Event Comment: Paid Mr Davies draft to Mr Groom #6 10s. 6d. Receipts: #252 16s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Dall on Account of his salary #31 10s. (Account Book). Receipts: #115 6s

Event Comment: Paid Bulmer (scowerer) #5 11s. (Account Book). Receipts: #156 11s. 6d

Event Comment: Paid Palmer (wax chandler) #282 10s. (Account Book). Receipts: #177 5s. 6d

Event Comment: Paid Mr Wright the balance for the Middlesex Hospital #4 2s. (Account Book). Receipts: #118 13s. 6d

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: Paid one year's insurance to Xmas next #15 (Treasurer's Book). [Copies of the annual insurance policies were extant in the Sun Insurance Office, 63 Theadneedle St. London, E. C. 2, as of Dec. 1951.] Receipts: #134 8s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Cooper (printer) #42 8s., and Mrs Lynn for a Lady's white and gold Flower'd suit of Cloaths #12 12s. (Account Book). Receipts: #141 16s

Event Comment: Paid Mr Casey's Funeral Bill #3 1s.; Mrs Hunter per order as usual #2 2s. Receipts: #203 7s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid salary list #513 17s. 6d.; Miss Mansell on acct #5 5s.; Mr Clinch on acct #5 5s.; Rec'd Stopages #16 13s. Receipts: #154 14s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid half year's water to Xmas last #3 2s.; Mr Costain's Rent &c. #6 6s. Receipts: #189 13s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Stephens (mason) #13 3s., and Wilford (painter) #9 4s. 6d. as per bills (Account Book). Receipts: #202 19s. 6d

Event Comment: Paid Whitefield quarter year's salary due Xmas last #25, and Sarjant quarter year's salary due same time, #10. Advanc'd cash to Lee Lewes as per note #50 (Account Book). Receipts: #215 2s

Event Comment: Paid Mr Malthus one year's rent Xmas last (#2 2s. 6d. Tax deducted) #30 17s. 6d. Mr J. French on acct. #15 15s.; Mr Batchelor for men's cloaths #5 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #258 1s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid salary list #513 17s. 6d.; Mr Davies's draft to Gapper, #4 7d.; Miss Mansell's salary in full to this day #7 17s.; Rec'd stopages #19 18s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #153 17s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mr Calthorpe's first payment #157 10s.; Mr G. Garrick on acct #100; Tallow chandler's 5th bill, #42 2s. 3d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #250 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid salary list 6 days at #87 1s. 3d. per diem, #522 7s. 6d.; Mr Dimon's salary in full 10s.; Rec'd stopages #18 7s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Patrick (tinman) #51 19s. (Account Book). As the tragedy of Elfrida, written (after the Greek manner) by that most excellent poet Mr Mason, has met with such singular applause at Covent Garden Theatre, I cannot help lamenting that our English Roscius has never had a play of Sophocles (translated into English blank verse) represented at Drury Lane. The plays in general, are the finest ever written; and the Oedipus Tyrannus is, in my opinion, the properest to be represented at present, both for the grandeur of the chorusses and the magnificence of the scenery. I mention this because I think this new species of drama would be better received, by an English audience, than all the Golden Pippins, or Nonpareils, that have lately appeared on the stage. (signed) Cantab (Gentleman's Magazine , XLIII, 74). Receipts: #183 16s

Event Comment: Paid Mr Wegg's Rent, half a year to Mich. last #57. Receipts: #138 15s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mr Roberts, shoemaker, 2 Bills #21 2s. 10d.; Mr Thomson Smith, #23 14s. 6d.; Mr Reddish on Acct to Mr Scarr, per order #15; Rec'd of Mr C. Roberts 3 quarter's Rent to Midsummer last #7 10s. Receipts: #184 10s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mr Conner for a dinner and supper &c. for the Orchestra #10 17s. 2d. (Account Book). Receipts: #119 2s

Event Comment: Paid Buxton & Enderby (oyl merchants) #180 11s. (Account Book). Receipts: #218 7s. 6d

Event Comment: Paid Mr Jefferson's draft #120; Returned Benefit charges for 20th inst. #84. Receipts: #236 19s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mr King's dress in the Gamesters #8 12s. 3d. Receipts: #194. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid 4 day's salary list #348 5s.; Mr J. French on acct #10. Receipts: #198 4s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)