put exactly 693l. 13s. 6d. into Gay’s pocket.  This is a new circumstance in the biography of one of our most fascinating English writers, whether in prose or verse.  Rich records that the king, queen, and {179} princesses were present on the 21st repetition, but that was by no means one of the fullest houses.  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. 11s.  The total sum realised by the 32 successive performances was 5351l. 15s., of which, as we have already shown, Gay obtained 693l. 13s 6d.  To him it was all clear profit; but from the sum obtained by Rich are, of course, to be deducted the expenses of the company, lights, house-rent, &c.