Event Comment: [This was Mrs Abington's 1st appearance on the stage since 12 Feb. 1790, except for 14 June 1797, when she spoke an epilogue at a charity benefit.] "Her former Beatrice was a chaste, animated, unaffected and captivating performance; but her Beatrice of this night was, for the greater part, languid and unattractive. Her deportment, however, is easy and graceful; but her person is too big and heavy to give any effect to the more gay and sprightly scenes. We conceive it to be the height of folly and imprudence in her to come forward in the present advanced period of her existence; and that too, with a person so ill calculated for the department, and attempt characters which demand all the vigour and activity of youth" (Monthly Visitor, Oct. 1797, p. 352). [Address by George Colman, ynger (London Chronicle, 7 Oct.).] Receipts: #348 2s. (336.18; 11.14)

Event Comment: Benefit for Pope. 1st piece [1st time; D 4. Larpent MS 1249; not published synopsis of plot in Universal Magazine, Apr. 1799, p. 273]: Translated from [Der Graf von Burgund, by August Friedrich Ferdinand von? Kotzebue (Author of The Stranger, Lover's Vows, &c.) by Miss Anne? Plumptre, and adapted to the English Stage by Alexander? Pope. Morning Chronicle, 25 26 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Pope at his house, No. 5, Half Moon-street, Piccadilly. [This was Mrs Abington's last appearance on the stage.] "The perpetuated evidence of youth was in character with her person and her powers; the slimness of her figure, the fulness of her voice, the freshness of her spirits, the sparkle of her eye, and the elasticity of her limbs, savoured alike of a juvenility that puzzled the mind, whilst it pleased it: of her it was justly said that 'she had been on the stage thirty years; she was one-and-twenty when she came, and one-and-twenty when she went!'" (John Bernard, Retrospections of the Stage, 1830, II, 228-29). Receipts: #334 19s. 6d. (194.1.0; 2.5.0; tickets: 138.13.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Abington. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Garrick's last time of performing Archer . Pit and Boxes will be laid together. Ladies and Gentlemen most earnestly requested to come early (playbill). Mrs Abington having wrote to Mr Garrick that she intended to quit the Stage at the End of the Season never to return to it again, he very kindly play'd for her Benefit (Hopkins Diary). Tickets deliver'd for Much Ado will be taken. Attempted to get into Drury Lane Theatre to see Mr Garrick in the character of Archer, but the crowd was so great that after suffering thumps, squeezes and almost suffocation for two hours, I was oblig'd to retire without effecting it (Hampden, Journal). Receipts: #129 19s. 6d. Charges: #65 7s. 6d. Profits to Mrs Abington: #64 12s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: On Account of Mrs Yates's Indisposition A Trip to Scarborough [announced on playbill of 20 Mar.] is obliged to be deferred. [The playbill retains Mrs Abington as Miss Prue, but "Last Saturday night, Mrs Abington being suddenly taken ill, Mrs Mattocks supplied the Part in Love for Love; and though we will not pretend to put her comic Abilities on a Level with those of Mrs Abington, yet her Performance was exceedingly humourous and entertaining" (Gazetteer, 24 Mar.).] Paid Mrs Abington in lieu of a benefit #200. Receipts: #218 8s. (188.0.0; 28.15.6; 1.12.6)