Event Comment: Mainpiece: An English Opera [from Rolt's The Royal Shepherd]. Never perform'd there. The Music selected from the best composers, and adapted by Tenducci. Books of Opera to be had at theatre. [Argument from Edition of 1769: Among the most celebrated actions ascribed to Alexander the Great, may be well ranked that of delivering the Kingdom of Sidon from the tyrant Strato; and instead of taking the dominion himself, restoring the crown to the next lawful heir, who, ignorant of his pretensions to it, lived as a shepherd in the country near Sidon, of which a more particular account may be found in Quintus Curtius, Book IV, Chap. 10. The superstructure of the fable raised on this historical foundation, will be seen in the course of the drama." The Plot sketched out in a review in the Freeholder's Magazine, Dec.] Receipts: #137 14s

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Tickets to be had and Places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Johnston at the Stage Door of the Theatre, at Half a Guinea. Pit 5s. First Gallery 3s. 6d. Second Gallery 2s. The doors to be opened at 5 o'clock. To begin at Half past six. [Stanley and Smith carried their Royal Prerogative over to Drury Lane this season.

Event Comment: This day Publish'd Price 6d. Three Old Women Weatherwise: an Interlude, as performed with great applause at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. Printed for S. Bladon

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By Particular Desire. Latter end of next month the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, which has been much enlarg'd and Beautified will open with Subs[cription] Jubilee Masque (Winston MS 10). Paid Mr Hopkins, Prompter's Bill, #23 16s.; Mr Calthorpe's 1st payment #157 10s.; Printer's bill #9 6s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #237 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By the unfortunate death of her Royal Highness the Princess Dowager of Wales a temporary stop was put to theatrical entertainments to this day. Opera will be performed at this theatre three times or at least twice every week till Passion Week. Such of the Nobility and Gentry, subscribers to the Opera who do not care to keep their Boxes on the Thursday, and have the extra weekly performance reckoned into their Subscription nights are desired to send word

Event Comment: G[arrick] This Night was advertis'd for Mr Barry's Benefit but he being ill his Benefit was deferr'd (Hopkins Diary). Garrick is removed from Southampton St. to Adelphi Terrace (Winston MS 10). This day is publish'd Theatrical Biography; or, Memoirs of the principal performers of the three Theatres Royal. Drury Lane: Garrick, Barry, Reddish, Aickin, King, Moody, Dodd, Love, Vernon, Parsons, Baddeley, Mrs Barry, Mrs Abington, Miss Younger, Miss Hayward, Mrs Baddeley, Miss Pope, Mrs Egerton, Mrs W. Barry and Mrs Jefferson. Covent Garden: Ross, Smith, Savigny, Woodward, Yates, Shuter, Bensley, Dyer, Mattocks, Clark, Mrs Yates, Mrs Mattocks, Miss Macklin, Mrs Bulkley, Mrs Green, and Mrs Thompson. Haymarket: Foote, Weston, Aikin, Didier, Davies, Mrs Gardner, Mrs Jewell, and Mrs Didier. Together with critical and impartial remarks on their respective professional merits. Printed for S. Bladon. Receipts: #265 18s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. [See 25 Jan. 1772.] [Brown identified by Kemble note on playbill. Macklin no longer appears on the playlist. This day is published at 1s. 6d. The Duellist, a Comedy, as it was represented at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden. To which is prefixed a concise Narrative of the very Extraordinary Circumstances attending its Reception. T. Evans Bookseller.] Receipts: #188 1s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Paid for 2 extra Flutes & Guitars (29 ultimo incl.) #2 5s. (Treasurer's Book). [This month was published Bell's edition of Shakespeare's acting plays, 'as performed at the Theatres Royal in London, requlated from the Prompt Books of each House, by permission of the managers, with notes critical and illustrative by the author of the Dramatic Censors, 5 vols. 12 mo. Price 15s."] Receipts: #246 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bulkley. Mainpiece: A New Comedy [by a Lady] never perform'd in this Kingdom. As performed with Universal Applause at the Theatre Royal in Dublin. [The Edition of 1774 lists the Irish Actors. The characters are: Mowbray, Sir Thomas O'Shaughnesy; Admiral Swivel; Leslie; Egerton; Capt. Egerton; Issacher; Donald M'Pherson; Strap; Elfrida Audley; Henrietta Egerton; Mrs Ornel; Mrs Issacher; Jenny, a Mantua Maker, a Maid; French servants and porters. Genest suggests a casting for ten of the characters.] Charges: #66 6s. 6d. Profit to Mrs Bulkley #33 17s., plus #93 13s. from tickets Box 232; Pit 177; Gallery 91). Paid Mrs Carne half year' salary due Lady day last #15. Paid half year's water rent due Xmas last #4. Receipts: #100 3s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Weston. Tickets delivered for 7 April taken. It is agreed this day between Mrs Abington and Mr Garrick that the former shall be engag'd to him and Mr Lacy, Patentees of the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, for three years from this date, or three acting seasons, at the sum of twelve pounds a week, with a Benefit, and sixty pounds for cloaths--the above agreement to be put into Articles according to the usual form. s@ Frances Abington, D. Garrick for himself and Mr Lacy (Folger Library, Garrickiana 962 MS [Cage, p. 154).] Receipts: #205 14s. 6d. Charges: #66 5s. Profits to Weston: #139 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain, for one night only. A Scots Musical-Pastoral Comedy. Not acted this season. Benefit Walker and Stewart. [The Hartrys from Theatre Royal, Edingburgh.

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Tickets to be had and places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Fosbrooke at the Stage Door of the Theatre, at Half a guinea each. Pit 5s. First Gallery 3s. 6d. Second Gallery 2s. Doors to be opened at Half past Five. To begin at Half past Six. N.B. Those ladies who have had boxes for the Oratorios and who intend continuing them are humbly requested to give notice to Mr Fosbrooke at the Stage Door. Rec'd Stoppages #1 1s. (Treasurer's Book). [The Westminster Magazine, Feb., p. 75, contained an article on the "Origin of Oratorios," followed by one on the Musical Powers of Handel, particularly relating to his Oratorios. The Morning Chronicle for 24 Feb. commented as follows on Miss Linley's performance in Acis and Galatea: "Miss Linley...gave every delight that the ear, the heart, or understanding could receive from Music...Miss Linley's manner of delivering Recitative is peculiarly distinct and sensible; a circumstance of infinite importance in a performance of this nature. Her voice is clear and melodious, and capable of truest expression as was peculiarly evident in the song of 'Must I my Acis still bemoan?'...Their Majesties' presence and apparent satisfaction lead us to hope that the Royal countenance and encouragement will never again be withdrawn to grace the innovations of foreigners on the only musical ground which is left for English genius to take root and flourish"( (Quoted in Hampden, Journal).]