Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but it was probably acted much earlier than November 1682, when it was entered in the Term Catalogues. The fact that the Epilogue refers to the Duke of York's "second Exile into Flanders" points to the possibility that it may have been acted near that time, i.e., between 24 Sept. 1679 and 14 Oct. 1679. It may have been first acted early as March 1679, when the political flights of the Duke of York were also a matter of public concern

Event Comment: [By Thomas Moore.] With Musick Vocal and Instrumental, Dances, and other Decorations proper to the same. Victor, History of the Theatres, II, 144: Three or four Years after the Performance of this famous Tragedy, I had the following account from several of the Actors who performed in it: That Sir Thomas gave them many good Dinners and Suppers during the Rehearsals of the Play, which they all laugh'd at as ridiculous; but as the Company was, at that Time, composed chiefly of young Actors, and got but small Encouragement from the Public; it may be justly said, their Necessities compelled them to perform this strange Tragedy, which stood some chance to divert from its Absurdities

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Horton. Davies (Dramatic Miscellanies, I, 103-4): Upon Mrs Younger's quitting Drury-lane for a more advantageous income at Lincoln's-inn-fields, [Mrs Horton] was called upon by Wilks to act the part of Phillis in the Conscious Lovers. Younger had given the public so much entertainment in that part, that Mrs Horton met with very uncandid treatment from the audience; who so far forgot what was due to merit and the handsomest woman on the stage, that they endeavoured to discourage her by frequent hissing. She bore this treatment with patience for some time. At last, she advanced to the front of the stage, and boldly addressed the pit: "Gentlemen, what do you mean?What displeases you; my acting or my person?' This shew of spirit recovered the spectators into good humor, and they cried out, as with one voice, No, no, Mrs Horton; we are not displeased; go on, go on.

Event Comment: [Prince of Wales and Princess Amelia present.] Lord Hervey to Henry Fox, 2 Nov.: No place is full but the Opera; and Farinelli is so universally liked, that the crowds there are immense. By way of public spectacles this winter, there are no less than two Italian Operas, one French play house, and three English ones. Heidegger has computed the expense of these shows, and proves in black & white that the undertakers must receive seventy-six thousand odd hundred pounds to bear their charges, before they begin to become gainers. Ilchester, Lord Hervey and his Friends, p. 211

Event Comment: By Desire. [In a letter to the Daily Journal, 13 Feb., Michael Poitier thanks the public for the applause given him on 8 Feb., and refers to the earlier disturbance there occasioned by his failure to appear with Mlle Roland. He states that she was indisposed and that he sent a message to that effect to the manager.]

Event Comment: A public concert. [See Egmont, Diary, n, 164.]

Event Comment: Rehearsed in public

Event Comment: EEgmont, Diary, III, 5: I went at night to a public meeting of the vocal music club at the Crown Tavern, where the famous oratorio of Hendel, called 'The Feast of Alexander," was performed by the gentlemen of our club

Event Comment: Benefit Leonardo Pescatore...a Serenata. Music entirely new and composed by himself, 7 p.m., 5s. Tickets at the Mews Coffee House, Charing Cross; at Pescatore's, No 2, Meard's Court, Dean St., Soho. [And a long letter by Pescatore offering to give lessons on the harsichord and wounded by public suspicion of his loyalty.

Event Comment: Benefit towards the increase of a Fund for the support of a Public Charity. Ladies send Servants by 3 O'clock. Last time of performing the Mainpiece this season

Event Comment: A New Serenade. Whereas it has been advertised by mistake in the public newspapers that subscriber's tickets would not be admitted; Dr Crosa takes this opportunity to beg pardon, that it was not his intention, but that all subscriber's tickets will be received

Event Comment: At Hickford's Room, Brewer St. Benefit for Mme Cuzzoni. Burney, II, 848-49: [Giardini's] first performance in public was at a benefit concert for Cuzzoni, May the 18th...where, as this was her third arrival in this country, and she was grown old, poor, and almost deprived of voice, by age and infirmities, there was but little company; yet, when Giardini played a solo of Martini of Milan's composition, the applause was so long and loud, that I never remember to have heard such hearty and unequivocal marks of approbation at any other musical performance

Event Comment: [M+Midwife, No II (at about this date) includes a Letter from Mary Midnight to David Garrick, Esq praising him as actor and even as manager, but asking why he neglects Fletcher's plays: "What is the reason that the public patience is so largely try'd, and the human understanding so shamefully insulted as it is, by a perpetual repetition of the Duke and No Duke, the Anatomist, and twenty things of like nature?" Concludes by remarking that the London Cuckolds is a scandal to virtue.] Receipts: #120 (Cross)

Event Comment: [The theatres this night met competition from (I) an Assembly at the king's Theatre in the Haymarket, tickets 26s. each, to admit one Gentleman and two ladies. (2) another Assembly at the Five Bells Tavern, behind the New Church, in the Strand, where was opened the Temple of Taste, where will be exhibited a grand concert of Music. Also an attempt towards the Introduction of a new rational entertainment, consisting of an Occasional Prologue by a Gentleman; a panegyric on the Utility of Public Speaking, in which the Design is particularly illustrated; Propositions made from a Gentleman in the Chair, to be debated by the company, such as the Gay and Polite may be supposed to understand, and speak upon with success; to conclude with an Original Epilogue; the whole interspers'd with several grand concertos, Overtures, and Full pieces of Musick. This design, which has for its object the interest of Knowledge, Eloquence and Politeness, needs no Apology, and can be opposed by those, with whom to be at variance, is Virtue. No subject of so Sacred Nature as Religion, will be there canvass'd nor anything that can give Occasion to Indecency, or unmannerly reflection on any Undertaking or Party.-In this attempt all Men of Taste are interested, as they will have an opportunity not only of being pleased, but giving pleasure by considering every subject with candour, and reasoning upon it, with Eloquence and propriety. To this entertainment, the Ladies are likewise invited, who have an unexceptionable right to be present at all Attempts, calculated for the promotion of knowledge, and as their appearance will naturally secure polite behavior, so they may reap some advantage from the Circulation of ideas, which is such an Assembly must necessarily take place. The price of entrance-half a crown each. To begin precisely at seven. The room which is very commodious, will be elegantly illuminated. The SUBJECT for the first Night's Debate will be, "If the Custom of Portioning Daughters was entirely suppress'd, would it not be a good Expedient towards the promotion of Matrimony and the felicity of that state." It continued on four Wednesday nights. Then seems to have died.

Event Comment: The Lord Chamberlain to the Manager of the Theatre in Covent Garden...These are strictly to charge and command you not to act any Plays, Oratorios, or any other Theatrical Performance in Passion Week for the Future on any Pretence whatsoever (Deutsch, Handel, p. 740, from Public Record Office: L.C. 5@162, pp. 2 ff.). [Deutsch cites similar ones for dl, king's and hay.

Event Comment: Continued (by adjourment). Veniam quocumque vocaris, a properer motto for the Inquisitor than that he has chosen, being in English nothing more than, coming Sir. After the Inquiry the following questions will be debated: Whether these Argumentative Societies are useful of pernicious to the public, and if the former, Whether the superintendance of them should be given to the Inquisitor, Dr R-, or Tiddy Doll, being three gentlemen who have eloquently distinguished themselves from the Tub, Chaise, and Barrow. [Macklin was advertising at his Great Room Tit for Tat, with a trial of Sam. Smatter for a dramatic cheat and imposter.

Event Comment: Benefit towards Compleating the Additional Building of a Public Charity

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Macklin (Cross). Receipts: #180 (Cross). Ladies to send for tickets for the places they taken at Miss Macklin's, Russel St. next door to Tom's Coffee House. Part of Pit laid into Boxes and Amphitheatre on stage. Afterpiece: By Particular Desire. Last time of Performing till the Holidays. On seeing Miss Macklin in the character of the Mourning Bride: @Should Death (for Oh! what power can save Our tragic heroine from the grave)@At Cibber aim his dart:@Tears should forever speak my moan,@For oh! 'tis she, and she alone@Can melt the feeling heart.@Britannia spake, when Lo! a Voice@Britain be happy, and rejoice,@That, when your Cibber dies@The Gods have yet in store for thee,@A Macklin; and in her you'll see@Another Cibber rise.--Public Adveriser@

Event Comment: Benefit towards the Increase of a Fund for the support of a Public Charity. Mainpece: By Particular Desire of Several Persons of Quality