, 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.

The successful career of the piece was checked, as I have said, by
the intervention of benefits, and the manager would not allow it to
be repeated e