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: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Gave King's footmen by Desse #2 2s.; his chairmen by Wright #2 2s.; Queen's footmen by Rumford #2 2s.; her Chairmen by Webster #2 2s. (Account Book). Receipts: #135 14s

Event Comment: Benefit for Hopkins, Prompter, and Mrs Hopkins. By Particular Desire. Tickets deliver'd for Mary Queen of Scots will be taken (playbill). Miss Hopkins made her first appearance upon the stage in Celia in As You Like It. Was rec'd with great applause (Hopkins Diary). House charges: #74 14s.; Profit to beneficiaries: #165 2s. Receipts: #239 16s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Pitt, Mrs Dyer, and Stoppelaer. Tickets deliver'd for The Albion Queens will be taken. Receipts: #41 (Account Book). Charges: #64 10s. Deficit to each beneficary #7 16s. 8d., cover'd by income from tickets (Account Book): @Tickets Box Pit Gallery Value@Mrs Pitt 32 195 138 #51 6s.@Mrs Dyer 55 97 91 #37 8s.@Stoppelaer 107 238 164 #78 17s.@Total 194 530 393 #167 11s.

Event Comment: Gave King's Footmen by Heron #2 2s., and Chairmen by Jupp, #2 2s.; Queen's Footmen by Burton 2s., and chairmen by Jones #2 2s.; Duke of Gloucester's footmen by Scalkavy #2 2s., and Duke of Cumberland's by Malme 2s. (Account Book). Receipts: #135 18s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. [From the Westminster Magazine for March: "On Friday the third instant the Entertainments peculiar to this season commenced. Messrs Bach and Abel were first, and have been at each successive Oratorio since (one night excepted when the King and Queen favored Mr Stanley, with bringing the only good House he has hitherto had), honoured with the presence of their Majesties, who have been accused, we think justly, of partiality to these foreigners, in overlooking Mr Stanley's past services and great personal merits. Justice, however, requires us to observe, that both in point of vocal and instrumental performers, the former have displayed a striking superiority over the latter. The singers at Messrs Bach and Abel's are, Parry, Corse, Mrs Weichsel, Miss Brown and Sga Corri. At Drury Lane, Norris, Reinhold, Mrs Mattocks, Mrs Barthelemon, and a young Lady from the Founding Hospital."

Event Comment: Prelude and Mainpiece By Command of their Majesties. Jane Shore is oblig'd to be deferr'd on Account of Mrs Yates's being incapable of performing. [MacMillan's note from Kemble "Mr Smith Kitely -dull enough" does not appear in the Folger, Hopkins Diary.] King and Queen Present. Rec'd from Mr Reddish on Acct #50. Paid Printer's Bill #14 12s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). [This weekly payment throughout the season averaged #9 6s., for a total payment of #353 8s. No further itemization of it will be made.] Receipts: #284 11s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

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)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 12 years. [See 26 April 1763.] This Comedy is reviv'd for the Queen to See Mr G. in Sir Anthony Bramble which he perfkrmed inimitably--he wrote and spoke a New Address to the Ladies in the Character of Sr. Anto. which was receiv'd with very great Applause. The Play is long and heavy (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly.] Paid salary list #624 6s. 6d.; Westminster Charity Subscription #5 5s.; Griffith 3 weeks 15s.; Mrs Greville for cloaths in Irish Widow, #5 9s. Receipts: #273 1s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Wilks. Tickets to be had of Mrs Wilks, at Jones's, Upper Queen-street

Event Comment: Benefit for Leoni. Public Advertiser, 31 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Leoni at Basire's No. 34, Great Queen-street, Lincoln's Inn Fields. Receipts: #231 6s. 6d. (118.8.6; tickets: 112.18.0) (charge: free)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Macklin [and her last appearance on the stage]. Public Advertiser, 3 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Miss Macklin, No. 59, Great Queen-street, Lincoln's Inn Fields. Receipts: #191 16s. (151.6; tickets: 40.10) (charge: #64 10s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Dunstall. Public Advertiser, 3 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Dunstall, Little Queen-street, Lincoln's Inn Fields. Receipts: #282 10s. 6d. (70.17.6 tickets: 211.13.0) (charge: #64 5s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Leoni. Public Advertiser, 19 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Leoni, No. 34, Great Queen-street, Lincoln's-inn-fields. Receipts: #234 8s. 6d. (174.19.6; tickets: 59.9.0) (charge: free)

Event Comment: Benefit for Dodd. Public Advertiser, 21 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Dodd at his house in New Ormond-street, Queen's-square. Receipts: #245 7s. 6d. (102.15.0; 19.9.0; 0.7.6; tickets: 122.16.0) (charge: #68 19s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Webster. Public Advertiser, 19 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Webster, No. 74, Great Queen-street. Receipts: #227 17s. 6d. (120.10.0; 22.0.6; 0.0.0; tickets: 85.7.0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Benefit for Dunstall. Morning Chronicle, 4 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Dunstall, Little Queen-street, Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. Receipts: #237 3s. 6d. (79.15.6; tickets: 157.8.0) [charge: #64 5s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Leoni. Public Advertiser, 24 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Leoni, No. 34, Great Queen-street, Lincoln's Inn Fields

Event Comment: Opera: The music by several Eminent Masters [chiefly Bertoni, with additions by Paisiello and Gluck]; under the Direction of Bertoni. Benefit for Pacchierotti. Tickets to be had of Pacchierotti, No. 20, Queen Ann Street, Westminster

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Kennedy. Public Advertiser, 16 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Kennedy at her house, No. 36, Great Queen-street, Lincoln's-inn-fields. Receipts: #231 12s. 6d. (150.16.6; tickets: 80.17.0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Farren. Public Advertiser, 30 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Miss Farren, No. 50, Great Queen-street, Lincoln's-inn-fields. Receipts: #206 2s. 6d. (107.3.0; 29.17.6; 0.11.0; tickets: 68.11.0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Benefit for Farren. Morning Chronicle, 15 Apr.: Tickets to be of Farren, No. 41, Great Queen-street, Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. Receipts: #132 14s. 6d. (42.6.0; 21.10.6; 1.5.0; tickets: 67.13.0) (charge: #64 17s.)

Event Comment: Opera: Performed in the Manner of an Oratorio. The music by Bertoni. Tickets to be had of Bertoni, No. 20, Queen Ann-street, Westminster

Event Comment: Benefit for Du-Bellamy. Public Advertiser, 21 Apr.: Tickets to be had of DuBellamy, No. 6, Queen's Buildings, Brompton. Receipts: #170 17s. 6d. (60.4.0; 18.4.6; 2.1.0; tickets: 90.8.0) (charge: none listed)