2nd Sept 1761 Bout a pint Rum 15d 6th Bout a Spieing Glass 5/- 1 Vol Tattlersle a song book 3d

Here is a telescope of about the right date. I can't make any sense of the book he bought. Can you?


Went to Covent Garden Play House to See an oratorio of Samson Organ Mr Hanley Violin Signor Giardini the King & all the Royal Family was their 5/-

Giardini, pictured below, was an Italian violinist and composer who settled in England.


The King was the soon to be crowned George III


He was not married so there was no Queen (yet) but perhaps his mother, Augusta, Princess of Wales, accompanied him?


He also had brothers & sisters. He would, of course have had the usual quota of hangers on and flunkies!

Thomas hears Handel.. conducted by Handel!

Thomas, unusually, does not make it obvious whether the next entry I shall post was on the 18th or the 19th of March 1742/3

Went to see the Oritorio Covent Garden 3/6

This must have been Handel's Samson. It was premiered on the 18th of February and there were 8 performances - the most ever in a first season for a Handel oratorio. Samson was much more popular in the eighteenth century than the now more famous Messiah. That was premiered on 23rd March and Thomas wasn't there.

The role of Delilah was played by Susannah Cibber, pictured below. She was the daughter of Thomas Arne and an accomplished actress as well as a singer.



21 March
Went to See Hamlett & Mr Hinton of Hull 2/6

After Samson was Garrick's Hamlet still stunning, I wonder. I'm sure Thomas means that he went to the theatre with Mr Hinton who was, presumably, a business contact.