Event Comment: Not performed for two years [see 18 April 1757]. Fleetwood, Bransby, OBrien played their parts for the first time. Receipts: #110 (Cross); #155 8s. 6d. (Winston MS 8)

Event Comment: TThe London Chronicle 1758 (p. 461): Having already read the play [The London Cuckolds] it was no wonder if my inclinations to attend the exhibition of it were very small; however, being in some measure oblig'd to perform that penance, I paid my money and sat down in the pit, where I underwent three hours entertainment, if I may call it so, only to be rooted in a former opinion, that the author of this comedy deserved to be hanged; and that the only excuse which could be made for suffering it to be acted would be invincible stupidity. This monstruous production of nonsense and obscenity, is the spawn of one Ravenscroft, a writer whose wit was as contemptible as his morals were vitious. He does not seem to have had one sentiment either of a man of Genious of a gentleman, at least if we may judge by the characters he has daubed, which are a pack of reprobates of the lowest kind. Nor are the things which look like incidents in this play the produce of his own invention, but the squeezings from an extravagant novel of Scarron, and two or three ill-chosen fables of LaFontaine; of which ingredients he has contrived to mix up a sort of hog-wash, sweetened with a few luscious expressions and a large portion of the grossest lewdness, to the palates of swine, or what is the same thing, men like them; but which must be odious to, and nauseated by all people of delicate taste, or common modesty. The three gallants in this comedy, Townly, Ramble and Loveit, never make their appearance upon the stage but to talk bawdy, and that in terms very little different from the most vagabond inhabitants of Covent Garden, nor do they make their exit but with a professed intention to commit adultery with one woman or another, who walks off with him very contentedly for that purpose. I must here observe that adultery is committed no less than seven times during the five acts. [The play an insult to the London aldermen and their wives.] There were several men of distinction in the boxes at this play, and I think about eight ladies. What their inward feelings might be I know not; but if one might judge of their thoughts by the gravity of their looks, they were rather mortified than diverted. But of the women of the town, who as we suppose were unwilling to let slip so fair an opportunity of getting a supper and a bed-fellow, there were crowds both in the pit and green boxes...

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these two years. [See 22 March 1757.] Receipts: 180 (Cross); #178 5s. 6d. (Winston MS 8)

Event Comment: TThe Provok'd Wife was in the Bills for this Night, but Mr Garrick finding himself ill in ye Morning Fresh bills for Ye Mercht were posted at one o'Clock-two or three hiss'd when the play began, but Mr Havard told 'em ye reason of the Change & all was over (Cross). Receipts: #185 15s. (Winston MS 8)

Event Comment: This Day Publish'd elegantly printed in one Volume Octavo (Dedicated to the Right Hon. Garret, Lord Mornington) A General View of the Stage, by Mr Wilks, of Dublin. Printed for J. Coote. [Contains 355 pages on the stage and its usefulness in presenting tragedy, comedy, opera, farce and pantomime. Discusses the art of acting, reviews plays and parts. Chapter VI on [Dress and its propriety" suggests the growing interest in historical authenticity in costume: [The judicious propriety in 'dress' adapted with sufficient exactitude to the age, time, and circumstances of [the] character...may be call'd the last colourings and finishings of [the] picture; and in this case very much will depend on knowledge of ancient history and historical paintings." Thirty-two pages praising Garrick the actor, and discussing in some detail all the characters he had performed to that time.

Event Comment: Benefit for Yates. Farce not acted for two years [see 5 May 1757]. Last acting till after Easter Holidays. Receipts: #180 (Cross); charges #63 (Winston MS 8)

Event Comment: Benefit for a Widow Gentlewoman and her Children, who have suffered the loss by Two Ships, to the amount of #2000. Urged at the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Tickets to be had at Mr Harper's at the Corner of Avemary Lane; Mount's Coffee-House, Grosvenor St.; Smyrna Coffee-House, Pall Mall; Sam's Coffee-House in Change Alley, Cornhill; and of Sarjant at the Stage Door, where Places for the Boxes may be taken

Event Comment: This is a farce of Macklin's Writing, it went off very greatly-he play'd Shylock too (Cross). Receipts: #190 (Cross). [Garrick and Lacy had contracted with Macklin for this Farce two weeks before this performance, according to the following document (BM Add. MS 27925): Memorandum of an Agreement relating to Mr Macklin's Farce and his Playing & performing in the said Farce, with such plays as shall be performed on which the said Farce shall be acted as aforesaid as follows: Imprimis: The said Farce to be publicly performed before Christmas, otherwise not this season on account of the Managers other engagements. Item: Mr Macklin to have for his performing in the said plays and Farce a Fifth part of the profits of the first five nights after deducting sixty-three pounds for the charges of each night during the said five nights-and the sixth night to be for the Benefit of Mr Macklin, he paying the usual charges of sixty-three pounds. Item: The Managers to have it in their power to stop the performances of the said Farce at the end of Six nights on account of their other engagements,-and in case the Receipt of any one night of the said nights on which the said Farce shall be performed as aforesaid shall fall short of One Hundred pounds. Then the Managers to have it in their power to stop the performance of said Farce as the Receipt does not amount to One Hundred pounds. Item: The said Six nights for the said Farce & plays in which Mr Macklin shall perform as aforesaid not to be played immediately succeeding one another, but alternately with such plays as the Managers shall think Convenient. Lastly: That if the said Farce shall meet with the disapprobation of the Publick, that then it shall be in the Power of Discretion of the Managers to stop the performance thereof. Dated this 28th day of November, 1759. S@ James Lacy, D. Garrick. Witness: R. Cross, Geo. Garrick.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Henry Jones. Afterpiece: [See note under cg play this night. During this year appeared An Essay Upon the Present State of the Theatre, in France, England, and Italy, a "work absolutely necessary to be read by every lover of Theatrical Exhibitions," printed for J. Pottinger. It contains twenty-two chapters on tragedy, thirteen on comedy, opera, authors, and the art of acting. Pages 147-51 discuss the obligation of English farces to French ones.] Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Was at Drury Lane to see The Desart Island & the Way to Keep Him two new pieces wrote by Mr Murphy, the latter pleas'd me but the first quite the reverse (Hailey, "Brietzcke Diary," Vol. 197, p. 70)

Event Comment: Receipts: #155 2s. Miss Mowat's 2nd appearance. Paid Powell for his attendance and adjusting the Accounts for two seasons to the end of May #100

Event Comment: Benefit for Beard. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire; Last time of performing it this season. Afterpiece: Not acted these two years. Pit and Boxes laid together at 5s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Stage 5s. Those who have places either in the Boxes or the Pit are requested to come thro the Box-Lobby, as at an Oratorio; and to send their servants to keep places by 3 o'clock. Tickets to be had of Mr Beard, at his house next Old Slaughter's, St Martin's Lane; and of Mr Sarjant at the Stage Door where places for the Boxes may be taken. Receipts: #129 1s. plus #246 from tickets (Boxes and Pit 984). Total income #375 1s. Charges #63. [Beard found his own wax candles]

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Yates. Garrick's first appearance in Chamont in 4 years. Mrs Yates in Monimia for first time. Mrs Cibber's illness has oblig'd Mrs Yates to change her Play from Jane Shore to The Orphan. The Afterpiece (for one night only): A Burlesque Opera of two acts

Event Comment: The Twenty-Third Day. Daily Advertiser, 18 Aug.: Last Saturday John Sterne was committed to Newgate by Justice Welch, for the Murder of Mr Matthews, an eminent Surgeon in Brook St., Holborn. [Sterne had been an usher in Mathews' Academy, was discharged, but Matthews let Sterne live in Matthews' house for a long time, then expelled him and put his belongings on the stairs. On Friday 15 Aug. Sterne got two pistols and came back to Owen's Coffee House. Here] he waited three Hours for Mr Matthews, who was gone with a Friend to the little Theatre in the Haymarket and afterwards into Company at the Pewter Platter, a publick house in Cross St. [There Sterne shot Matthews.

Event Comment: We are well informed that Mr Shuter intends to entertain the Town, at his Great Tiled Booth on the Bowling Green, Southwark, during the Time of the Fair, which begins on Thursday next, with a New Entertainment of Wit and Humour. Many wagers are depending among the Theatrical Geniuses upon the Merit and Execution of this Piece: and the Odds are it is the best that ever appeared in this Way. The knowing Ones say, those who take the Odds will be fairly taken in: for Mr Shuter will start in fine Order, to win this Plate, in such a handsome manner as shall give entire Satisfaction to all the Spectators. A sufficient number of Theatrical Racers are already entered, and two remarkable Spanish Courcers will enter at the Post, so that excellent Sport may be depended upon (Public Advertiser)

Event Comment: [The following puff appeared in the Public Advertiser: "Yesterday about twelve the Races began on the Bowling Green, Southwark. There were several started for the Plate called Public Approbation, amongst the Rest was a celebrated Theatrical Horse, and two or Three Racers belonging to the same Stable, and some young Colts and Fillies, lately bred in the Stud of an eminent Sportsman in the Haymarket. The dispute laid principally between the noted Don Quixote and the Little Female Minor. The contest was warm, and several Heats were ran [a number of performances during the day?] before it could be decided; which at length was given by a small Majority of the Subscribers and the Clerk of the Course, in favor of the latter. However, her Antagonists being Bloed, they have challenged her to run again, play or pay, for three Days sucessively; and she will start This Day, tomorrow and Monday next, exactly at Twelve. Bets are laid, the Little Minor against the Field; and Eight to Six that in the end she distances the famous Old Horse, and beats him absolutely hollow."

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these two years [see 16 April 1759]

Event Comment: A new serious Opera [a pasticcio]. Music by different Masters. To begin at 6 p.m. on account of the Prologue. [Note: The 1760 Libretto at Library of Congress designates the "Musical Prologue sung by Signora Mattei" on 22 Nov. The prologue consists of recitative and a brief air of two quatrains.

Event Comment: The two new dancers who were so long expected from Italy are arrived (Public Advertiser)

Event Comment: N.B. The two new dancers will make their first appearance this evening (Public Advertiser)

Event Comment: An Oratorio in two Parts never perform'd before. 7 p.m. By Charles Barbandt. Boxes 10s. 6d. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. By Subscription. N.B. Ladies are desired to send servants to take places

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By Desire. Boxes #62 10s. 6d. Macklin's fifth above charges came to #25 2s. 11d. Paid for sundry clothes from Voelcher #30 10s. Paid Blackmore a Bill for Rich #29 10s. and a Bill for the Theatre from 19 April last: #84 (Account Book). [On 1 Feb. one H. F. of the Middle Temple wrote to Macklin suggesting two things to insure the success of the Married Libertine. The first was practical, "bring in a claque of friends to counteract the noise of the Scots Lords who are opposing it." The second was revisional: "The play is too long,--shorten it and give the house notice that you have so done. The scenes wherein Lady Belville is solemn, grave, complaining and moral may be much abbreviated; this will...take away that heavy, lazy and sleepy (however just) part which makes your friends languish and grow cold, and gives your enemies an opportunity to improve their rancor and malignity. This observation may be applied to every recital, narrative or description which is not absolutely necessary or descriptive,--I mean necessarily connected with the frame, contexture & execution of the drama, or something designed or painted with uncommon poetic fire and enthusiasm. Pray consider whether that serious, moral and sentimental part in the character of Angelica might not be curtailed, or entirely omitted. I would have your young captain fully employed in action without ever standing still to moralize or harangue, however sensibly and poignantly he may do it. After all this there will remain a rich and uninterrupted vein of true comic humour and lively representation in short, a well connected series and succession of business which I am convinced would keep the audience so attentive and so entirely possessed that there would be no room for languor or malice to produce any effect to your detriment." (Memoirs of Macklin [Harvard Theatre Collection, extra-illustrated edition, I, part 2, p. 414.] Receipts: #188 14s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: A sacred oratorio in two parts by Charles Barbandt. Tickets delivered for 28 Jan. will be admitted

Event Comment: Boxes #15 12s. 6d. Macklin's fifth came to #16 9s. Paid Woodfall's Printing Bill, commencing 22 Sept. last and ending 10 Jan. #128 11s. Paid Ledlay for 7 1!2 doz. wax candles #11 12s. 6d. Paid Pattinson, tallow chandler #14 17s. 6d. Paid Besworth for making ghost's dress for Hamlet #6 18s. Paid for a wig for Cable in Thomas and Sally 3s. 6d. (Account Book). On Saturday Evening during the play of the Married Libertine...several riots ensued, occasioned by a number of Jews assembled for that purpose in the two shilling gallery; but they were soon quelled (Public Ledger, 10 Feb.). Receipts: #143 4s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Boxes #23 15s. Paid Mr Forrest Sr, in full his bill ending Nov. last #97 10s. Paid Wilkinson on account #50. Paid Bingley two bills for wax candles #9 14s. Paid Bosworth a bill for Mrs Latter's Board for 8 weeks. #1 16s. (Account Book). Receipts: #116 6s. (Account Book)