Event Comment: Gazetteer, 20 Sept.: [On Saturday morning] official notice was given from the Lord Chamberlain's Office to shut the Theatres [because of the death of the Duke of Cumberland, brother of George III]

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: Among the Instrumental Performers are Messrs Ashley and Sons, Patria, Sarjant, Billington, Mahon, Boyce, Mountain, J. Mahon, the Leanders, Ware, Kaye, Rawlings, Sharp, Lyon, &c. &c. &c. Double Drums by J. Ashley. The Whole under the Direction of Harrison and Ashley. No Money to be returned. Places for the Boxes to be had of Brandon at the Theatre. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [same throughout oratorio season]. Books of the Performances, with the Names of the Performers to their respective Songs, to be had at the Theatre, Price Six-pence. And to prevent imposition in the Streets, the Manager's Books are printed with the following Words at the bottom of each Title Page: "Printed by H. Macleish, Duke's-Court, Drury-Lane.

Event Comment: Benefit for Pacchierotti. Tickets to be had of Pacchierotti, No. 17, Duke-street, Manchester-square. A new Grand Serious Opera (1st time [i.e. in 2 acts; originally performed in 3 acts at Milan, 1778, and at king's, 22 Jan. 1780]); the music by Bertoni. [World announces the ballets for this night as La Fille Mal Gardee and Le Siege de Cythere.

Event Comment: 3rd piece [1st time; F 2, by Charles Stuart, "from the Spanish"; on 2 Sept. reduced to 1 act. Prologue by the author (see text)]. "The Piece, we understand, was originally founded on some topics that have of late engrossed the conversation of much of the fashionable world...The Lord Chamberlain thought [it] too delicate a nature to appear with the allusions and title it then bore, She would be a Duchess. The consequence was that the offensive bits were expunged and the piece re-christened...It would be unfair to make any observations...in the mutilated stage it was presented" (Public Advertiser, 15 Aug.). "Some part of the plot was supposed to allude to the late occurrences in the family of General John? Gunning, who was indulged with the privilege of erasing [from the MS] that which he disliked, and who reduced it to its present feeble and unconnected form" (Gazetteer, 15 Aug.). [The reference in the original title is to the simultaneous flirtation of Miss Elizabeth Gunning, the General's daughter, with the eldest sons of the Dukes of Marlborough and Argyll (see dnb, under Susannah Gunning). She would be a Duchess: in Larpent MS 915.

Event Comment: Paid the Duke of Bedford one years Rent #192 10s. The Doors to be opened at 5:15. To begin at 6:15 [see 26 Apr. 1792]. Receipts: #237 2s. 6d. (235.9.6; 1.13.0)

Event Comment: 2nd piece [1st time; INT 1, author unknown. Not in Larpent MS; not published]: An Occasional Interlude of Singing and Dancing. With new Dresses and Decorations. [This was written as a compliment to the Duchess of York, daughter of the King of Prussia; on 29 Sept. 1791 she had married the Duke of York (see European Magazine, Dec. 1791, p. 459) "It was a pretty, slight compliment, touched up by Byrne, St.Amand, Incledon and Mrs Mountain, with a couple of airs and the Pas Russe a little lamed. Byrne carried his arm in a scarf [see 29 Oct.], and Incledon and Mountain their parts in their hands" (Oracle, 22 Nov.). 3rd piece in place of Oscar and Malvina, advertised on playbill of 19 Nov.] Receipts: #221 4s. (208.16; 12.8)

Event Comment: Oratorio: Written by Milton. Set to Music by Handel. Among the instrumental performers are Messrs Ashley andSons, Patria, Sarjant, Billington, Mahon, Boyce, Mountain, Howard, Lavenu, Simpson, Gwilliam, Purney, Munro, Leander, Kaye, Sharp, Lyon, &c. Double Drums by J. Ashley. The whole under the direction of Harrison and Ashley. At Play-house Prices. No money to be returned. Places for the Boxes to be had of Brandon at the Theatre. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin precisely at 6:30 [same throughout oratorio season]. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Books of the Performance, with the names of the performers to their respective songs, price 6d., may be had at the Theatre, and to prevent imposition in the streets, the Manager's books are printed with the following words at the bottom of each title-page, "Printed by H. Macleish, Duke's court, Drury-Lane.

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Sims. Mainpiece: As altered from Wycherley by David Garrick, Esq. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30. Tickets to be had of Sims, the Theatrical Register, Wrekin Tavern, Broad-court, Long-acre; at the Blue Post Coffee-house, Charlotte-street, Rathbone-place; the Tun, Goodge-street, Middlesex Hospital; the Green Man, Union-street, Middlesex Hospital; the Wheat Sheaf, Rathbone-place; of Price, at the Coach and Horses, Holborn; at the Duke of Clarence Coffee-house, Haymarket; Spencer's, Two Blue Posts, Southampton-buildings; and of Rice at the Theatre

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Everard. 1st piece [1st time; PREL 1, by Sarah Gardner. Larpent MS 1101; not published]. 2nd piece: Never acted here [acted 19 Aug. 1784]. [3rd piece: Prologue by Samuel Foote.] Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. The Doors to be opened at 5:00. To begin at 6:15. Tickets to be had at No. 21, Carey-street, Lincoln's-Inn Fields; New Slaughter's Coffee-house, St. Martin's-lane; of Adams, the Duke of Clarence Coffee-house, Haymarket; and of Everard, at Mr Shade's, Woburn-street, near Drury Lane Theatre

Event Comment: Under the Patronage of Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York. Benefit for Roselli. Tickets, 10s. 6d. each, to be had of Roselli, No. 6, King-street, St. James's-square

Event Comment: [Extra night] Benefit for the Fund, established for the Relief of those Performers who, through Infirmity, shall be obliged to retire from the Stage. The Theatrical Fund was established in 1765, under the auspices of the late Mr Beard and Mrs Rich; and received the sanction of Parliament in 1776. There are now, and have been for more than 20 years, several Annuitants supported by it, chiefly families and widows. Yet notwithstanding it has been so long set on foot, the interest arising from the Funded Capital has never been equal to defraying one half of the annual disbursements. The deficiencies have been continually supplied by progressive weekly contributions from the performers. When this is considered, it is respectfully presumed the generosity of a British Public will be exerted this night in favour of so liberal and beneficial an institution. Thomas Hull, Treasurer. Tickets to be had of Hull, Treasurer to the Institution, No. 7, Duke's-Court, near Dean's Yard, Westminster. Receipts: none listed

Event Comment: By Authority of the Lord Chamberlain. Under the Patronage of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, and His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence. Benefit for the Unfortunate Sufferers in the Glorious Action between Sir John Jervis, and the Spanish Fleet, off Cape St. Vincent [on 14 Feb. 1797]

Event Comment: Benefit for Hull and Macready. 1st piece: In Act IV a Martial Procession with the Body of Marcus. 2nd piece [1st time: M. INT 1, author unknown. Larpent MS 1173; not published]: With appropriate Scenery and Dresses. The Music selected from Boyce, Purcell, Reeve and Shield. Morning Herald, 31 May: Tickets to be had of Hull, No. 7, Duke's-court, near Dean's-yard, Westminster; of Macready, No. 22, Charles-street, Tottenham-court-road. Receipts: #314 3s. (112.9.0; 4.14.6; tickets: 196.19.6, of which Hull sold 70.12.6, and Macready 126.7.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Haymes. The Last Night of the Company's performing this Season. Account-Book, 28 June: Received for his Majesty's Box 13 nights #130; for the Princess's Box #65; 1 Aug.: Paid half a year's Land, Commutations, Window & House Taxes #193 19s. True Briton 1 June: Tickets to be had of Haymes, No. 8, Duke-street, St. James's. Receipts: #228 18s. 6d. (109.19.0; after-money not listed; tickets: 118.19.6)

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. This Evening the Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30. Account-Book: Paid the Duke of Bedford one years rent for the Theatre, the back of the Theatre, the houses in Bow Street, Hart Street, the Piazza, and Playhouse Passage, as expressed in the Receipt, due Lady Day 1796, #456 4s. Receipts: #459 9s. 6d. (452.5.6; 7.4.0)

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for the Choral Fund, instituted for the Relief of their decayed Members, Widows and Orphans, under the Patronage of his Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence. The Band and Chorus will be select, and the Young Gentlemen of the Westminster Choir will assist. A New Organ, built by Lincoln, will be opened on this occasion. Boxes #S. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. 2nd Gallery 1s. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30. Tickets and Places for the Boxes to be had of Rice, at the Theatre