Morning Post, June 12, 1800: “Mrs. Billington is engaged for the King’s Theatre next season, and she is to have two thousand guineas.”
THEATRICAL DOCTORS RECOVERING CLARA’S NOTES.
Morning Post, July 15, 1801: “Mrs. Billington after humming all the Theatres, has, at last, fixed on the hive in Covent Garden, where she will, no doubt, make much buzz and honey next season. Articles were signed between her and Mr. Harris yesterday. This we can state as a positive fact. It is with much pleasure we find she has resolved to return to the English stage; she will revive our Operas, of late fallen into disrepute, and bring music again into fashion. The terms are very liberal, but not more so than we expected so extraordinary, so charming a singer, to obtain. She is to have three thousand guineas, and a free benefit, besides fifty guineas per night at the oratorios; this altogether will amount to upwards of four thousand pounds for the season, and this season is not to extend beyond half a year.”
PLAYING IN PARTS.
[Gillray, 15th May, 1801.
Morning Herald, April 2, 1802: “Mrs. Billington will net this single season, by her professional abilities, no less than eleven thousand pounds!”