Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Kemble. Afterpiece: The [first] and only time of performing it [this season] at this theatre. Morning Herald, 31 July: Tickets to be had of Mrs Kemble, No. 24, corner of Panton-street, Haymarket

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Mrs Yates, and her Infant Children. [Mr and Mrs Litchfield, with Mrs Litchfield as Little Pickle, are identified in Morning Chronicle, 10 Feb. Address by Thomas Roberts (European Magazine. Feb. 1797, p. 121).] Tickets to be had of Mrs Yates, No. 26, Great Pultney-street, Golden-square; and of Rice at the Theatre, where Places for the Boxes may be taken

Event Comment: Benefit for Johnston. [He had 1st acted Hamlet at Edinburgh, 9 July 1794: Egerton's 1st appearance at cg was on 5 June 1797.] 2nd piece [1st time at this theatre; M. PAST 1, author unknown. Larpent MS 1207; not published. 1st acted at Sadler's Wells, 28 May 1787, when the playbill gives the 2nd title as "The Highland Laddie", and adds "The Words of the Airs selected from Allan Ramsay"]. Times, 13 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Johnston, No. 31, King-street, Covent-garden. Receipts: #230 19s. 6d. (110.2.6; 1.14.0; tickets: 119.3.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr and Mrs H. Johnston. 1st piece: Not acted these 2 years. 3rd piece: Not acted here these 10 years [never previously acted at this theatre]. Morning Chronicle, 16 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mr and Mrs Johnston, No. 24, Bedford-street, Covent Garden. The Doors to be opened at 5:30, and to begin at 6:30, and so continue for the remainder of the Season. Receipts: #380 11s. 6d. (168.5.6; 17.1.0; tickets: 195.5.0)

Event Comment: Benefit Cibber. At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Afterpiece: Taken from Moliere. [Tickets of Cibber at Newton's Warehouse (the Crown and Scepters) in Tavistock-street.]

Event Comment: Benefit Cushing. Lodgings at No 3 Lambeth Street

Event Comment: A New English Opera. The Music Compos'd by Mr Rush. Signora Cremonini, Clementini, made her first appearance on this Stage in the Character of Eliza. Sings very well, very Graceful Deportm[en]t & is a great Support to the Opera. many of the Songs were Encor'd. Some few Hisses. but upon the whole, was pretty well receiv'd (Hopkins). Books of the Opera to be sold at the Theatre. A new English Opera, the Royal Shepherd-the Musick composed by Mr Rush.-Siga Cremonini made her first appearance,--sings ver fine,--very graceful deportment, and is a great support to the Opera.--Some hisses--Many of the songs encored. Upon the whole was well liked...On this occasion the Stage was cut near two feet and a half to enlarge the orchestra, to make it contain the additional performers who belong to the Opera House, on whose account the Opera cannot be performed Tuesdays and Saturdays (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan)

Event Comment: [Extra night] Benefit for the Widow and Children of the late Hugh? Kelly. Tickets delivered for a Comedy, May 28th, will be admitted. Morning Chronicle, 10 May: Tickets to be had of Mrs Kelly, No. 3, Racquet Court, Fleet-street. Receipts: #108 -16s. (52.1; tickets: 56.15) (charge: #52 1s.)

Event Comment: By Authority [of the Lord Chamberlain]. Benefit for West. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30. Tickets to be had of West, No. 4, Stanhope-street, Clare-market. [Authors of Prologue and Address unknown.

Event Comment: Benefit for Lewis. Mainpiece: Not acted these 6 years. Public Advertiser, 17 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Lewis at his house in Broad court, Bow-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #194 16s. (143.9; tickets: 51.7) (charge: #66 13s.

Event Comment: Benefit for Parsons. Public Advertiser, 18 Aug.: Tickets to be had of Parsons, No. 60, Stanhope-street, Clare-Market

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Harper. Mainpiece: Never acted here. Tickets to be had of Miss Harper, No. 16, Catherine-street, Strand

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Mrs Greville. Tickets and places to be had of Mrs Greville, No. 1, Queen's-court, King-street, Covent-garden. [This was Mrs Pinto's last appearance on the stage (but see 12 May 1786).]

Event Comment: Benefit for Vestris. Tickets, 10s. 6d. each, to be had of Vestris, No. 8, Great Suffolk-street, Charing-cross. 2nd ballet: With a great Variety of magnificent Scenery and Decorations executed by Gaetano Marinari. [Synopsis of action in Morning Post, 23 Mar.] "Vestris and Baccelli, tho' incomparable in some parts of the art, are far inferior as actors to Lepicq and Rossi... One evident amendment of the Ballet may be compression and curtailment. As it was, the curtain did not drop till twelve o'clock" (Public Advertiser, 25 Mar.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr and Mrs Bernard. [Mrs Mountain perhaps did not act Rosa (see 8 May).] Public Advertiser, 24 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Bernard, No. 19, Bedford-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #255 2s. (147.19; 5.16; tickets: 101.7)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Mountain. 3rd piece: Not acted these 2 years [not acted since 24 Apr. 1788]. Oracle, 14 May: Tickets to be had of Mrs Mountain, No. 9, Bow-street, Covent-Garden. Receipts: #171 1s. (71.6; 7.0; tickets: 92.15)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Clendining. 2nd piece: Not acted these 10 years [acted 25 Apr. 1788]. 3rd piece [1st time; M 1, altered by John Gretton from his Ode performed at the Pantheon, 4 May. Larpent MS 1087; text printed in Morning Chronicle, 2 May 1795, with parts as above]: The Words by John Gretton, Esq. The Music by Spofforth; the Dances by Byrn. Books containing the Words of the Masque will be delivered gratis at the different Doors. Morning Herald, 5 June: Tickets to be had of Mrs Clendining, No. 13, King-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #204 5s. (72.17; 7.15; tickets: 123.13)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Siddons, and the Last Night of her Engagement [see 6 and 16 May]. Mainpiece: Never acted here [1st acted at Bath, 1 Jan. 1788, as Such Things Were. Prologue by Richard Graves (Public Advertiser, 28 Jan. 1788)]. Oracle, 18 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Siddons, No. 49, Great Marlborough-street. Receipts: #590 14s. (292.16.0; 51.13.0; 4.10.0; tickets: 235.6.6; odd money: 6.8.6) (charge: #213 17s. 4d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Sedgwick. 2nd piece: Never performed here. True Briton, 2 June: Tickets to be had of Sedgwick, No. 22, corner of George-street, Adelphi. Receipts: #409 1s. (91.8.6; 67.5.6; 2.10.6; tickets: 247.16.6) (charge: #211 19s. 5d.)

Event Comment: [Mrs H. Johnston's 1st appearance as Ophelia was at the hay, 3 Sept. 1798.] Afterpiece: 5th Time i.e. in continuation of the reckoning for the previous season]. Boxes 6s. Second Price 3s. Pit 3s. 6d. Second Price 2s. Gallery 2s. Second Price 1s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be had of Brandon(only) at the Office in Hart-Street. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [see 19 Nov.]. No Money to be returned. Receipts: #242 5s. 6d. (240.17.6; 1.8.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Kelly. Opera: Not acted these 2 years [acted 9 June 1798]. 2nd ballet: Under the darections of J. D'Egville. With appropriate Scenery, Machinery, Dresses and Decorations. Morning Chronicle, 4 May: Tickets to be had of Kelly, No. 9, New Lisle-street, Leicester-square. Receipts: #697 4s. 6d (347.5.0; 48.11.6; 0.19.0; odd money: 5.0.6; tickets: 295.8.6) (charge: #213 4s. 9d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Leak. 3rd piece: Never performed here [see cg, 10 NoV. 1788]. Morning Chronicle, 25 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Miss Leak, Upper Mews Gate, Castle-street, Leicester-square. Receipts: #550 19s. 6d. (114.4.6; 70.12.6; 0.11.0; odd money: 5.13.6; tickets: 359.18.0) (charge: #211 5s.)

Event Comment: [Address by Thomas John Dibdin (T. J. Dibdin, Reminiscences, 1, 256).] Boxes 6s. Pit 3s. 6d. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [see 9 Dec.]. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Brandon at the Box office in Hart-street. No Money to be returned. [On playbill of 6 May 1800: Printed by E. Macleish, 2, Bow-street, Covent-Garden.] Receipts: #290 3s. 6d. (279.12.0; 10.11.6)

Event Comment: Written by Shakespear. Play to begin at 6 o'clock. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Hobson at the Stage-Door of the Theatre. As the Admittance of Persons behind the Scenes has occasioned a general Complaint on Account of the frequent Interruptions in the Performance, tis hop'd Gentlemen won't be offended, that no Money will be taken there for the future. [This notice appears on succeeding bills for the season and will hence not be repeated. See note on public objection to nonadmittance behind scenes 22 Feb. 1748.] Receipts: #150 (Cross); #I26 12s. (Clay MS). Nichols Literary Anecdotes, II, 319-20: There is one part of theatrical conduct which ought unquestionably to be recorded to Mr Garrick's honour, since the cause of virtue and morality and the formation of public manners are very considerably dependent upon it, and that is the zeal with which he ever aimed to banish from the stage all those plays which carry with them an immoral tendency, and to prune from those which do not absolutely on the whole promote the interests of vice such scenes of licentiousness and libertinism as a redundency of wit and too great liveliness of imagination have induced some of our comic writers to indulge themselves in, and to which the sympathetic disposition of an age of gallantry and intrigue had given a sanction. The purity of the English stage was certainly much more fully establish'd during the administration of this theatrical minister than it had ever been during preceding managements; for, what the publick taste had itself to some measure begun, he, by keeping that taste within its proper channel, and feeding it with a pure and untainted stream, seems to have completed; and to have endeavoured as much as possible to adhere to the promise made in the prologue which was spoken at the first opening of that theatre under his direction, @Bade scenic virtue form the rising age@And truth diffuse her radiance from the stage.

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Mainpiece: Written by the celebrated Mrs Eliza Haywood. Not acted these 6 years. Afterpiece [1st time; F 2 (?)]: Written by a Comedian [unidentified. not in Larpent MS; not published]. The above Pieces have been a long Time in Rehearsal, and as no Expense has been spared in procuring respectable Performers from capital Theatres, there is no doubt (as the Comedies have sterling Merit) of their giving Satisfaction to the Audience. The Doors to be opened at 5:15. To begin at 6:15