Event Comment: Lyric Ode (never performed) "On the Witches, Fairies, and Aerial Beings in Shakespeare. The Music entirely New." [The Westminster Magazine for March commented: "This poem is said to be written by a young gentleman of Oxford, and has many strokes of genius and inagination in it. The music, we hear, is composed by Mr Linley Jr, who has (since his return from Italy) been a student under that most excellent musician Dr Boyce. This composition must be allowed to be an extraordinary effort of genius in so young a man. The Fugue of the overture is masterly. The song of 'There in old Arden's inmost shade,' is well suited to the scene described by the poet....But what we think most deserving of praise is the power our young composer has shown in the chorusses....From the general and sincere applause with which the Ode was received, we may venture to pronounce, that if Mr Linley Jr pursues his studies, he will one day stand foremost in the list of modern composers."

Event Comment: Benefit for Lee Lewes. 1st piece [1st time; PREL I, by Frederick Pilon. Author of Epilogue unknown. This Prelude had reference to the illuminations held on 11 Feb. 1779 in honor of the acquittal, on a charge of misconduct in the naval operations off Brest, of Admiral Augustus Keppel. In 1780 it was acted at this theatre, with alterations, as A Gazette Extraordinary]. Tickets delivered for The Distress'd Mother will be received. Public Advertiser, 30 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Lee Lewes at his house in Bow-street, Covent Garden. Ibid, 4 May 1779: This Day is published Illumination (1s.)

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Watts. Mainpiece: Written by Mrs Centlivre; Not acted these 40 years [not acted since 27 Apr. 1731, at Goodman's Fields]. Prologue written by a Gentleman [unidentified; printed in Town and Country Magazine, Apr. 1784, p. 214. The playbill for this performance is as printed in Morning Chronicle, 8 Mar. Gazetteer, 8 Mar., assigns Captain Constant to Reynolds, Laura to Miss Beaufield, Maria to Mrs Green, Belinda to Miss Johnson]. The Doors to be opened at 5:00. To begin at 6:30. Tickets to be had of Connolly, at the King's Head Tavern, Fenchurch-street; of Watts, No. 2, Upper James-street, Golden-square

Event Comment: Benefit for Badini. Gazetteer, 18 June: The novelty of the evening was what was called the singing of a Tulip and a Rose; that is, of two performers concealed in pedestals, upon which were placed pots of flowers

Event Comment: Afterpiece: With a Representation of the Indian Manner of Preparation for Battle, and their extraordinary Method of Laying in Ambush. A Representation of an Engagment between an English and French Man of War. And a Shipwreck. To conclude with the original Allegoric Scene from Provocation. A View of the British Fleet at Anchor. Receipts: #221 12s. 6d. (221.3.6; 0.9.0)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of Lover's Vows, advertised on playbill of 21 Dec.] The Public are respectfully acquainted that the new Pantomime, the Machinery, Scenery, and Decorations of which have been in preparation the whole Summer, and which was intended to have been produced at Christmas, is on account of the extraordinary demand for Places for all the new Pieces now in representation, obliged to be postponed for a short time [see 29 Jan. 1799]. Receipts: #187 10s. 6d. (180.7.6; 7.3.0)