*p1762 01 29 dl The Drummer; or, The Haunted House. Sir George Truman-Havard; Vellum-Yates; Tinsel-King; Butler-Weston; Coachman-Moody; Abigail-Mrs Clive; Lady Truman-Mrs Pritchard; Fantome-Packer; Gardener-Blakes.*a1762 01 29 dl The Genii. ^As17611228^.*s1762 01 29 dl II: <i>Hearts of Oak</i>, ^as17620115^; End: An Occasional Ballad by Way of <i>Epilogue</i>, in the Character of <i>Abigail</i>r,-Mrs Clive.*c1762 01 29 dl Not acted in 5 years. [See 4 Feb. 1758.] <i>The Drummer</i> was revived at this period at both theatres...to take advantage of the reigning weakness of the people, who went in crowds many days and nights to an Haunted House, by what was called the <i>Cock-Lane Ghost</i>-a delusion set on foot, and very ingeniously carried on by a girl of 12 years of age, daughter of a clerk of <i>St Sepulchre's Church</i>, who resided in <i>Cock Lane</i> near <i>Smithfield</i>. [The Ghost was supposed to be that of one Fanny, a gentleman's mistress buried in the church. By knockings and scratchings she supposedly haunted the girl intimating foul practices concerning her death.] It would be incredible to relate the numbers of persons of distinction that attended this delusion! many of whom treated it as a serious and most important affair...at last the girl's father and three or four others were tried in the <i>King's Bench</i>, found guilty' Pillioried and imprisoned. This most effectively laid the Ghost; and is the best and properest cure for every ghost that may arise hereafter. (<i>Victor, History of the Theatres</i>, III, 18 ff). [The theme exploited again by $Garrick= in <i>The Farmer's Return from London</i>, <i>dl</i> 20 March.]