Event Comment: Receipts: #151 18s. Paid Mr Dallon on acct of salary omitted 15th inst. #1 10s. and salary for 22 inst. #1 10s.; Paid Mr Whitefield (assistant in the wardrobe) 3 months salary due 24th inst. #7 10s.; J. Rich on acct #21; Paid Stephen Gom at Uxbridge in full #38 5s

Event Comment: Receipts: #127. Paid Mrs Lee for playing Dorinda in The Stratagem the 20th inst., #5 5s. Paid Mr Weller for extra attendance in getting The Fair ready #2 2s. Paid Mr Kemp 13 nights from the 1st to 15th inst. at #1 12s. per night, #20 16s

Event Comment: Benefit for Hopkins (prompter) and Mrs Hopkins. Charges #64 17s. [Profit to the Hopkins family #30 19s. plus Tickets.] Tickets delivered by Philips will be taken. Paid B. Johnson's Head bill #1 2s. 3d.; Paid Mr J. Johnston, by order #21; Rec'd Mr Pope's rent 1 year at #30 minus King's Tax of #3 8s.: Total #26 12s. receiv'd. Paid Mr Pope's bill #13 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Before 4 dined behind St Clements, and went to ye First Gallery to see the Distressed Mother....We had the Capricious Lovers, Lisetta by Mrs Clive, who took off the ridiculous sing-song at ye Opera House charmingly (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #95 16s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: N.B. Mr King Being indisposed, Mr Vernon has obligingly undertaken (at a short notice) to play his part in the Masque this evening. Paid Garter Supers, 10 nights #46 3s.; Paid Mr Weston's note to Glascot, paid to Greenwood #9 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #132 3s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Palmer. [1st piece originally acted in 1767 as Dido. Prologue by David Garrick.] 3rd piece [1st time; INT 1, consisting of 3 tales in verse inserted into a continuous verse narrative]: As intended for Representation at the Theatre Royal, Hay-market, by George Colman Ynger. Morning Herald, 3 Apr. 1797: This Day is Published My Nightgown and Slippers (2s. 6d.). True Briton, 25 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Palmer, No. 39, Great Pulteney-street, Golden-square. Receipts: #491 16s. (152.3; 77.16; 11.16; tickets: 250.1) (charge: #232 18s. 6d.)

Event Comment: 2nd piece [1st time; MD 3, by James Boaden]: With new Musick, Scenery, Dresses, and Decorations. The Overture and Musick by Dr Arnold. The Scenery by Marinari, Rooker, &c. Morning Herald, 26 Aug. 1797: This Day is published The Italian Monk (2s.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; D 5, by Thomas Holcroft, based on Diego und Leonore, by Johann Christoph Unzer. Prologue and Epilogue by Francis Godolphin Waldron (Thomas Holcroft, Life, ed. Elbridge Colby, 1925, II, 125)]: With new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. The Scenery by Marinari. [Johnston was from cg.] Times, 12 July 1798: This Day is published The Inquisitor (2s.)

Event Comment: 2nd piece [1st time; MD 3, by James Boaden; some of the songs written by George Colman, ynger]: With new Musick, Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. The new Musick by Dr Arnold. With an appropriate Overture, accompanied by two Pedal Harps and the Union Pipes, by Weippert, C. Jones, and Murphy. The Scenery by Marinari. The Dresses and Decorations designed by A. Johnston, and executed by him and Mrs Egan. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. "Any exertion of impartial criticism to check the prevalent taste for the marvellous and the horrific which so wantonly conjures up the spirit (it was once thought had been for ever laid) of gross superstition and Gothic barbarism must, we fear, prove at present unavailing" (Times, 23 July). Morning Chronicle, 30 July 1798: This Day is published Cambro-Britons (2s.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; MD 3, by George Moultrie]: The Overture and Musick by Dr Arnold. Books of the Songs, &c. to be had at the Theatre. Morning Herald, 25 Aug. 1798: This Day is published False and True (2s.)

Event Comment: [Mrs Gibbs was from the hay.] Afterpiece: 21st time [i.e. in continuation of the reckoning for the previous season]. The Music composed, and selected from Cherubini, Kreutzer and Andreozzi, by Storace. An Accurate Edition of Lodoiska to be had at the Theatre. Powell, 26 Sept.: Provoked Husband rehearsed at 10; Lodoiska at 12 (for Palmer); 27 Sept.: Lodoiska rehearsed at 10 (for Bannister). Receipts: #433 19s. 6d. (296.14.0; 134.13.0; 2.12.6)

Event Comment: The Publick is respectfully requested to observe that no Play Bills can be depended upon for this Theatre except those signed by C. Lowndes [and see 16 Sept.]. Powell: Mountaineers rehearsed at 10. Receipts: #252 2s. (209.5.6; 42.15.6; 0.1.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Not acted these 7 years. [Bannister Jun.'s 1st appearance as Jobson was at dl, 21 May 1796.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 9 years. [Mrs Worthington is identified in MS list in Kemble playbills of new performers for this season.] Ballet: 1st time; composed by Giacomo? Gentili. Afterpiece [1st time: ENT 1, by Richard Brinsley Sheridan; acted in place of The Prize, advertised on playbill of 4 Mar. Text (C. Lowndes, 1797)]: Altered from a Dramatick Entertainment performed 1794 [The Glorious First of June]. In the course of which will be introduced a representation of the late Glorious Engagement between the British and Spanish Fleets on the Fourteenth of February [1797, under Sir John Jervis, off Cape St. Vincent]. Receipts: #253 9s. (151.2.6; 100.17.0; 1.9.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Blakes. Tickets and places of Blakes at his house in Cranbourne Alley, Leicester Fields, and of Hobson at the stage door. Les Messieurs & Dames peuvent laisser Diner leurs Domestiques car a quatre Heur sera assez a bonne heur de les Envoyer pour Gardez les places dans les loges. M. Fanfaron (General Advertiser). [The General Advertiser this day also included the first announcement of Mrs Macklin's benefit to be held on 22 April, at which would be perform'd the Lover's Melancholy, "Not acted these Hundred years," together with a new farce (never acted) called The Club of Fortune Hunters. The notice ran again several times, followed by the letters to the author of the General Advertiser noted on 19 and 23 April.] Receipts: #111 (Cross); house charges, #63 (Powel); cash, #58 6s.; tickets, #52 15s. (Clay MS)

Event Comment: Benefit the Author of the Farce. [Author not known. Apparently not published.] N.B. Mr Marforio hopes those who have paid a Visit to his Brother Pasquin, will not refuse him the same Favour. His Clothes are as old, and the Jokes somewhat more New. Receipts: money #100 14s.; tickets #68 8s

Event Comment: 1 By His Majesty's Command. Present The King and Princess Amelia. Paid Mr Arthur a Bill for glass Lustres &c #7 15s. 2d. Receipts: #177 11s. 6d

Event Comment: Books of the Songs, Chorusses, &c. to be had at the Theatre. Paid Mr Jenkins Ext. Trumpet 8 nights in Alfred #4 4s.; Chorus 2 nights (This incl.) #3 11s.; Taylor's bill for dinners for men #3 9s. 11d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #155 1s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By His Majesty's Command. A New Oratorio in English. Composed by Mr Handel. And to be perform'd by a great Number of the best Voices and Instruments. The House to be fitted up and illuminated in a new and particular manner. Tickets One Guinea. Gallery Half a Guinea. [Text by Samuel Humphreys. Their Majesties, Prince, and three eldest Princesses present.] Daily Advertiser, 20 March: An Entertainment, perhaps, the most magnificent that has ever been exhibited on an English Theatre....The Composition of the Musick is by no means inferior to the most finish'd of that Gentleman's Works; but the Disposition of the Performers was in a Taste beyond what has been attempted. There was a very great Number of Instruments by the best Hands, and such as would properly accompany three Organs. The Pit and Orchestre were cover'd as at an Assembly, and the whole House Illuminated in a new and most beautiful manner. [See also Lady A. Irwin to Lord Carlisle, in Deutsch, Handel, pp. 309-10.

Event Comment: Benefit for Palmer. Mr Palmer most respectfully informs the Publick, the Lord Chamberlain having given Permission, Mr Colman having liberally granted the use of the Theatre, and his Brethren kindly consented to perform, that [there] will be presented...[as above. This benefit had originally been arranged for 20 Sept., but because of the death of the Duke of Cumberland, the theatre on that night was dark.] Tickets to be had of Palmer, No. 3, London Road, St. George's Fields; and of Rice, at the Theatre, where Places for the Boxes may be taken

Event Comment: Benefit for Bannister Jun. 3rd piece: By permission of the Proprietors of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Morning Chronicle, 6 Aug.: Tickets to be had of Bannister Jun., No. 2, Frith-street, Soho

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A Musical Entertainment [by Isaac Bickerstaffe] never acted before. This Piece was performed last Summer at Ranelagh; but though very much approved by the best judges of Musical Composition, by being performed in an Orchestra, lost the better part of its effect. It was thought it would please more in action upon the Theatre; and with the Addition of a New Scene, and Chorus and Ballet suitable to the subject; is now accordingly once more presented to the Public, with the necessary Advantages of Dresses and Decorations (Edition of 1770)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Kemble, being the last Time of her Appearing on the Stage. 1st piece [1st time; T 2, by John Philip Kemble, altered from the same by Philip Massinger. Larpent MS 1040: not published]: In Act I the Triumphal Entry of Domitian into the Capitolv. 2nd piece [1st time; C 3, by John Philip Kemble, altered from The Comical Lovers, by John Dryden and Colley Cibber. Larpent MS 1133: not published. Genest, VII, 243: C. Kemble on being asked, in 1821, if the above cast was right, said that he believed it was, but that he was ill and did not act]. [Address by Bertie Greatheed (European Magazine, June 1796, p. 397).] Morning Herald, 10 May: Tickets to be had of Mrs Kemble, No. 13, Caroline-street, Bedford-square. Account-Book: Paid H. S. Hargraves, Box No. 95, his Servant being turn'd out by Force, #1 4s. Receipts: #190 9s. 6d. (130.9.0; 59.10.0; 0.10.0; tickets: none listed; odd money: 0.0.6) (charge: #216 17s.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years [not acted since 20 Sept. 1774]. Paid DeLoutherbourg 1 Modth #41 13s. 4d. [this salary paid monthly]. Receipts: #146 16s. (114.0.0; 30.17.6; 1.18.6)