The very bill sold at the doors on
the occasion has been preserved, and hereafter may be furnished for
the amusement of your readers. It appears, that when the run of the
_Beggar's Opera_ was somewhat abruptly terminated by the advance of
the season and the benefits of the actors, the "takings," as they
were and still are called, were larger than ever. The performances
commenced on 29th January, 1728, and that some striking novelty was
required at the Lincoln's-Inn-Fields theatre, to improve the
prospects of the manager, may be judged from the fact that the new
tragedy of _Sesostris_, brought out on the 17th January, was played
for the benefit of its author (John Sturm) on its 6th night to only
58l. 19s., while the house was capable of holding at least 200l.
In the following statement of the receipts to the _Beggar's Opera_,
I have not thought it necessary to insert the days of the months:--
L s. d.
Night 1 - - - 169 12 0
2 - - - 160 14 0
(Author) 3 - - - 162 12 6
4 - - - 163 5 6
5 - - - 175 19 6
(Author) 6 - - - 189 11 0
7 - - - 161 19 0
8 - - - 157 19 6
(Author) 9 - - - 165 12 0
10 - - - 156 8 0
11 - - - 171 10 0
12 - - - 170 5 6
13 - - - 164 8 0
14 - - - 171 5 0
(Author) 15 - - - 175 18 0
16 - - - 160 11 0
17 - - - 171 8 6
18 - - - 163 16 6
19 - - - 158 19 0
20 - - - 170 9 6
21 - - - 163 14 6
22 - - - 163 17 6
23 - - - 179 8 6
24 - - - 161 7 0
25 - - - 169 3 6
26 - - - 163 18 6
27 - - - 168 4 6
28 - - - 153 3 6
29 - - - 165 2 6
30 - - - 152 8 6
31 - - - 183 4 0
32 - - - 185 8 6
Therefore, when the run was interrupted, the attraction of the opera
was greater than it had been on any previous night, excepting the
6th, which was one of those set apart for the remuneration of the
author, when the receipt was 189l.
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