Event Comment: Benefit for J. Bannister and Griffiths. Paid subscription to St Martin's Charity School 1 year, #2 2s.; Rec'd of Mr Heath 1 yrs rent to Xmas last #10 (Treasurer's Book). Tickets deliver'd for The Double Gallant and by Mr Harwood will be taken. Receipts: #112 5s. 6d. Charges: #64 11s. Profits to J. Bannister & Griffith: #47 14s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Signr and Signa Crespi. Tickets deliver'd by Everard, Walker, Harwood, Miss Berkley, Mrs Hartle and Mrs Ling will be tataken Receipts: #166 7s. 6d. Charges: #65 7s. Profits to Como and Sga Crespi #101 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Sga Crespi. Tickets deliver'd by Harwood will be taken. Rec'd Stopages #14 14s. Paid half yrs. paving #19 13s. 9d.; three quarters land and Window tax (Covent Garden Parish) #12 2s. 9d.; Ditto for paving #6; Ditto for Rector's rate 13s. 4d.; Duke of Bedford's Rent half year to Lady day last #164 2s. 10d. Receipts: #25 17s. Charges: #66 18s. 6d. Deficit to Sga Crespi: #41 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: This being the Last time of Mr G. performing he generously gave the Profits of the Night to the Theatrical Fund, he spoke the Usual prologue & after the play he went forward & address'd the Audience in so pathetic a Manner as draw Tears from the Audience & himself & took his leave of them forever (Hopkins Diary). [Accounts of the farewell address in the Morning Post and in Davies; Life of Garrick.] So Ends the Season 67 different Play 32 different Farce 189 Nights in all (Hopkins Diary). N.B. The profits of this night appropriated to the benefit of the Theatrical Fund: Cash #309 2s.; After Money #2 10s. 6d. Received #311 12s. 6d. Paid #36 5s. 9d. viz: @Renters #8@Supernumeraries & Kettle Drum #2 11s.@Soldiers 14s.@Extra Constables #1 10s. 6d.@Candles, Oyl & Lampmen #3 18s. 6d.@Carpenters Extras #2 1s.@Music Band #7 18s. 9d.@Messrs. Legg, Lauchery, Larivere, Garland & Langlois Salary #1 13s. 4d.@Sundry Doorkeepers & Servants #7 18s. 8d. @#36 5s. 9d.@Rec'd #311 12s. 6d.@Paid #36 5s. 9d.@Remains #275 6s. 9d.@Brought Fd #62 3s. 7d. from 10th May@Total #337 10s. 4d.@ N.B. The above sum of the two Nights for Theatrical Fund-order'd by Mr Garrick this 25th day of June 1776 to be paid into the hands of Mr Hatsell (Treasurer's Book). AFTER SEASON RECEIPTS (Treasurer's Book): 11 June: Rec'd Box office keeper's cash #25; Candles, Oil &c. the 2nd Fund night #7 17s.; From Mr Dodd in Full #21. 24 June: From Sinking Fund (3rd) in full #963 10s.; From Grimaldi on acct #70; From Mrs Smith (singer) in full #31 10s. 2 July: From Public Advertiser for this season #50; Gazetteer ditto #50. 4 July: Their Majesties Acct this season #76; from Mr Harrison one yrs. rent Land tax deducted #37 5s. 5 July: From Mr Parsonage 1 yr. & one quarter rent to Midsummer (tax deducted) #53 15s. 15 July: From Mr Pope 1 yr. & one quarter rent to Mids. Last (taxes deducted) #35 12s. 6d.; Mr Heath 1 yr. and 1!2 Rent to Mids last #15. 19 July: From Mrs Johnston 1 yr. & one quarter rent to Mids. last #7 10s.; Mrs Groath 1!2 year to ditto #1 10s. Mr Percy three quarters Rent to ditto #7 10s.; Mr Waterer five quarters rent to ditto (land tax deducted) #51 7s. 25 July: Sundry forfeits taken up by Evans #38 5s. AFTER SEASON EXPENDITURES (Treasurer's Book): 11 June: Five days salary to sundries at #88 2s. 10d. per diem #440 14s. 2d.; George Garrick in full of #400 #5 13s. 4d.; Slingsby in full of #350 #1 3s. 4d.; Everard on note #10 10s.; Davis on note #21; Mr King to make up #500 in full #32 10s.; Lauchery on note #15 15s.; Mr Page in full of #25 #1 12s. 6d. 28 June: To Lord Walpole for one year's acting season #315; Mr Highly in Full of his building acct #85 19s.; Ditto for 3 yrs. ground rent to the 24th inst. #42. [For explanation of Walpole payment, see Boaden, Garrick Correspondence, II, 155 an involved agreement re an annuity dating from October 1761, now being collected because of new taxes on Carriages, and because Lady Walpole was footsore and would walk nowhere.] 20 June: Adelphi Tavern Bill & Waiters #20 10s. 6d.; Mr Park, chorus 4 nights in full #1 10s.; Mr R. Johnston's property Bills in full #33 1s. 6d. 24 June: Mr D. Garrick in full of #1,300 #235 13s. 2d.; Mr R. Harwood's gratuity #5 5s. 2 July: One yrs. subscription for St George's Hospital for both the managers #10 10s. 5 July: Three quarter's rent pd for Miss Abrahams at Gardners #37 10s. 9 July: Blakes (hatter) #11 15s.; Mrs Chitty (coals) #94 17s.; Hadley & Co., Engine, #12 12s.; Thomson (smith) #6 15s.; Barrow & Co., Oil, #108 13s. 6d.; Ireland (upholsterer) #17 2s. 6d.; Stevens (mason) #42 7s. 6d.; Hewetson (laceman) #9 2s.; Racket (taylor) #16 9s.; Barret (wax chandler) #14 5s.; Waller (hosier) #11 5s. 11 July: Machin, Chorus singer, #6, Bibb (sword cutler) #2 5s.; Gardner (shoemaker) #3 2s.; Marshall (plumber) #4 13s.; Stacey (colourman) #4 17s. 15 July: Daley (sadler) #5 5s.; Scott (copperlace) #25 14s. 6d.; Norfolk (glazier) #3 7s.; Carpue (silk Dyer) #18 13s.; Mrs Carter (scowerer) #1 14s. 6d.; Chettle (timber) #4 6s. 7d.; Pope, for Wiggs, #12 12s.; ditto for 81 extra nights dressing #8 2s.; Mr Preston 69 nights dressing Mr Garrick #5 3s. 6d.; Hatsell (mercer) #47 3s. 16 July: Powney (stationer) #2 10s.; Jennings (glover) #25 17s. 6d.; Prior (turner) #9 5s. 6d; Hopkin's Prompter's bill #13 18s.; Palmer for Sperma. Candles #7 14s.; Kirkman (harpsicord maker) #13 17s. 6d.; Hele (surveyor) #26 10s. 19 July: Mrs Garwood (laundress) #2 12s. 8d.; a Green coat for Mr Garrick #3 3s.; Mr Woods, chorus, 63 nights in full, #15 15s.; Mr French's bills in full #235 3s. 6d. 22 July: Mr Waterer, Black Lyon dinner Bills #56 8s. 6d. 25 July: Mrs Vaughan (haberdasher) #3 18s. 6d.; Cubit (tinman) #2 15s.; Kirk (housekeeper) three quarter's salary to Midummer #30; Victor's gratuity and two weeks salary #35; Evans in lieu of Benefit #42 and 2 weeks salary #3; Mr Westley 2 weeks salary #1 10s. AFTER SEASON COMPUTATION: DRURY LANE 1775-1776: Books closed 25 July 1776. @Total income #37,917 3s. 10d.@Total Expense #33,453 18s. 4d.@Profit #4,463 5s. 6d. divided as follows:@Mr Clutterbuck #1,000@Managers #3,240@ In Victor's hands #223 5s. 6d. [presumably for summer expenses and opening the next season. The Treasurer's Book also mentions a sum of #575 18s. 8d. at Mr Clutterbucks, without indication of its source or contemplated use.

Event Comment: Benefit for R. Palmer, Harwood, Walker & Kirk, housekeeper. Receipts: #287 5s. (27.17; 4.18; 0.6; tickets: 254.4) (charge: #64 4s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for R. Palmer, Harwood & Thompson. Tickets delivered by Dale will be taken. Receipts: #273 5s. [51.12; 9.14; 0.3; tickets: 211.16) (charge:#105)

Event Comment: Benefit for Burton and Harwood, prompter. Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years [not acted since 27 Oct. 1774]. Tickets delivered by the Miss Stageldoirs will be taken. Tickets sold at the Doors will not be admitted. Receipts: #208 9s. 6d. (37.17.0; 26.6.6; 0.16.0; tickets: 143.10.0) (charge: none listed)

Event Comment: Paid Prompter [Harwood] #4 8s. 2d. Receipts: #191 13s. (140/15/0; 50/10/6; 0/7/6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Burton and Harwood, prompter. King continuing so ill that it is impossible for him to perform this Evening, Waldron has kindly undertaken the Part of Sir Peter Teazle at a very short notice, and most humbly hopes for the indulgence of the Public. Receipts: #209 15s. 6d. (35/3/0; 15/10/6; 0/5/0; tickets: 158/17/0) (charge: #106 13s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Burton and Harwood, prompter. Tickets sold at the Doors will not be admitted. Receipts: #160 6s. 6d. (18/7/0; 10/13/6; 0/0/0; tickets: 131/6/0) (charge: #106 17s. 11d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Burton and Harwood, prompter. 2nd piece [1st time; INT 1, author unknown. MS: Larpent 702, not published]. Receipts: #180 15s. 6d. (21/4/0; 13/16/6; 1/0/0; tickets: 144/15/0) (charge: #105 17s. 1d.}

Event Comment: Paid Harwood [former prompter] Gratuity on his Dismission #25. Receipts: #195 16s. (168.9; 27.2; 0.5)

Event Comment: Sir Ralph Verney, 11 May 1670: The King & Duke are at dover...all the Towne is gonn, & the Kings Musicke, & Duke's players, & all the Bravery that could be got on such a sudden (Memoirs of the Verney Family [London, 1899], IV, 201). See also a newsletter, 17 May 1670 (HMC, Fleming MSS. 12th Report, VII, 70)

Event Comment: John Verney to Sir Ralph Verney, 25 April 1675: The King on Saturday night sent for the keys from the Earl of Clarendon--'tis said the reason is, that last Thursday a play was acted at court, and after orders given that no more should be let in, his lordship came to the door, which the guard refused to open, tho' he told them who he was, on which he broke it open and struck a yeoman of the guard. Some say a chamberlain was never before turned out for beating a yeoman of the guard (HMC, 7th Report, Appendix, [1879], p. 464)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. This performance is known from a disturbance which occurred on this day; Langbaine states that the play was Macbeth. John Verney to Sir Ralph Verney, 30 Aug. 1675: On Saturday last, at the Duke's playhouse, Sir Tho. Armstrong killed Mr Scrope....Their quarrel is said to [be] about Mrs Uphill, the player, who came into the house maskt, and Scrope would have entertained discourse with her, which Sir T. Armstrong would not suffer, so a ring was made wherein they fought (HMC Verney MSS., 7th Report, 1879, p. 465). See also The Hatton Correspondence, Camden Society, XXII (1878), 121

Event Comment: Never Acted before. [By James Ralph.

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: [This day Horace Walpole wrote as follows to George Montagu, forshadowing an event to take place on 27 July: "If you will stay with me a fortnight or three weeks, perhaps I may be able to carry you to a play of Mr Bentley's--you stare--but I am in earnest--nay, and de par le roy. In short, here is the history of it. You know the passion he always had for the Italian comedy. About two years ago he writ one, intending to get it offered to Rich--but without his name--he would have died to be supposed an author, and writing [I, 372] for gain. I kept this a most inviolable secret. Judge then of my surprise when about a fortnight or three weeks ago I found my Lord Melcomb reading this very Bentleiad in a circle at my Lady Hervey's. Cumberland had carried it to him, with a recommendatory copy of verses, containing more incense to the King and my Lord Bute, than the Magi brought in their portmanteaus to Jerusalem. The idols were propitious, and to do them justice, there is a great deal of wit in the piece, which is called The Wishes or Harlequin's Mouth Opened. A bank note of #200 was sent from the Treasury to the author, and the play ordered to be performed by the summer company. Foote was summoned to Lord Melcomb's, where Parnassus was composed of the peer himself, who, like Apollo as I am going to tell you, was dozing, the two Chief Justices and Lord Bute. Bubo read the play himself, with handkerchief and orange by his side. But the curious part is a prologue which I never saw. It represents the god of verse fast asleep by the side of Helicon. The race of modern bards try to wake him, but the more they repeat of their works, the louder he snores. At last "Ruin seize thee ruthless King" is heard, and the god starts from his trance. This is a good thought, but will offend the bards so much, that I think Dr Bentley's son will be abused at least as much as his father was. The prologue concludes with young Augustus, and how much he excels the ancient one, by the choice of his friend. Foote refused to act this prologue, and said it was too strong. 'Indeed,' said Augustus's friend, 'I think it is.' They have softened it a little, and I suppose it will be performed. You may depend upon the truth of all this; but what is much more credible, is that the comely young author appears every night in the Mall in a milkwhite coat with a blue cape, disclaims any benefit, and says he has done with the play now it is out of his own hands, and that Mrs Hannah Clio alias Bentley writ the best scenes in it. He is going to write a tragedy, and she, I suppose, is going--to court."--Horace Walpole's Correspondence with George Montagu. Ed. W. S. Lewis and Ralph S. Brown Jr (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1941), I, 372-73. [IX, 372-373.

Event Comment: Never acted. [See Genest's comment (IV, 618) derived from Cumberland and the London Magazine-its appeal to the fashionable circles, its damnation at first performance because of the hanging of Harlequin in full view, and its modification thereafter. See 18 June and Horace Walpole to George Montagu [Arlington Street] July 28, 1761: I came to town yesterday through clouds of dust to see The Wishes, and went ac- [I, 381] tually feeling for Mr Bentley, and full of the emotions he must be suffering. What do [you] think in a house crowded was the first thing I saw! Mr and Madam Bentley perked up in the front boxes and acting audience at his own play--no, all the impudence of false patriotism never came up to it! Did one ever hear of an author that had couraee to see his own first night in public? I don't believe Fielding or Foote himself ever did--and this was the modest bashful Mr Bentley, that died at the thought of being known for an author, even by his own acquaintance! In the stage-box was Lady Bute, Lord Halifax and Lord Melcomb-I must say the two last entertained the house as much as the play-your King was prompter, and called out to the actors every minute to speak louder-the other went backwards and forwards behind the scenes, fetched the actors into the box, and was busier than Harlequin. The curious prologue was not spoken, the whole very ill-acted. It turned out just what I remembered it, the good parts extremely good, the rest very flat and vulgar-the genteel dialogue I believe might be written by Mrs Hannah. The audience was extremely fair. The first act they bore with patience, though it promised very ill-the second is admirable and was much applauded-so was the third-the fourth woeful-the beginning of the fifth it seemed expiring, but was revived by a delightful burlesque of the ancient chorus-which was followed by two dismal scenes, at which people yawned-but were awakened on a sudden by Harlequin's being drawn up to a gibbet nobody knew why or wherefore-this raised a prodigious and continued hiss, Harlequin all the while suspended in the air-at last they were suffered to finish the play, but nobody attended to the conclusion-modesty and his lady all the while sat with the utmost indifference-I suppose Lord Melcombe had fallen asleep [p. 382] before he came to this scene and had never read it. The epilogue was about the King and new Queen, and ended with a personal satire on Garrick-not very kind on his own stage-to add to the judge of this conduct, Cumberland two days ago published a pamphlet to abuse him. It was given out for tonight with more claps than hisses, but I think it will not do unless they reduce it to three acts." [p. 383]. Correspondence with George Montagu. Ed. W. S. Lewis & Ralph Brown. (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1941), I, 381-83] Note: (I, 381n): Bentley's play of The Wishes or Harlequin's Mouth Opened, was offered to Garrick and Rich the beginning of 1761, but wasrefused by both. His nephew Cumberland showed it to Lord Melcomb, who carried it to Lord Bute, with a compliment in verse to that Lord by Mr Cumberland. Lord Bute showed it to the King, who sent Bentley #200 and ordered the new summer company to play [it]. There was a prologue, flattering the King and Lord Bute which Foote refused to act. Two days before it was played, Cumberland wrote an anonymous pamphlet, addressed to Mr Bentley, and abusing Garrick, who had refused to act Cumberland's tragedy of Cicero's banishment, which he printed this year [1761], unacted. The Wishes were played for the first time July 27th, 1761; the 2d 3d and part of the 4th, acts were much applauded, but the conclusion extremely hissed. The Epilogue concluded with a satire on Garrick. It was acted five nights. About the same time he wrote a tragedy called Philodamus, which he was to read to Garrick, but the latter was so angry at their treatment of him, that he declared against seeing Mr Bentley" (MS account by HW of Bentley's writings, in the collection of Lord Waldegrave at Chewton Priory)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A new Burletta never performed before, composed by Mr Barthelemon. [Text by Ralph Schomberg.

Event Comment: Benefit for Wilson. 1st piece [1st time; PREL I, probably by Richard Wilson, altered from Illumination, by Frederick Pilin. Author of Epilogue unknown]. 2nd piece: Not acted these 28 years [acted 9 May 1763]. 3rd piece [1st time; F 2, by Henry Man. Text 1st published in his Miscellaneous Works, 1802, Vol. II, which does not assign the parts, and also lists Mr Carlton, Ralph, Butler. Prologue by the author (London Chronicle, 3 May)]. Public Advertiser, 15 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Wilson, at Stars Acres, upper end of Bow Street. Receipts: #277 19s. 6d. (13.4.6; tickets: 140.15.0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of Tamerlane, announced on playbill of 23 Dec] Afterpiece [1st time; P 2 (?), by Ralph Wewitzer and Frederick Pilon. MS not in Larpent; not published. Synopsis of action in Town and Country Magazine, Supp. 1784, p. 717]: With new Scenery, Music, Dresses and Decorations. The Scenes chiefly designed by Richards, and executed by him, Carver, Hodgins, and assistants. The Overture, Songs, Chorusses and the whole Music of the Pantomime new, and composed by Shield. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. The Words of the Songs, &c to be had at the Theatre. "The performance was such as the first performance of pantomimes generally--machinery and scenery not so perfectly executed as when practice has rendered the movements more familiar to those to whom they belong, which, as the beauty of a pantomime depends on the celerity and adroitness of the scene-men, it seldom is discovered on the first night" (Public Advertiser, 28 Dec)