Event Comment: The Characters all New Dress'd. A new Comedy [by
Dr Benjamin Hoadly] never before acted. [
The previous July Garrick had been entertained by
the Rev. Dr John Hoadly at
Alresford and carried on a pleasant correspondence with him afterwards. In his letter 19 Aug. 1746 (Folger) he wrote]: I had
the pleasure of
the Doctor's company [bro
ther Benjamin Hoadly] to supper at my lodgings
the night before I set out for this place; we talk'd about Ranger, but whe
ther he will appear next winter or sleep forever in ye scritore, is not yet determined: 'tis pit, faith. [That this friendship was exceedingly profitable to Garrick is indicated by
the fact that Benjamin Hoadly seems to have turned over
the profits from
the three author's nights to Garrick. (1) Garrick by a bargain with
John Rich received #80 advance cash and promised to pay nightly charges (3rd, 6th, & 9th nights) of #60, and (2) to divide equally
the remaining profits on those nights.
The agreement was drawn 27 Dec. 1746. Garrick noted on this document]: N.B.
the copy of
the play is my own, and
the profit arising from
the printing of it. [Hoadly seems to have received only
the #100 given him by
George II for dedicating
the printed copy to him.] [Settlement for
the three performances was made 6 April. Total receipts for those nights (14, 18, 21 Feb.) was #570 11s. Total expenses were #182 2s. (including #2 2s. for
the licensing).
The profit of #388 9s. was equally divided and Garrick received his #194 4s. 6d. on that day. He had received
the o
ther #80
the day before
the play opened, 11 Feb. 1747. See documents in
Folger,
Holograph Letters of David Garrick, p. 38, seemingly
Edmund Malone's copy, of BM Add MSS 21508.] Receipts: #205 9s. 6d