Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. A new serious Opera. Pit and Boxes put together and no Persons to be admitted without Tickets, which will be delivered this Day, at the Office, at Half a Guinea each. Gallery 5s. By their Majesties Command no Persons whatsoever to be admitted behind the Scenes or in the Orchestra. Gallery, Pit and Boxes to be opened at Five. 6:30 p.m. [Repeated in the subsequent bills.] Messrs Crawford, Vincent, and Gordon most humbly request that the Nobility and Gentry, Subscribers to the Operas for the ensuing Season, will please send their Subssciptions to Andrew Drummond and Co., Bankers at Charing Cross; or to Crawford, at the theatre, where attendance will be given every day from Ten to Two, to receive Subscriptions, and the names of the Subscribers who are pleased to honor the Managers with their Protection to enable them to get the Tickets engraved before the Operas begin (Public Advertiser through October and November)

Event Comment: On Monday The Summer's Tale. On Tuesday The Double Mistake. N.B. These Two Pieces will be perform'd alternately

Event Comment: Neither piece acted this season. Books of the Burletta to be had at the Theatre. Midas reduc'd to two Acts

Event Comment: In the Gazetteer 25 Feb. appeared a long editorial by "Rectus": "Though the performing oratorios in the time of Lent,is highly censured by many, yet I must own that I think the far greater part of them become enemies to those solemn performances, rather because their ears are more unfit for music than their minds are for the pretended immorality that attends such exhibitions." [The writer wishes not to cry down every entertainment he cannot relish himself and adds], "I have long endeavoured to find out the reason why plays should not be performed on Wednesdays and Fridays in Lent as well as on those days all through the rest of the season. I have never yet been able to find out that Lent makes the least difference in people's way of living." [He wonders, however, why the non-sacred oratorios such as Acis and Galatea and Alexander's Feast have been allowed performance. He then registers a mild complaint about the management of the Oratorios because they do not include sufficient solo instrumental entertainment between the parts.] "This custom was wholly dropped last year, and I complained greatly of it in a letter which you did me the favour to insert. I was greatly surprised to find Mr Pinto, who then led the band, was either not permitted or not paid to play a solo, as well as Mr Hay, who played one every night the preceding season. Mr Stanley's illness not permitting him then to play, that omission was overlooked, though it might have been supplied by a performer on some other instrument. This season the managers have thought proper to treat their audience with one solo or concerto every night, but why not have two?" [He liked Barthelemon's solos, but lamented that Stanley sat idle, and he offered final advice that the managers should alternate the solo instruments for "pleasing variety." The admission price demands it.

Event Comment: Author's Night. [Two more epigrams on Foote appeared in the St James Chronicle.

Event Comment: Paid salary list 3 days at #72 4s. 1d. per diem #216 12s. 3d.; Mr Weston on his note #5 5s.; Mrs Abington 3 first days not on list #2 10s. (Treasurer's Book). [From a long review in the Public Advertiser 3 Oct.: Two new performers in parts very difficult to execute-Mr Cautherly a pupil of the greatest master of the art of acting that ever graced the English stage (if not European)...has this summer convinced us that he is susceptible of the most refined instructions of his great patron and tutor. Of the Lady, I can say nothing prior to her appearance 30 Sept. as I am noways acquainted with her history any more than that by declaration of common report; she is the spouse of the brother of that Mr Barry who has so greatly pleas'd the town this summer at the Opera House." [Comments on her figure, voice and countenance well adapted to express the stronger passions.] She seemed to be so much in love with Romeo as to forget she represented a young and inexperienced virgin unused to men...The first scene of consequence is the Masquerade scene, which was as to business very badly conducted; but this, I doubt not will be rectified another night, they were discovered in disorder and they went off in confusion. It appeared a tumultous assembly rather than a Masquerade of nobility in an Italian Palace. Romeo stayed so long behind the crow that he was oblig'd to run to his station opposite Juliet to be in time for "Cousin Benvolio, do you mark that lady." [A long and detailed review of the stage action act by act.] In the Garden scene an unlucky accident happened to Cautherly...his nose ran with blood and he was oblig'd to keep his handkerchief to his nose all through, which was a great loss to the audience...The Apothecary is the best figure I ever saw, and spoke more sensibly than I ever heard an apothecary speak in my life. Mr Castle has rescued that character from ridicule, and worked by pity what buffoonery used to run off with-applause." Receipts: #145 11s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book.

Event Comment: Return'd by two persons who came in the 4th inst. with an Order wrote by Mr Sarjant for Mr Barber, and went out and took the money for it at the Pitt door-6s. (Account Book). Receipts: #188 6s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Rec'd from Blackmore #6 6s. for two spring velvet suits of cloaths in his last bill. Paid John Sutherland playing the Bag Pipes in Faustus 4 nights #1 (Account Book). Receipts: #193 19s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Rec'd from Squib for an order for 2 box seats at the latter account for the 27th inst. 5s. (Account Book). [In other words Squib, who was singing in the afterpiece, paid for two guests who came in after the third act of the mainpiece and got seats for half price.] Receipts: #142 15s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mr Toms the balance of his two nights the 15th and 22nd inst. #169 17s. (Account Book). Receipts: #170 8s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: BB. Johnson's Head Bill #4 15s. 6d. Paid two practices in procession #2 4s.; Chorus singers 2 nights #4 11s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #119 14s. (Treasurer's 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: 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: Read the two last acts of the Merchant of Venice, which I had not time to read last night (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #108 4s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these two years. [See 26 Dec. 1764.] Music for the afterpiece by Mr Barthelemon

Event Comment: Author's Night. @Receipt #126 4s.@House charges #84@Candles #1 5s.@Kettle Drum 5s.@Chorus Singers #2@Total #87 10s.@Balance due the author #38 14s.@Tickets 14 48 #10 14s.@Money #126 4s.@Total #136 18s. (Account Book).@ [The #136 18s. represents the total value of the house, from two sources: money at the door and tickets given to the author to dispose of. Since the #10 14s. value of the tickets is not added into the Account Book as a receipt for the company, it is presumed that the author received this as a bonus in addition to the #38 14s. which was taken in over and above the house charges, etc.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted for two years. [See 14 Jan. 1766.

Event Comment: By Authority. Benefit for Lauder, a Scots Musical Pastoral, not done these two Years for that Night only. Tickets delivered for 15 Feb. will be taken

Event Comment: A Dramatic Poem take from the celebrated Ossian. Pit and Boxes Half a Guinea. First Gallery 5s. Second gallery 3s. Barthelemon, the promoter announces that only two acts will be produced on this night, after one Act of a Concert. On the second night of performance of which timely notice will be given he will have honour to present the piece complete

Event Comment: Benefit for Woodward. With two New Scenes in the Afterpiece painted by Richards and Dahl. Mr Woodward, at the particular request of several persons of Quality has changed from the Fair Quaker to The Busy Body. Tickets deliver'd for Fair Quaker will be admitted. House charges with candles and extras #65 15s. Balance to Woodward #102 7s. plus #58 5s. for 233 Box tickets (Account Book). [Public Advertiser, 12 Dec. 1767: "Speedily will be published the Battle of the Wigs, an additional canto to Dr Garth's poem The Dispensary. Occasioned by the Disputes between the Fellows and licentiates of the College of Physicians in London. By B. T. and M. B."] Receipts: #168 2s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Altered from Shakespeare and Tate. Afterpiece: Specified as a Musical entertainment in two acts, taken from The Summer's Tale, with alterations and additions by the author. Receipts: #109 7s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Legg, Mrs Lampe, Mrs Jones (playbill). Charges #64 15s. 6d. Balance to Legg #17 8s. 3d.; to Mrs Lampe and Mrs Jones together #17 8s. 3d. In addition Legg received #59 14s. from his tickets (Box 82; Pit 188; Gallery 110) and the two Actresses together received #55 9s. from tickets (Box 89; Pit 142; Gallery 119). Receipts: #99 12s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Being desir'd by many Persons of Quality, for ONE NIGHT ONLY, and By Permission of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of the Catch-Club, at the Thatch'd House in St Jame's St., will be perform'd the Favourite Catches and Glees which were exhibited Last Summer at Ranelagh-House, With TWO DESIR'D ALTERATIONS. After the 2nd Act, a Concerto on the Violin, by Barthelemon. A Considerable number of the Best Vocal and Instrumental Performers are engag'd on this occasion. Books for the Performance to be had at the theatre. Great care will be taken to keep the Theatre Cool. Ladies and Gentlemen send servants before the opening of the doors, which will be at Half-past 4. No persons can possibly be admitted behind the scenes. To Begin at exactly Seven o'clock. Tickets to be had and places to be taken (ONLY) of Mr Johnston at the stage Door (playbill)

Event Comment: Benefit for Phillips. Dr Arne having granted it only on this Occasion, the comic Interlude of Two Acts which met with the highest Approbation and Applause on Master Brown's Night. Preceded by Entertainments of songs