Event Comment: [The Duke's Company. This performance is on the L. C. lists at Harvard. See VanLennep, "Plays on the English Stage", pp. 16-17. This performance may have been the premiere. Shadwell, in his Preface, implies that it was acted six days. As Saturday was a day frequently chosen for a first showing and as the play was certainly given again on 14 Dec. 1670, the sequence of performaces which follow in this Calendar is based on the assumption that Saturday 10 Dec. 1670 was the first day, Wednesday 14 Dec. 1670 the fourth day of acting. The Preface: This Play...came upon the Stage with all the disadvantages imaginable: First, I was forced, after I had finish'd it, to blot out the main design of it; finding, that, contrary to my intention, it had given offence. The second disadvantage was, that notwithstanding I had (to the great prejudice of the Play) given satisfaction to all the exceptions made against it, it met with the clamorous opposition of a numerous party, bandied against it, and resolved, as much as they could, to damn it, right or wrong, before they had heard or seen a word on't. The last, and not the least, was, that the Actors (though since they have done me some right) at first were extreamly imperfect in the Action of it.... This of mine, after all these blows, had fall'n beyond Redemption, had it not been revived, after the second day, by her [Mrs Johnson's (?)] kindness (which I can never enough acknowledge) who, for four days together, beautified it with the most excellent Dancings that ever has been seen upon the Stage. This drew my enemies, as well as friends, till it was something better acted, understood, and liked, than at first

Event Comment: Benefit delaGarde. At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Receipts: money #36 17s. 6d.; tickets #70 15s

Event Comment: Benefit Bridgwater. All will be over at Nine at Night. Tickets delivered by Messing will be taken. Tickets of Page at the stage door and of Bridgwater at his house, the lower end of Water Lane in Fleet St.

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Mattocks. [Epilogue by Miles Peter Andrews.] 3rd piece: Not acted these 20 years [acted 15 Feb. 1779]. Morning Herald, 19 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Mattocks, No. 8, Great Russell-street, Covent-Garden. Receipts: #318 5s. 6d

Event Comment: TThe Beggar's Opera, advertised as a benefit for Miss Petre on this day, was announced without knowledge of the company. She will have a benefit later