Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not played in two years. [See 20 May 1771.] Paid half years cleansing & lighting to Mich. Last for St Martin's #10 12s.; one years' ditto for 2 houses Vinegar Yard to ditto, #1 16s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #140 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. The Second Time. Paid Moody for a coat 8s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #272 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Moody. Paid one year's subscription to St George's Hospital #10 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #200 4s. Charges: #64 12s. Profits to Moody: #135 12s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Music of Afterpiece composed by Dibdin. Sigr Como and Sgna Crespi danc'd for first time very Indiff (Hopkins Diary). Paid Printer's Bill #11; Copper plate Printing Bill #3 2s. (Treasurer's Book). [The printing bill averaged #9 6s. per week and came to #344 2s. No further itemization will be made of it this season.] Receipts: #195 1s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Rec'd Stopages #27 2s.; Paid Salary List #522 18s. Receipts: #152 1s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Author's 3rd Night. Paid properties 16s. 8d.; Housekeeper's Bill #9 16s.; Chorus 2 nights (8th incl.) #18 15s. Receipts: #212 3s. 6d. Charges: #73 10s. Profits to Author: #138 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mrs Abington having sprain'd her leg, the new Comedy Ye School for Wives oblig'd to be deferr'd (Winston MS 10). Paid properties 13s. 6d.; Housekeeper's Bill #9 8s. 6d. Receipts: #254 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Greville. Paid Chorus 2 nights (this incl.) #3 11s. Receipts: #136 13s. Charges: #74 17s. 6d. Profits to Greville: #61 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Wheeler and Jacobs. Tickets deliver'd by Kear and Mrs Marklew will be taken. Doors open by 5 o'clock. Play to begin at 6 o'clock. Paid Chorus this night #1 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #228 13s. 6d. Charges: #74 14s. Profits to beneficiaries #153 18s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not certain, but it was very likely this day. Writing on 12 May 1688, Peregrine Bertie states that it had been acted nine days successively. If the ninth performance fell on Friday 12 May, the premiere probably occurred on Wednesday 3 May. The Prologue and Epilogue, printed separately, are reprinted in Wiley, Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 261-63. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 41): This Play by its Excellent Acting, being often Honour's with the presence of Chancellor Jeffereies, and other great Persons had an Uninterrupted run of 13 Days together. Note, The Poet receided for his third Day in the House in Drury Lane at single Prizes 130 l. which was the greatest Receipt they ever had at that House at single Prizes. Dedication, Edition of 1688: This, I must confess, made me hope for success upon the Stage, which it met with, but so great, as was above my expectation (in this Age which has run mad after Farces) no Comedy, for these many years, having fill'd the Theatre so long together: And I had the great Honour to find so many Friends, that the House was never so full since it was built, as upon the third day of this Play; and vast numbers went away, that could not be admitted. For Leigh as Belfond Sr, see Cibber, Apology, ed. Lowe, I, 147-48; and for Underhill as Lolpoop, I, 154-55. For further comment upon the play, see 12 May 1688

Event Comment: Both pieces By Comaand. 5th time (Treasurer's Book). Paid Mr Loutherbourg on Acct #41 13s. 4d.; 2 Bills for gauze &c. for Mrs Robinson #12 2s. 6d.; Mr Griffith on note #15 15s.; Properties 19s. 3d.; Housekeeper's Bill #11 19s. 6d. Receipts: #261 8s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Ranger-Paid $Mr Barthelemon">Mr Vernon-much Applause (Hopkins Diary). Benefit for Vernon. Paid $Mr Barthelemon for composing The Election &c. #30; Gratuity to Ralph Harwood #5 5s. Receipts: #196 18s. 6d. Charges: #67 4s. Profit to Vernon: #129 14s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Brereton. Music of the Afterpiece (entirely new) composed by Dibdin. Mr Brereton-Jaffier, Much Applause. The Quaker is Mr Dibdins Production he has sold it to Mr Brereton. The Music is pretty & Novel it was very badly perform'd--when it is properly Cast & got up with care it will do very well (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] [The Reviewer for the Westminster Magazine for May gave a paragraph to Dibdin's afterpiece: "The words will not add to Mr Dibdin's reputation as a writer, nor Will the music increase his fame as a composer, the latter, however, possessed more merit than the former. The Finale was in new stile and pleased. Upon the whole this piece, like the rest of Mr Dibdin's performances, proves that this would-be author, is resolv'd in spite. Of Nature and the Stars, to write."] Receipts: #105 19s. 6d. Charges: #69 18s. Profits to Brereton: #36 1s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Account-Book, 29 Mar.: Received from Ashley Oratorio Rent #52 10s. [this amount paid for each of the 11 nights of the oratorio season, being a total of #577 10s.)

Event Comment: Benefit of a Public Charity. [The Lock Hospital?] To begin at 7:00 p.m. A great many Tickets having been lost by Accident, no Person can be admitted but by paying ready Money at the Door. Connection denied by Thos. Stamford, Secretary to the Lock Hospital: Whereas a Ridotto has been publicly advertised for the benefit of a "public charity," and tickets for the same sent to several governors of this charity, by which they and many others have been induced to suppose that the benefit was intended for this hospital; the Governors of this charity think it incumbent on them to inform the Public, that the same is NOT intended for the benefit of this Hospital (which has ever applied to the benevolence of the Town under the title of Public Charity), nor do they know for what charity the same is meant. By order of the Board (Public Advertiser)

Event Comment: A New Oratorio. Tickets will be deliver'd to subscribers (on paying their Subscription money), this day, and every day following at Mr Handel's in Brook Street, near Hanover Square. Attendance will be given from 9 o'clock in the Morning till Three in the Afternoon. Pit and Boxes to be put together and no persons to be admitted without tickets, which will be deliver'd that day at the Office in Covent Garden Theatre, at Half a Guinea each, First Gallery 5s. Upper Gallery 3s. 6d. N.B. Each subscriber is to pay Six Guineas upon taking out his subscription ticket, which entitles him to three Box tickets every night of Mr Handel's first six performances in Lent; and if Mr. Handel should have any more performances after his first six nights, each subscriber may continue on the same conditions. The Gallery will be open'd at Four O'Clock. Pit and Boxes at Five. To begin at Six o'clock. [These notices concerning price, subscription, and time of performance recur regularly, but will not be recorded further here.

Event Comment: 2nd piece [1st time; CO 3, by John Scawen]: The Music, with a new Overture, by Dr Arnold. The Scenery designed and painted by Rooker. The Dances by Byrn. Books of the Songs [T. Cadell, 1790] to be had at the Theatre. Diary, 27 Aug. 1790: This Day is published New Spain (1s. 6d.)

Event Comment: The last Night of the Company's performing this Season. Account-Book, 3 June: Paid Lewis in full his Salary as Acting Manager #200; 23 June: Received of Their Majesties for this Season #50; 28 June: Paid Hull in lieu of a Benefit #100; 30 June: Paid Harris for his trouble in superintending the Theatre #500; Paid Cooper, printer, #433 9s. Receipts: #227 6s. 6d. (223/5/9; 4/1/6)

Event Comment: Benefit for a Fund, for the Relief of those who from their Infirmities shall be obliged to retire from the Stage. Prelude [1st time; M. PREL 1, by David Garrick, and others. In a synopsis of the plot the London Chronicle assigns Bannister; it lists the names of the other performers and, separately, their parts. The assignments given above are my own conjecture. Not in Larpent MS; the composer of the vaudeville written by Garrick is unknown]. The Words of the Songs will be given at the Theatre. Ladies and Gentlemen are requested to come early, to prevent Confusion. And to send their Servants by Five o'clock to keep the Places. Receipts: #217 8s. 6d. (100.9.0; 25.14.6; 0.0.0; tickets: 91.5.0) (charge: free)

Event Comment: This night [see Public Advertiser 13 Jan.] about the middle of the play at Covent Garden, a Gentleman who sat in one of the gallery boxes, ask'd another who sat next him if he could lend him a knife; on being told he could not, the former pull'd out a small pen-knife and stabb'd himself; which occasioned some commotion in that part of the house; he was immediately carried to the Shakespeare's Head, and Mr Baker the surgeon dress'd the wound, which the gentleman suffer'd with great constraint; He would not tell who he was, nor what was the cause of this rash action

Event Comment: Full Prices. Afterpiece with a New Scene of a Fountain introduc'd. [See Cross's note for dl 14 Dec. 1752.] [Harlequin Sorcerer] With the loves of Pluto and Proserpine. The scenes painted by Mr Lambert. As any obstruction in the movements of the Machinery will greatly prejudice the performance, it is hoped no persons will be displeased at their not being admitted behind the scenes (Public Advertiser). [Nonadmittance note repeated.

Event Comment: On Tuesday next a New Tragedy called Philoclea. On Monday 28 January will be a Benefit for Sga Nicolina Giordani, A comic Opera with dances. Tickets and places for the Boxes may be had at Sg Giordani's Lodging, at Mr Milbourn's Grocer, in James St. Covent Garden. To the Young Gentlewoman who has performed Hermione [see 19 Jan.]: @Great was th' Applause you met, great your desert,@You charm'd the Eye, the Ear, the Head, the Heart.@Amaz'd we saw you at the first appear,@Ev'n in the hardest part, a perfect play'r.@Your person, your deportment set to view,@The youthful princess that the poet drew.@All was propriety, and all was grace,@We read the author's meaning in your face.@Your elocution was both just and strong,@Mix'd with due ease, and not an accent wrong,@Such varied Musick in your voice we heard,@That in the Tones both Taste and Sense appear'd.@Love, Jealousy, and Rage so well expres't@Engag'd our souls, nor knew we which was best,@'Twas Nature all-she form'd you for the stage,@Follow her steps, and glad th' Admiring Age.-Public Advertiser@

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By Particular Desire and for the last time this season (Public Advertiser). For Miss Macklin's benefit. Ye farce of ye two Knights was to have done, but Mr Yates not being perfect it was chang'd (Cross). Receipts: #210 (Cross)

Event Comment: [The Public Advertiser for 15 Feb. noted the following concerning this night's performance: Whereas several complaints, by letter and otherwise, have been lately made to the Managers of Drury Lane Theatre, of the ill Behavior of some persons in the Upper Gallery, who throw down Apples, Potatoes, and other things into the Pit.: This is therefore to assure the Ladies and Gentlemen that the Managers will take all imaginable care to discover and prosecute any person or persons, who shall, disturb, or insult them for the future. If any person will discover who it was that flung a hard piece of cheese, of near half a Pound Weight, from one of the Galleries last Tuesday Night [11 Feb.] and greatly hurt a young Lady in the Pit, shall receive Ten Guineas from Mr Pritchard, the Treasurer of the Theatre."] Receipts: #190 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr Havard (Cross). Last time of performing the Mainpiece this season. Tickets of Havard at his house in Broad Court, Bow St., Covent Garden, and at the Bedford Coffee House and the Stage Door. [The Public Advertiser lists Old Knowell this night as Berry.] Receipts: #190 (Cross)