Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not precisely known, but by 9 May 1693 it had been acted four times (see Dryden's letter, below); on the other hand, the Gentleman's Journal, February 1692@3 (issued in March) had stated that D'Urfey's new farce would not appear until after Easter. Hence, it may well have been the first new play after Passion Week. A dialogue, Behold, the man with that gigantick might, the music by Henry Purcell and sung by Mr Reading and Mrs Ayliff, is in Orpheus Britannicus, 1690. See Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XXI (1917), viii-x. A dialogue, By these pigsnes eyes that stars do seem, the music by John Eccles and sung by Dogget and Mrs Bracegirdle, is in Joyful Cuckoldom, ca. 1695. Another, Stubborn church division, folly, and ambition, to a Ground of Mr Solomon Eccles, is in Thesaurus Musicus, 1694. And Maiden fresh as a rose, the verse by D'Urfey and sung by Pack, but not printed in the play, is in The Merry Musician, I (1716), 56-57. This last song may have been for a later revival. Gentleman's Journal, April 1693 (issued in May 1693): Since my last we have had a Comedy by Mr Durfey; 'tis called the Richmond Heiress or a Woman once in the right (p. 130). Dryden to Walsh, 9 May 1693: Durfey has brought another farce upon the Stage: but his luck has left him: it was sufferd but foure dayes; and then kickd off for ever. Yet his Second Act, was wonderfully diverting; where the scene was in Bedlam: & Mrs Bracegirdle and Solon [Dogget] were both mad: the Singing was wonderfully good, And the two whom I nam'd, sung better than Redding and Mrs Ayloff, whose trade it was: at least our partiality carryed it for them. The rest was woeful stuff, & concluded with Catcalls; for which the two noble Dukes of Richmond and St@Albans were chief managers (The Letters of John Dryden, pp. 52-53)

Event Comment: For the Entertainment of the Grand, and the Rest of the Brethren of the . . . Gregorians. Benefit Dukes

Event Comment: The King's Company. Pepys, Diary: By one o'clock to the King's house: a new play, The Duke of Lerma, of Sir Robert Howard's: where the King and Court was; and Knepp and Nell spoke the prologue most excellently, especially Knepp, who spoke beyond any creature I ever heard. The play designed to reproach our King with his mistresses, that I was troubled for it, and expected it should be interrupted; but it ended all well, which salved all. The play a well-writ and good play, only its design I did not like of reproaching the King, but altogether a very good and most serious play

Event Comment: The United Company. The Prologue and Epilogue are printed in Miscellaneous Works, Written by His Grace, George, late Duke of Buckingham (London, 1704), pp. 9-13. There is no certainty that Buckingham wrote the adaptation itself, but, in view of his writing both the Prologue and Epilogue, it seems likely. The Epilogue alludes to Shaftesbury, who had taken refuge in Holland and who had died there on 21 Jan. 1682@3, suggesting that the play, if acted, was probably presented in February 1682@3 or soon thereafter. The adaptation was apparently never printed

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. L. C. 5@139, p. 125, lists it for 3 March, but as this date falls on Sunday, it is probably an error in dating. The play was licensed on 22 May 1667. Pepys, Diary: To the Duke's playhouse...and I in and find my wife and Mrs Hewer, and sat by them and saw The English Princesse, or Richard the Third; a most sad, melancholy play, and pretty good; but nothing eminent in it, as some tragedys are; only little Mis. Davis did dance a jig after the end of the play, and there telling the next day's play; so that it come in by force only to please the company to see her dance in boy's clothes; and, the truth is, there is no comparison between Nell's dancing the other day at the King's house in boy's clothes and this, this being infinitely beyond the other. Downes (p. 27): Wrote by Mr Carrol, was Excellently well Acted in every Part;...Gain'd them an Additional Estimation, and the Applause from the Town, as well as profit to the whole Company

Event Comment: Benefit Chetwood. By Their Royal Highnesses' Command. N.B. Tickets given out for The Merry Wives of Windsor will be taken at this Play. [See Daily Post, 3 Aug., for Penkethman's celebration at Richmond on 1 Aug., the anniversary of the Hanoverian succession to the throne, and British Journal, 8 Aug., for an account of William Marshall, of lif, as an anti-Hanoverian demonstrator on 1 Aug.

Event Comment: Benefit for Suett and R. Palmer. Public Advertiser, 30 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Suett, No. 230, High Holbourn, and of R. Palmer, No. 3, Cecil Street, Strand. Afterpiece: Not acted these 20 years [not acted since 4 Nov. 1762]. Receipts: #227 18s. (29/18/0; 31/14/6; 0/5/6; tickets: 166/0/0) (charge: #107 0s. 9d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Lewis. 1st piece: In 3 Acts. 2nd piece: Not acted these 12 years [acted 13 Dec. 1788]. 3rd piece: With all original Scenery, Machinery, Dresses and Decorations. New Music composed, and ancient Scots Music selected and adapted, by Shield. The Overture by Reeve. With Harp Accompaniment by Weippert. True Briton, 27 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Lewis, Bow-street. Receipts: #519 1s. 6d. (386.10.0; 6.0.0; tickets: 126.11.6)

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Pritchard. Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. Servants admitted to keep places on the stage, which will be fram'd into Front and side boxes, and entirely enclosed after the manner of an Oratorio. Ladies are desired to send servants to keep places to prevent mistakes. Tickets and places to be had at Mrs Pritchard's in Duke's late Earl's Court, Bow St.; At Mr Vaughan's, the Royal Exchange, Cornhill, and at the stage door

Event Comment: Present The Duke, Princess Amelia, and Princess of Hesse (Account Books, Egerton 2268). Receipts: #161 3s

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Command. Present the Duke, Princess Amelia, The Princess of Hesse. Paid Mr Day for the use of a Turkish Vase 2 nights in Tamerlane for Mr Bencraft #1 1s. Receipts: #144 12s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit Ford and Mrs Forrester. [For a discussion of the production of plays, see Prompter, 6 May.]

Event Comment: Benefit Marshall and James

Event Comment: Receipts: #59 14s. Paid Dall [Scene painter] on acct of his salary, #1 10s.; Paid Austin [Dall's assistant] six days salary 12s.; Paid Besford (porter) a week's salary 12s.; Paid Mr Warring in full for assisting to examine Mr White's acct #10 10s. [Dall and Austin received the amounts recorded here each week. No further records of these payments will be made except for special variations.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Being the last time of performing it this season. Afterpiece: By Desire. The Conscious Lovers, for benefit of Weller and Lewes and Murden, oblig'd to be deferr'd to Tuesday the 26th instant. Present the Prince and Princess of Brunswick, and Lady Louisa (Account Book). Receipts: #93 1s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Barrington and Mrs Pitt. [Giles seems to have been played by Barnshaw. See his second appearance on that stage in that character 19 Sept.] Charges #64 10s. Balance to Barrington and Mrs Pitt #25 11s. 6d. plus Tickets (Barrington: #52 4s. from 84 Box tickets; 154 Pit; 81 Gallery); Mrs Pitt #72 15s. (Box 40; Pit 281; Gallery 206). Receipts: #90 1s. 6d. (Account Book)