Event Comment: This Play is alter'd by Capt. Thompson and a New Sea Character introduc'd which was well perform'd by Mr Weston. the Play Concludes very properly with a Representation of the Grand Naval Review the same as was introduc'd in Alfred--the whole was receiv'd with very great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Paid Housekeeper's Bill #3 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Mainpiece a Reviv'd Comedy, with Alterations and Additions, and a New Medley Overture of Favourite Sea Tunes (playbill). Receipts: #245 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A Comedy [by William Kenrick] never performed before. [The play failed to succeed. Kenrick accounts for the failure in his Preface to the 1773 edition by reference to the Macklin affair (See 23 Oct., 30 Oct. and 18 Nov.) He quotes from the Public Advertiser (22 Nov.): "On Saturday last a new comedy called the Duellist was performed, for the first time, at Covent Garden Theatre. Previous to the curtain being drawn up, the following written handbill was dispersed about the house. 'Mr Macklin has been pursued by a malicious party to such a pitch of rancour, that at last they have succeeded so far in their cursed designs, as to get him discharged this theatre, and thereby have deprived him of the means of a livelihood; therefore if the public have any spirit, they will not suffer the new play to begin till Mr Colman promises that Mr Macklin shall be engaged again.' This handbill found its way into the green-room, and had a very visible effect on the performers, as was plainly evident from their confusion. The piece was received with great marks of approbation, and given out again for Monday, which was attended with some hissing, but that was greatly overpowered by the general applause of the audience. The overture to Thomas and Sally being attended to with silence, the greatest part of the author's friends quitted the theatre; which being taken advantage of by a party in the gallery, a riot ensued, and the entertainment was not suffered to go on till another play was given out for Monday." Kenrick agrees with this account, then analyses several other objections which he dismisses, to wit, in the play (a) too lengthy a satire on lawyers, (b) an indelicate passage in Latin (omitted from the printed version); in the audience, a conspiracy of Garrick and Bickerstaffe against him; and lack of a claque of his own friends to carry through their suport of him. Macklin's name appears on the playroll this night, but only for a accumulated 4 days of pay #8 16s. (Account Book).] Receipts: #221 3s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Paid chorus 2 nights (this incl.) #4 1s. Receipts: #140 10s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Author's 1st Night. [For profits to Garrick see payments of 21 Jan. 1774.] Paid Mr Hopkins for Licences of Albumazar. Prologue & Epilogue, Deserter, Fair Quaker, School for Wives, & Xmas Tale #9 9s. Receipts: #223 11s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: This night Dr William Kenrick gave his first lecture in his series of The School of Shakespeare, at the Devil's Tavern, in Fleet Street. Topic, I Henry IV. This lecture and those of the two succeeding Wednesday evenings are reviewed in the Monthly Miscellany, Feb. 1774. Receipts: #190 1s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New Comedy (never performed) [by George Colman]. Paid Miller for performing 11 nights in The Sylphs #2 15s. Paid Mr Anderson for 2 suits of women's cloaths #21 (Account Book). [The mainpiece received a scourging review in the Westminster Magazine for Feb. 1774. Gibbon attended, "We dined at the Shakespeare and went in a body to support it....Though we got a verdict for our client his cause was but a bad one. It is a very confused miscellany of several plays and tales" (John Hampden@Journal, p. 18).] Receipts: #258 3s. (Account 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: Benefit towards raising a Fund for relief of those, who from their infirmities, shall be oblig'd to retire from the stage. Pit and Boxes laid together, and No Admittance into the Pit or Boxes but with tickets. Ladies and Gentlemen are desired to come as early as possible, for their own convenience. Doors open at Half after Five. Play to begin exactly at Half after Six. Charges #17 12s. 6d. [See 26 May 1773]; Profits to Fund: #282 11s. Receipts: #300 3s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)