23 February 1763

Went to Covent Garden to See and Oritorio of Alexanders Feast With the Coronation Anthem Violin Mr Hays organ Mr Stanley the King and Queen & all the Royal Family was their and Cost me 5/-


Alexander's Feast is by Handel, of course. This data base shows that there was another performance on the 25th with the same performers. It also tell us that Thomas sat in the first gallery, presumably what would be called the Dress Circle today.

And here is a link to tell you about the Coronation Anthem including a chance to hear the music!
There is a picture of Covent Garden Theatre at the right sort of date here.

The Monarch remains George III, pictures of him & Queen Charlotte here.

20th October 1761

Spt 3d and Went to Covent Garden to See King Henry 5 with Corronation which was very Grand Severall Gentlmn & Ladys all agreed that it was grander than the real one was 2/-

There is no coronation scene in Henry V but it seems they stuck the one from Henry VIII into this production because it looked good! Mrs Bellamy was the Queen. She mentions this role and the fact that Rich produced the play in her memoirs.



I wonder what Thomas spent 3d on? It's unusual for him not to tell us (though I don't imagine he ever imagined that anyone else would read his account book).

5th April 1761
Went to Text 12 Eclias. 1vs spt 6d

In the King James this text is

¹Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

We've already met the archbishop.

10th ltt. E Newton 4 Oysters 3d

Good to see that Thomas is keeping in touch with Elizabeth.

11th Went to See Covent Garden Romeo & Juliet Ross Romeo Miss Macklin Juliet 2/3

"Miss Macklin" was Mary, the daughter of the famous Irish actor Charles Macklin. She doesn't seem to have left any portraits. I've found only mention of "Ross" as an actor at Covent Garden in the right era but nothing much more (except that he was not as much of a draw as Garrick at Drury Lane at the same time!).

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.

March 13 1741/2
Spent at the Inn in Smithfield 1/2
Gave a porter to Carry my Box to my Lodgeings in Charles Street Westminster

(Now there's an address Thomas couldn't afford today!!!)

March 14
Bout a Loaf 3d, a Cheese 2/6 Butter 6d
March 15
3 pound Rost Veal 12d Barrill Bear 2/6

Thomas spends nothing more for 5 days so I assume he made that lot last rather than having a party.

March 28
Dined at Mr. Paynes & gave maid 12d
and Stayed to Help him in the Shop.

The accounts continue with food - meat, bread, butter and beer but no fruit or vegetables at all. March is an expensive time for them.

8 April
Bout a Candle Stick & Steel 2/6

24 April
Left my Lodgeings this day and went to Lodge in King Street Covent Garden and paid a porter for takeing my Things their. 2/-

This time Thomas tells us which King Street and here is an contemporary picture of that Street.

27th April 1742
Spent wn went to see the King Review the Soldiers on Hounsley Heath the Prince of Wales, Duke Cumberland General Wade and a great many other nobility there and they marcht of for Germany as soon as it was over about 8000 some said more spent 18p

The date fits with the sending of an army to bring Britain's support to the Austrians (well, the French were on the other side and Britain always likes to balance things). The King, George II, was the last British monarch to appear in person on a Battlefield, at the battle of Dettingen in 1743. In 1745, General Wade was an important figure in the suppression of the Jacobite rebellion

28th Sept 1741
Paid Rutter for Drawing a Tooth 2/6
1 Oct
Bought 3 Doses Physick 2/-
3 Oct
Bleeding 12d

Oh Dear! Poor Thomas! This doesn't sound good at all does it? It never seems to me that bleeding someone was any way to make them feel better but it carried on as standard medical practice for centuries.

But he must be feeling better later in the month because

19th October
Went to See a play as you Like it with the Skelliton Covent Garden 2/- and spent 6d

This picture of a production of As You Like It, dates from about the same time and was probably done from a London production. I have not found anything about a play called the Skeleton, yet.

Out and About

16 April 1740 Went to Covent Garden Playhouse to see the Orphin with the rehearsall 2/-

This play by Thomas Otway (1652-85), more conventionally "the Orphan", is out of fashion but was a standard from its first production in 1680 until the nineteenth century. For a Restoration play it is uncommonly domestic, dealing with jealousy between brothers in love with the same woman. It was produced at Covent Garden between 1721 & 1741 (more research may let me tell you who was acting that night!!!). While I do that you will have to make do with this picture of the playwright....
The Rehearsal was the second play. A typical 18th Century evening at the theatre consisted of 5 acts. The first play would be a tragedy with the evening ending with a comedy.
17 April 170 Bout a pair of sissers 2/6

21 April 1740 Paid Mr Davis Limner in King Street for drawing my Picture in half length and paid him for it before Mr Walker £4.4s

According to my dictionary, a Limner was a painter of miniatures though Nicholas Hilliard called himself a Limner, regarding the word painter as referring to those who put the paint on walls.

Oh, I've spent hours googling and I can't find anything about Mr Davis who charged Thomas this princely sum for a portrait. There are even several King Streets but we shall assume it was this one.....