Mrs Millidge, Mrs Johnston. Afterpiece by Allan Ramsay, with the Original Music, New Accompanyments, and a New Medley Scotch Overture. By Particular Desire. Paid Properties #1 17s. 7d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #207 15s. Charges: #65 10s. Profits: #142 5s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Music by Fisher. The whole to conclude with a Capital Scene by Servandoni. Books of the Songs, Chorusses &c. [of the afterpiece] to be had at the Theatre. [Customary note on all succeeding bills advertising the Sylphs this season. Mrs Williams was probably Mrs Willems.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A Tragedy never performed there. Mrs Yates first appearance this stage in 8 years. This Play is from the Orestes of Voltaire Mrs Yates who has been at Covent Garden these 8 years is now return'd & chose to make her first appearance in the part of Electra. Mr Garrick wrote an Excellent Prologue & Epilogue for the Occasion both of which were greatly receiv'd With great Applause. The Play is very dull & heavy & Mrs Yates wanted Spirit greatly in the part of Electra had but little Applause (Hopkins Diary). Paid salary list 5 days at #91 8s. 10d. #457 4s. 2d.; Mr French on acct #5 5s. (Treasurer's Book). [From Westminster Magazine, Oct. (of the mainpiece): From its want of business, it is a very heavy, tedious performance. Most of the scenes are mere declamations; and a certain air of coldness and apathy, which is the peculiar characteristic of French drama, runs thro the whole, which must ever render it unpleasing as well as uninteresting to an English Audience." Gave a severe comment on the Prologue with its theme "home is home be it ever so homely." Preferred the Epilogue. The perspective scenery of Argosv, the Palace of Aegisthusv, and the Tomb of Agamemnonv, designed by Loutherbourg, and painted by Messrs French and Roy, were warm and spirited, and the dresses elegant and characteristic."] Receipts: #243 17s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: [Lady who played Mrs Oakly identified as Mrs Hunter by Hopkins MS Notes.

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A New Comedy (by Hugh Kelly] of 2 Acts never perform'd. [Written, as the author states in his Advertisement to the Edition of 1774, at the instigation of and on the inspiration of Mrs Abington. The Larpent MS 379 lists a partial cast and the lengths for each part: 10 Hector Strangeways-Mrs Green; 7 1!2 Zelinda 1!2 Jenny-....(A Length was 42 lines of dialogue.)] [From the +Westminster Magazine, Dec: Though there is scarce anything new in the Plot, Characters, Dialogue of this piece; yet upon the whole we found it extremely entertaining. The Indian servant is well introduced to satirize the follies and vices of the metropolis; and Sir Hector and his son give us a good dish of sea terms, well served up by Messrs $Shuter">Shuter; 7 Brownlow-$Bensley; 5 Ormsby-$Clarke; 6 Bussora-...; 5 +Orson-...; 6 +Pillage-$Dunstall; 1!2 Servant-...; 5 +Lady Strangeways-$Mrs Green; 7 1!2 Zelinda 1!2 Jenny-....(A Length was 42 lines of dialogue.)] [From the +Westminster Magazine, Dec: Though there is scarce anything new in the Plot, Characters, Dialogue of this piece; yet upon the whole we found it extremely entertaining. The Indian servant is well introduced to satirize the follies and vices of the metropolis; and Sir Hector and his son give us a good dish of sea terms, well served up by Messrs $Shuter and Quick."

Event Comment: Benefit for Wright, Messink, and Widow Rooker. Receipts: #188 14s. Charges: #74 14s. Pbofits to Messink, Mrs Wright, Mrs Rooker: #114 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A Pantomime Entertainment not acted these eight years. [See 20 Oct. 1768.] New Scenes, Dresses and other Decorations. Doors open at 5 o'clock. To begin exactly at 6 o'clock. Theatrical intelligence, Covent Garden: Mrs Hunter, lately returned from Ireland was very well receiv'd in Mrs Oakly, and to do her justice she played the part throughout better than it has been performed for some time at either house. The labourings of Mr Wroughton's jealousy in Oakly reminded us of the progressive workings of a fatt of small beer, when inflated with powerful yeast....Orpheus and Eurydice was reviv'd after the play-the dullest of all dull Pantomimes (Harlequin's Jacket excepted). The two additional scenes we were summoned by the bills to behold, are two of the late memorable regatta:-The first is a perspective of Ranelagh Gardensv to the water, illuminated with party-coloured lamps, which terminates with the temporary obelisk erected on that occasion:-Behind this we just catch the streamers of the barges and etc., supposed to be rowing up to the stairs, and landing their company, to martial music and under the discharge of cannon, imitated by the unnatural slamming of one of the Green Room doors. This scene, however, had a tolerable appearance, but being on too confined a scale, its intended effect must have been lost. The other represented the inside of as much of the Temple of Neptunev as was possible to give the spectators in a theatre:-we cannot extol it by any means as a perfect representation:-and to prevent it coming too near the original, Harlequin, Perot, Pantaloon, and etc. were made to lounge in the orchestra instead of its being occupied by a good band of music:-in short the whole pantomime went off rather flat. It is recommended to the managers here never to suffer the scene shifters to appear again in such garb as they did; old greasy plush waistcoats, with red-stocking sleeves!-such a habit may be in keeping with a blacksmaith's forge, but not for a theatre royal in the metropolis of a polished country (Folger News Clipping)

Event Comment: With New Music, Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations for the Afterpiece. This Farce is brought on the Stage by Mrs Abington--it is very dull--It is vastly well got up and was receiv'd with Applause (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly, mentioning Bickerstaff as the author. Larpent MS 397 contains elaborate stage direction at opening: "An interior apartment in the Seraglio. An arch in the middle of the back scene, which is shut with a curtian. On the right hand toward the front is a sopha in the Turkish manner, low deep, and long, covered with carpets and cushions. A little gold table about eight inches high and a foot and a half square. Upon it a rich or gold saver set with jewels, with two cups on porcelain, and a spoon made of the beak of an Indian bird, which is redder than coral, extremely rare and of extensive price." This may have been intended for a reading audience. In the piece Mrs Abington, an English slave , rebels in the confines of the Seraglio, and start a reform movement wherein men are to please the women. Concludes with demostration of the nobility of English women who will not be enslaved, who will not flatter, who will preserve their liberty and dignity, and who are capable of returning love for honor and respect. Reviewed in Westminster Magazine for Dec.: "The Audience appeared to be divided in their opinion of the merit of the Sultan, some loudly applauding, and others as loudly condemning it, when the curtain dropped. The Majority however, stood firmly for it, and a verdict was returned in its favor. The managers not only well dressed this dramatic trifle, but bestowed three new scenes on it: The Outer Gate of the Seraglio--An Interior view of it--and a Garden terminating in a prospect of the sea. The first was but la! la! The last two were beautiful and picturesque. Five airs were introduced into this piece which had a very good effect....The music of the two first was the composition of Mr Dibdin, and was exceedingly pretty."] Receipts: #143 1s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The Grecian Daughter cannot be perform'd on account of Mr and Mrs Barry's Indisposition

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never performed before. New Scenes and Dresses. This Comedy is a first production of Mrs Cowley--It was receiv'd with very great Applause-Indeed the performers play'd very well and deserv'd it--the Prologue was written by the Author of the Play dull and Mr Gar. wrote a most Excellent Epilogue quite Local--which was received with uncommon Applause (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly. Mainpiece reviewed in the Westminster Magazine for Feb.: "As we have lately been much afflicted with the melancholy fate of theatrical authors, we have a pleasure more than common in the great sucess of this piece."] Receipts: #256 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Yates. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Part of pit laid into boxes. Send servants at 4 o'clock. Tickets delivered for Cyrus (for this night) will be taken. [The Epilogue is Larpent MS 408. N.B. The Treasurer's Account Book for this year differs from those of the preceding five in not recording the income from tickets delivered out for benefit nights. See Comment, 23 Sept. 1775. The box receipts for benefit performances during this season, therefore, are not an accurate reflection of the popularity of a play.] Paid Mr Stainer for Music #2 4s. 9d. Receipts: #147 19s. 6d. Charges: #68 10s. Profits to Mrs Yates: #79 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Smith. The Farce was much hiss'd (Hopkins Diary). The overture and Songs in it entirely new, composed by Theodore Smith. The farce by Thomas Hull. Paid 1!2 years Poor's rate to Xmas last #32 9s. 6d. Receipts: #98 6s. Charges: #70 6s. Profits to Mrs Smith: #28 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Wrighten. This Farce wrote by Mr Vaughan pretty well receiv'd (Hopkins Diary). [The Westminster Magazine for April damned the afterpiece as to plot and characters. Allowed it passible only as a beneift piece.] Paid 2 extra flutes 10s. Receipts: #90 5s. Charges: #66 9s. Profits to Mr and Mrs Wrighten: #23 16s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bradshaw and Mrs Johnston. Paid Mr Parsons in lieu of Benefit #105. Receipts: #73 17s. Charges: #64 15s. Profits to Mrs Bradshaw and Mrs Johnston: #9 1s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Waldron and Mrs Greville. Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. [See 23 April 1772.] Mrs Greville Sir Harry Wildair very bad (Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #58 4s. Charges: #65 19s. Deficit to Waldron and Mrs Greville: #7 15s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Waldron & Mrs Greville. Public Advertiser, 19 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Waldron, No. 16, Glanville-street, Rathbone Place; of Mrs Greville at the Orange Warehouse, the Corner of King-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #178 15s. (69.0; 15.1; 0.0; tickets: 94.14) (charge: #74 14s.)

Event Comment: [Extra night] By Permission [of the Lord Chamberlain]. Benefit for Mrs Jewell. The Out-standing Tickets of Mr Jewell [from his benefit on 3 Sept.], and those issued for King Richard III will be admitted

Event Comment: By Permission [of the Lord Chamberlain]. Benefit for Mrs Jewell. The out-standing Tickets of Jewell's, for September the 2d, will be admitted

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Sharp and Mrs Brereton. Public Advertiser, 27 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Sharp, No. 10, Bow-street; of Mrs Brereton, No. 11, Tavistock-street. Receipts: #133 9s. 6d. (79.13.0; 25.0.0; 0.8.6; tickets: 28.8.0) (charge: #75 9s. 6d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Walker. Mainpiece: Not acted these 30 years [not acted since 4 Oct. 1722], wrote by Mrs Ccntlivre. Afterpiece: Never performed there. The doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30. Ladies are requested to send their servants by five o'clock to keep places. Tickets to be had of Walker, the Globe, Pall-mall