Event Comment: For the Authors. [See "David Garrick and the Clandestine Marriage," by Frederick L. Bergmann, PMLA (March, 1952), pp. 148-62, a study of Garrick's contribution on basis of the Folger Library MS.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Paid Scavanger's rate for 3 quarters due 14 Sept. last for St Martin's #7 11s. 6d.; Paid balance of author's Night for Country Girl #50 7s. and after money to ditto #3 7s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #154 10s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: MMr Woodward's Day. [As author of afterpiece, altered from The Necromancer; or, Harlequin Dr Faustus.] Mainpiece: By particular Desire. The Accomplish'd Maid oblig'd to be deferr'd on account of the indisposition of Mattocks. Charges #65 15s. [Profit to Woodward #126 9s.] (Account Book). Payment of this sum to Mr Woodward on account of the pantomime of Dr Faustus" was made on 15 Dec. Receipts: #192 4s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: The Third day. For the Author. Charges #73 7s. Profit to Mr Toms #110 13s. 6d. (Account Book). Receipts: #184 6s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By Particular Desire. For the Author. House Charges #73 10s. [Profit to Dr Franklin #98 8s.] Paid Ben Johnson's Head a bill #3 11s.; Barrow & Co., for oil, #56 13s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #171 18s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: For the Author. Mr Tom's second night, charges #72 16s. 6d. Balance to Mr Toms #59 3s. 6d. (Account Book). Receipts: #132 (Account Book)

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Paid Pointer's 2 Bills #16 14s. (Treasurer's Book). [This year were published The Theatrical Campaign (44 pp.), an examen of productions this season; The Stage the High Road to Hell (43 pp.); Theatrical Entertainments Consistent with Society, Morality and Religion: or, A Letter to the Author of the "Stage the High Road to Hell," shewing that writer's arguments to be fallacious, his principals enthusiastic, and his authorities (particularly from the ancients) misconstrued and perverted.] Receipts: #176 4s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: New Scenes, Dresses, Machinery and other Decorations. Book of the Entertainment to be had at 1s. 6d. at Theatre. A Dramatic Romance by David Garrick, Music composed by Michael Arne. Gave King's Footmen and Chairmen #4 4s.; Queen's ditto; Dukes of York and Gloucester ditto (Treasurer's Book). [A memorandum dated 22 August 1766 (Folger Library, Garrick Album, 520 MS, Cage) explains that Michael Arne was to compose the Music for Cymon, and as compensation shall be intitled to and receive one third part of the profits of the three first nights which the author shall take for his own Benefits." Zachariah Stephens was witness. See 15 Jan. 1767.] Receipts: #196 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid the balance of 3rd, 5th, 9th, nights of Cymon to Mr Evans for the authors #360 14s. 6d. Gave Princess Dowager's Footmen a Christmas box, #2 2s. Paid 2 Printer's bills #18 13s.; Paid Mr Burney 15 days, not on the list, #6 5s.; Chorus 2 nights #4 11s. (Treasurer's Book). [On this date a receipt signed by Michael Arne for #119 17s. 10d. as compensation for the music for Cymon appears in the Folger Library. (See 2 Jan. 1767.)]Receipts: #148 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The Ninth Day. For the Author. Charges #71 17s., plus a super charge for the addition of a farce, omitted by mistake when the account was given in, #21; Total #92 17s. Balance to Mr Toms #38 10s. 6d. (Account Book). [This balance was paid Mr Toms on 3 Feb.] Receipts: #131 7s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Paid Wilford for 10 nights Renters Money #100 (Account Book). [Duly noted in Account Book as third night for the comedy, but no indication of any fee to the author on this occasion. The following verse tribute to Miss Wilford appeared this day in the Public Advertiser: @"Strike the loud Harp and raise the tuneful Song;@On all your wings, Wind, bear her Fame along!@Her eyes are rolling suns, which dart a ray,@Bright as the splendor of a Summer Day;@Her arms are as the foam of Ocean white,@Like waves her Breasts heave slowly to the sight.@Her breath is sweeter than the vernal gale,@Which Zephyr wafts o'er Tempe's flowry vale;@Her cheaks are painted only by that hand@Which scatters roses through the blooming land;@And every ringlet of her glossy hair@Is trusted to some Love's peculiar care.@Her speech the songs of other Nymphs excels,@And on her lips persuasion blushing dwells;@Her smiles are as the streaming pow'rs of Light,@Which cheer and gild the rugged Front of Night.@To the quick Pipe and Tabor's lively sounds,@High as the Hind or Mountain Roe, she bounds;@And if to solemn Notes the cadence flow,@Stately she moves, majestically slow.@Deaf the prais'd ear-yet Modesty must own@The Female Archer by these Marks is known."@ Miss Wilford was the Female Archer.] Receipts: #151 13s. 6d.(Account Book)

Event Comment: The Eight Day. For the Author of the Masque. Being the last time of performing it [the afterpiece]. Charges #85 15s. Balance to Hull #51 9s. (Account Book). [This balance was paid him the next night.] Receipts: #137 4s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: BB. Johnson's Head Bill 11s. (Treasurer's Book). Drank tea with my Landlady and went with her husband and two gentlemen to see the new Play...as I did not care to refuse. Could not get into the Pit, at which I was not displeased. I fancy this comedy will take, tho it had nothing else to support it but the character of Freeport, which is played by Yates...We had a Prologue written by the author of the play and spoken by King; and an Interlude by way of Epilogue written by Garrick and spoken by King and Mrs Abington. A concerto on the Harpsichord by Burney Jr and dance. The play is taken from L'Ecosseisse of Voltaire (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #193 17s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The Third Day. For the Author. [Designated in the Account Book at Mr Bickerstaff's Night.] Charges #67 3s., Balance to Bickerstaff #68 18s. An extra charge this night was paid for the use of the Organ, 2s. 6d. (Account Book). Receipts: #136 1s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Paid James Amson for a set of China for Love in the City, #11 2s. 11d. (Account Book). Receipts: #115 13s. 6d. (Account Book). [On 5 March appeared in the Public Advertiser the following squib]: To the Author of Love in the City. @If e'er again thy Muse engage@To laugh at Folly on the Stage,@Let Cockneys 'scape the stroke@Since 'tis with Men of Sense a Rule@That of all Fools, the Bo-Bell Fool@Can least endure a Joke. A.

Event Comment: AAsh Wednesday. Publish'd this day. Price only 1s. Letters which have passed between John Beard Esq Manager of Covent Garden Theatre, and John Shebbeare, M.D. Wherefore I thus entreat with due Submission, Between the Bard and me you'd make decision, The whole now on your Approbation waits. Prologue to the Perplexities, sung by Mr Beard. Printed for G. Kearsly N.B. This Pamphlet is entered at Stationers Hall, whoever pyrates any part of it will be prosecuted. [This pamphlet of 50 pages is given a four-column review in the Gentleman's Magazine for March (p. 124). The controversy was over a play which Shebbeare submitted to Beard and which the latter finally rejected after holding it two seasons. Beard's letters are quoted. The reviewer is severe upon Shebbeare: Upon the whole for anything that has hitherto appeared, the managers of both theatre have rather been to blame for receiving some pieces that they should have rejected, than for rejecting any they should have received. No piece has yet been printed, by the rejection of which the managers have betrayed their trust, or neglected their duty to the public. There may be such pieces in manuscript, but, if there are, the most effective way of avenging the author on the manager is to print them, for the voice of the public would instantly and effecturally do justice to the writter...by compelling the representation.' Shebbeare was Joseph Pittard?]

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Paid printer's bill #9 6s (Treasurer's Book). The New Tragedy of Dido, for Benefit of the author, is oblig'd to be deferr'd till Thursday next. Receipts: #229 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Had no intention of going to the play, but seeing Garrick was to play Lord Chalkstone, I (after hearing Mr Romaine's Lecture on the chapter which contains ye Destruction of Sodom) went before 9 to ye right-side door of ye Pit. The doorkeepers said, --No Room. Saw that ye Canopy, Yeomen, &c. would prevent my seeing. They desired me if I could not get in at ye other door to come back. Found a number of people waiting there and at ye door of the First Gallery; so went back, entered and stood in ye same disagreeable situation I did last night. But I saw the inimitable Garrick very well. [Comments on excellence of whole cast.] Scarcely cool now past eleven o'clock. Ye King and Queen, Princess of Brunswick, Louisa, and all that Tribe were at dl tonight (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Author of mainpiece. House Charges #76 19s. 6d. Mrs Yates' last appearance here until the 1774-75 season (Winston MS 9). Tickets deliver'd for the 9th of April and 7th of May will be taken. Paid Burney Jr 2 weeks' salary #2 10s., and Printer's Bill #9 6s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: [G$Genest, V, 140, notes that Bannister's name does not appear in the playbill; the Public Advertiser bill, which does not specify any parts, includes Bannister as well as Strange, Loveman, Keen, and Smith, for which there is no support in the 1767 edition.] Before six went into the Pit to see the new tragedy of The Countess of Salisbury performed for the first time. One cannot judge perfectly of a Play without reading it, but it was received with vast applause. The author being an Irishman, Weston spoke a Prologue in the character of an Hibernian (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: The Author's Night. N.B. As the time limited by Mr Foote's Patent is now expiring the Company will perform every night of the week, (Saturday excepted). Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays Barry and Mrs Dancer. Tuesdays and Thursdays Mr Foote (Public Advertiser). Set down as much as I can remember of the additions to the Orators. In the evening finished a copy for the Printer of the General Evening Post of an answer to a flattering letter which appeared in that paper some time ago. It is in praise of the Duke of York and other wretches, who not knowing how to spend enough of the Nation's money have fitted up a Theatre in St James Street on which to exhibit their own folly and profusion (Neville MS Diary). [Neville's piece appeared in the Post 8 Sept.

Event Comment: The Author's Night. [Hartson's second benefit.

Event Comment: Benefit for the Author

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With new Airs and Alterations made by the author. Receipts: #167 2s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Music [to afterpiece] by Barthelemon. I often go to both theatres, have seen Garrick and Mrs Yates, who are the first in this theatrical sphere. The former has hitherto [i.e., this season] appeared only in comedy, --his manner, his humour, and his judgment are not to be equall'd. The adoration he meets with from the English is equal to his merit. His every motion they attend to, and every turn of his eye seems to transport them. Mrs Yates [at Covent Garden] has much tragic merit. Her low voice is very tuneful, her feeling great, her action peculiarly graceful and her figure uncommonly fine. She has more power than Mrs Dancer (at Drury Lane] and more variety than Mrs Fitz-Henry, tho' less strength and compass. On the whole she is superior to the former and inferior to the latter. Barry and Mrs Dancer are engag'd here (MS Letter from Henry Grattan to Cornet Broome giving his first impressions of living in London, 27 Oct. 1767, in Folger Library). Neville MS Diary: Went into the Pit to see As You Like It a second time. Reddish did Orlando for the 1st time. He is a pretty good player. End Act I, Hearts of Oak. The Entertainment was the new Farce called a Peep Behind the Curtain. Glib by King who is the author. The piece is not unentertaining, whatever other merit it may have. The Prologue and an Address to the Town by way of Epilogue, are spoken by Mr King, the music by Barthelemon

Event Comment: At 5 went into the Pit at Covent Garden to see Mrs Yates do Lady Townly. Yates is an excellent Sir Francis, but Powell does not shine in Lord Townly....The Entertainment was the new comedy in two acts called the Oxonian in Town, with a prologue by Woodward in the character of a student....It being suspected that a number of sharpers whose characters and practices are laid open in this piece, would attempt to damn it tonight (the 3rd of its being Performed) under pretence of its casting odium on the Irish, bills were dispersed in the House during the play vindicating it from any such intention. Woodward was allowed to speak the prologue, but as soon as the curtain drew up catcalls began. When the performers retired, Powell spoke several times, but was not heard. I was told that the author (Mr Colman) desires to know whom he has offended. The Pros were a very great majority, and at last after a contest of better than 1!2 an hour, the victory was over and the piece was performed. I think it contains many good sentiments, and excellent instruction to young men and is not unworthy of Mr Colman. If vice must not be exposed to hatred and contempt, the usefulness of our theatres is at an end. Only I think the Covent Garden pleasures are represented in too favourable a light. When all was over Powell came on the stage and thanked the audience for their generous protection (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #212 12s. (Account Book)