Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time at a public theatre; C 3, by Elizabeth Craven, Baroness Craven, afterwards Margravine of Anspach, 1st acted privately at the Town-Hall, Newbury, 6 Apr. 1780. Text (G. Riley, 1781) assigns no parts. Prologue by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Epilogue by Joseph Jekyll (see text)]: With new Dresses, &c. "The Prologue [the first 30 lines and the concluding couplet of which were used by Sheridan as the Prologue to Pizarro (see dl, 24 May 1799)] was so much admired that at the request of the Duchess of Devonshire and several other of the nobility it was respoken after the piece; but as King was absent from the theatre, it was delivered by Palmer" (Town and Country Magazine, May 1780, p. 23 ). "The chief singularity was that [Lady Craven] went to it herself the second night, in form; sat in the middle of the front row of the stage-box, much dressed, with a profusion of white bugles and plumes, to receive the public homage due to her sex and loveliness. The Duchess of Richmond, Lady Harcourt,...Mrs Damer, Lord Craven,...and I were with her. It was amazing to see so young a woman entirely possess herself-but there is such an integrity and frankness in her consciousness of her own beauty and talents, that she speaks of them with a naivete as if she had no property in them, but only wore them as gifts of the gods. Lord Craven on the contrary was quite agitated by his fondness for her and with impatience at the bad performance of the actors, which was wretched indeed, yet the address of the plot, which is the chief merit of the piece, and some lively pencilling carried it off very well, though Parsons murdered the Scotch lord, and Mrs Robinson (who is supposed to be the favourite of the Prince of Wales) thought on nothing but her own charms, or him. There is a very good though endless prologue written by Sheridan and spoken in perfection by King, which was encored (an entire novelty) the first night: and an epilogue that I liked still better and which was full as well delivered by Mrs Abington, written by Mr. Jekyl. The audience, though very civil, missed a fair opportunity of being gallant, for in one of those ----logues, I forget which, the noble authoress was mentioned, and they did not applaud as they ought to have done, especially when she condescended to avow her pretty child and was there looking so very pretty...Yet Lady Craven's tranquillity had nothing displeasing;...and it was tempered by her infinite good nature, which made her make excuses for the actors instead of being provoked at them" (Walpole [28 May 1780], XI, 178-80). Public Advertiser, 14 July 1781: This Day at Noon will be published The Miniature Picture (price not listed). Receipts: #144 9s. (94.9; 48.3; 1.17)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bradshaw, Mrs Love & Mrs Johnston. Public Advertiser, 14 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Bradshaw, No. 93, near Craven Buildings, Drury-lane; of Mrs Love, at Booth's, Brownlow-street, Long-acre; of Mrs Johnston, No. 97, near Craven Buildings, Drury-lane. Receipts: #166 4s. (65.16; 13.14; 0.0; tickets: 86.14) (charge: #65 6s. 6d.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. Afterpiece [1st time; MF 2, by Elizabeth, Baroness Craven, later Margravine of Anspach. Larpent MS 564; not published. Author of Prologue unknown]: After the Prologue, a Naval Overture. The Airs from the most eminent Composers [with new music by Dr Arnold, Lady Craven, and Tommaso Giordani]. The Scenes new painted by Rooker. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 19 July 1781: This Day is published the Songs in The Silver Tankard (6d.)

Event Comment: Pepys, Diary: Captain Ferrers and I to the Opera, and saw The Witts, again, which I like exceedingly. The Queen of Bohemia was here, brought by my Lord Craven

Event Comment: Benefit Bridgwater. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Mainpiece: Written by Sir John Vanbrugh. With his Additional Scene. [Tickets at Bridgwater's Lodgings, No. 16, Craven Buildings.]

Event Comment: Benefit Pritchard, Composer of the Entertainment, Mrs Pritchard. Tickets at Pritchard's, No. 8 Craven Buildings

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Pritchard. Tickets at Mrs Pritchard's, Craven Buildings, dl

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Giffard. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. [Tickets at Mrs Giffard's House, No. 4, Craven Buildings, dl.

Event Comment: Benefit Giffard. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Tickets at Giffard's, No. 4, Craven Buildings, dl

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Pritchard. Tickets at Mrs Pritchard's, No. 8, Craven Buildings, dl

Event Comment: Benefit Milward. Mainpiece: Alter'd from Shakespear. [Stage enclosed, at 17 March. Tickets at Milward's House, No. 15, Craven Buildings, lower end of Drury Lane.

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Pritchard. [Tickets for Mrs Miller taken. Tickets at Mrs Pritchard's, No. 8, Craven Buildings.

Event Comment: N.B. That the Ladies and Gentlemen may not be detained at the Theatre while Tickets are given them, they are desir'd to send for them to Mr Arne's House in Craven Buildings near Drury Lane, Number 17, or to Mr Bradshaw, Box-Keeper, at the Kings Arms in Great Russel St., where tickets may be had, and places taken. Boxes 6s. Pit 4s. First Gallery 2s. 6d. Upper Gallery 1s. 6d. Ladies are desir'd to send their servants to keep places by Four o'clock. NB: Mr Arne humbly hopes the Town will not be offended at this small advance of Prices, being at an extraordinary expence for copying all the Music, building the stage, additional instrumental performers, chorus singers, and erecting an Organ. [The attendance apparently was heavy. See note to repeated performance on 19 March.] Mainpiece: Written by Dryden and set to Music by Handel

Event Comment: Benefit the Widow Milward and her 4 children. N.B. Mrs Milward greatly acknowledges the Favour of the Town to her on her former Benefit; and as a considerable number of persons, who had taken tickets for that night, could not find room, she has made application to Mr Rich who has generously given her at his theatre, a Day which he had reserved to himself; where tickets given out for her former benefit will be taken. The consideration of 4 fatherless children is the only apology she can plead for intreating this further indulgence from the public. Note If any persons are dispos'd to send for tickets on this occasion, they maY be had at Mrs Milward's, No. 15 in Craven Buildings, Drury Lane. Tickets to be had and places to be taken at the stage door in Bow st