Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first production is not known. It was not entered in the Term Catalogues until May 1678, but the very large number of new plays acted by the Duke's Company in the spring of 1678, many of them more precisely dated, makes it probable that this was an early spring production which had title success. The title page states: Written by a Person of Quality. Langbaine (English Dramatick Poets, 1691, p. 554) ascribes it to "Mr Rawlins." A Library of Congress copy has on the title page: "by L. Baker.

Event Comment: Benefit for Macklin. Last time of performing this season. Doors open half past 5. To Begin at half past 6 o'clock. Tickets to be had of Macklin, James St., Covent Garden, and of Mr Sarjant at the stage Door where places for the Boxes may be taken

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never performed before. New Scenes and Dresses. This Comedy is a first production of Mrs Cowley--It was receiv'd with very great Applause-Indeed the performers play'd very well and deserv'd it--the Prologue was written by the Author of the Play dull and Mr Gar. wrote a most Excellent Epilogue quite Local--which was received with uncommon Applause (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly. Mainpiece reviewed in the Westminster Magazine for Feb.: "As we have lately been much afflicted with the melancholy fate of theatrical authors, we have a pleasure more than common in the great sucess of this piece."] Receipts: #256 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for H. Johnston. Mainpiece: 1st time at this Theatre; by Permission of Mr Colman. Morning Chronicle, 9 Apr.: Tickets to be had of H. Johnston, No. 47, Great Queen-street, Lincoln's Inn Fields. Receipts: #334 3s. 6d. (174.7.6; 1.14.0; tickets: 158.2.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. With new Dresses and Decorations. The Characters dressed in the Habits of the Times. [Palmer Jun. was from the hay.] "It is necessary to remind both Macbeth and his Lady that there is a measured declamation, of which the natural utterance of passion knows nothing, and that words and syllables may be divided and subdivided till the fatigue of the ear overcome every other feeling...Between the first and second acts Ca ira was loudly called for from the pit and gallery. The clamour, after preventing the first part of the second act from being heard, subsided as unaccountably as it rose. The performers, in compliance with an admonition from the pit, began the act again, and proceeded without further interruption" (Morning Chronicle, 20 Feb.). "In Macbeth there was too much that was not Shakespeare, too much bad taste and shabbiness in the costumes of the witches, and all in all too much claptrap. He found it insufferable that Banquo should take the part of his own ghost and felt that the audience should behold the specter only in Macbeth's terror, as was the case with the banquet guests. 'Mr Kemble has desired on several occasions to suppress the ghost,' Meister says, 'but has never had the courage to do so.'" (J. H. Meister quoted in J. A. Kelly, 134). For Kemble's eventual courage in this matter see dl, 21 Apr. 1794.] Receipts: #425 6s. (383.2; 40.4; 2.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for several: Master Cape, C. Roberts, West, Tomlinson, Mortimer. Tickets deliver'd for This Night will be taken. [Tomlinson's Epilogue in Larpent MS 213.] The mute speaks again, and mimics tragedians and comedians [See 20 May.

Event Comment: marly Benefit for Hook. Price 3s. Vocals in Concert by Mas. Cheney, Two Young Ladies who never appeared in public, and Mrs Barthelemon

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Hillyard. Receipts: #46 17s. Charges: #63. Deficiency cover'd by tickets, #105 9s. (boxes 170; pit 279; gallery 211). Rec'd from John Rich, #100, being part of the sum paid to Mr Finny on account of the New Building (Account Book)

Event Comment: At the Desire of some Persons of Quality who are going out of Town. [Volpone, intended for this day, is deferred to 25 May.

Event Comment: [This performance, following the Great Storm of 1703, aroused the wrath of the reformers, typified by Jeremy Collier's remark in his Dissuasive from the Play-House: "But Stupidity under that Convulsion was not the worst of our Case: No, that dreadful Hurricane, the Voice of an angry Heaven, and Terrour of Earth and Sea, was it seems a Jest at the Play House: Macbeth with his Lightning and Thunder the Entertainment of the Day, and the Mention of Chimnies blown down, clapt by the Audience with an unusual Length of Pleasure and Approbation" (p. 18).

Event Comment: By Subscription. The music for The Judgment of Paris composed by Weldon. [Note that both duRuel and Mrs Mayers are advertised to appear at both theaters this day.

Event Comment: [In Daily Courant, 26 Sept., The Royal Merchant had been announced for this day.

Event Comment: Benefit Teno and Rainton. That Celebrated Comedy... As it was perform'd before her Majesty on her Birth Day at St. James's

Event Comment: Benefit for Saunders and Mrs Lee. Receipts: #34 14s. 6d. in cash. Deficit (Charges #64 5s.) to each beneficiary, #14 15s. 3d., cover'd by income from tickets: Saunders #18 11s. (Boxes 7; Pit 68; Gallery 66); Mrs Lee, #49 19s. (Boxes 97; Pit 124; Gallery 71). Total income, #103 4s. 6d. Paid Kemp #9 12s; Shane (upholsterer) #41 11s. 6d

Event Comment: For the Author of the Cunning Man. House charges #84. [Profit to author #92 2s.] Paid chorus singers 2 nights #5 1s. (Treasprer's Book). Receipts: #176 2s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Paid Pointer's 2 Bills #16 14s. (Treasurer's Book). [This year were published The Theatrical Campaign (44 pp.), an examen of productions this season; The Stage the High Road to Hell (43 pp.); Theatrical Entertainments Consistent with Society, Morality and Religion: or, A Letter to the Author of the "Stage the High Road to Hell," shewing that writer's arguments to be fallacious, his principals enthusiastic, and his authorities (particularly from the ancients) misconstrued and perverted.] Receipts: #176 4s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)