Event Comment: A New Opera. [Music by Francis Veracini.

Event Comment: Benefit for Barry. Mainpiece: A Tragedy never acted there, Taken from Southern's Oroonoko [by Francis Gentleman]. Tickets deliver'd for Alexander will be admitted. Ladies send servants by 4 o'clock

Event Comment: Benefit for Weston. [See Comment 24 April.] Afterpiece: A Comedy of Two Acts altered from Ben Jonson's Alchemist, by Francis Gentleman. Receipts: #242 12s. 6d. Charges: #64 13s. Profits to Weston: #177 19s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Afterpiece: A new dramatic Pastoral Farce. The Music composed by Hook. Play by Francis Gentleman

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A new Comedy [by Francis Gentleman, first perform'd at Chester, 1760 (Biographia Dramatica)]. By Permission. Benefit for Mrs Williams. Note: For performances at dl and cg 18 and 20 September, see Season of 1773-1774, p. 1745

Event Comment: Benefit Coker, Morgan, Salter, Mrs Gulick, Miss Francis. Receipts: money #4 19s. 6d.; tickets #141 18s

Event Comment: This Tragedy is taken from ye French by ye Revd Mr Francis. A great Noise before ye play began, occasion'd by ye Music not playing what they lik'd, they being Palted wou'd not come into the Orchestra-a Branch knock'd down, Candles thrown &c.-Mr Garrick went on, order'd ye Music in, & all was quiet-went off with great Applause (Cross). Never acted before. Characters New Dress'd Mr Garrick is intitled to my sincerest Gratitude for his Performance as an Actor, and for his Punctuality as a Manager...his strong good Sence, with that Spirit of Theatrical Criticism, which is his peculiar natural Genius (Prefatory matter by Francis first in ed.). Receipts: 180 (Cross)

Event Comment: MMr Francis has successfully avoided the common fault of a buskin'd expression, and left the plain language of nature to be supported by the dignity of the sentiment: He has I think, not above one or two similies, and scarce one unnecessary or purely ornamental epithet. In this he has judiciously imitated the simplicity of the antients, and of our Milton's Samson Agonistes, as he has also done in the contrivance of the fable, by preserving the unities...'Twould be idle in me to observe that this play is a true tragedy, tho' nobody dies in it, as it has so large a share in exciting the only objects, terror and pity. There is one excellency, which I cannot help pointing out, as it is almost universally overlook'd by all dramatic writers: I mean the MORAL without which there is no perfect drama. (Have at you All; Or The Drury Lane Journal, 20 Feb. 1752). Receipts: #170 (Cross)

Event Comment: A New Tragedy by Dr Philip? Francis, author of Eugenia, --went off very indifferently (Cross). [This tragedy is mercilessly attacked in The Tuner No 2 by Paul Hiffernan, who compares its phrasing in a dozen instances with similar, but more perfect phrasing in Shakespeare.

Event Comment: 2nd piece [1st time; M 3, by--Francis. Perhaps the same as a piece performed under this title at Bath, 20 Nov. 1785]: With new Musick, Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. The new Musick and Overture by Dr Arnold. The Scenery by Rooker. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre

Event Comment: Benefit Chapman. Receipts: money #39 12s.; tickets #89 19s. Daily Post, 24 April: We hear that on Monday next the Hon. and Antient Company of Lumber Troopers will perform a fine Exercise in New-street Square, and from thence proceed in a Body...to...Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, to see...the Busy Body, with the Opera of Flora...for the Benefit of Mr Chapman, belonging to the said Troop

Event Comment: At 5 went into the Pit at Covent Garden to see Mrs Yates do Lady Townly. Yates is an excellent Sir Francis, but Powell does not shine in Lord Townly....The Entertainment was the new comedy in two acts called the Oxonian in Town, with a prologue by Woodward in the character of a student....It being suspected that a number of sharpers whose characters and practices are laid open in this piece, would attempt to damn it tonight (the 3rd of its being Performed) under pretence of its casting odium on the Irish, bills were dispersed in the House during the play vindicating it from any such intention. Woodward was allowed to speak the prologue, but as soon as the curtain drew up catcalls began. When the performers retired, Powell spoke several times, but was not heard. I was told that the author (Mr Colman) desires to know whom he has offended. The Pros were a very great majority, and at last after a contest of better than 1!2 an hour, the victory was over and the piece was performed. I think it contains many good sentiments, and excellent instruction to young men and is not unworthy of Mr Colman. If vice must not be exposed to hatred and contempt, the usefulness of our theatres is at an end. Only I think the Covent Garden pleasures are represented in too favourable a light. When all was over Powell came on the stage and thanked the audience for their generous protection (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #212 12s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Hartle, Mas. Blurton, Walters, Symonds, Francis, and Furkins. Tickets deliver'd by Flight, Longley, Singleton, Shuter, Norbury, Roberts, Frensdorff, Miller, Stevenson, Reed, Robson, and Walker, will be taken. On Monday next (the thirteenth Night) the last New Comedy She Stoops to Conquor...with Harlequin Sorcerer. [No charges. House took half-value of tickets, plus ready-money receipts of #19 2s. 6d. (Account Book).] @Tickets Box Pit Gallery Value Half Value@Mrs Hartle .. .. .. .. ..@Mas. Blurton 5 11 36 #6 10s. #3 5s.@Walters 5 78 92 #22 3s. #11 1s. 6d.@Symonds 9 68 51 #17 11s. #8 15s. 6d.@Francis 3 33 38 #9 10s. #4 15s.@Furkins 18 45 30 #14 5s. #7 2s. 6d.@Flight .. 41 65 #12 13s. #6 6s. 6d.@Longley 9 156 57 #31 7s. #15 13s. 6d.@Singleton .. 6 14 #2 6s. #1 3s.@Shuter .. 55 16 #9 17s. #4 18s. 6d.@Norbury 10 12 19 #26 4s. #3 2s.@Roberts 6 134 48 #26 8s. #13 4s.@Frensdorf 3 44 19 #9 5s. #4 12s. 6d.@Miller 7 87 84 #18 14s. #9 7s.@Stephenson 12 74 71 #21 4s. #10 12s.@Mrs Read 5 16 37 #7 7s. #3 13s. 6d.@Robson 3 88 35 #17 9s. #8 14s. 6d.@Walker .. 34 61 #11 4s. #5 12s.@Total 95 882 773 #243 17s. #121 18s. 6d.

Event Comment: [Mrs Johnson was from the Park Theatre NewYork.] Afterpiece: Compressed into Two Acts. "Munden's Sir Francis Wronghead was a very pleasing display of comicality; but he should have contented himself with what was set down by the author, without introducing his own common place allusions to the fashions of the present day" (Morning Herald, 29 Sept.). Receipts: #200 17s. 6d. (195.19.6; 4.18.0)

Event Comment: [In afterpiece the playbill retains Farley and Mlle St.Amand, but they "being indisposed, the hero and heroine were submitted to other hands" (Morning Herald, 26 Jan); probably to King and Miss Francis (see 28 Jan.).] Receipts: #247 10s. (233.15; 13.15)

Event Comment: The Last Night of the Company's Performing this Season. [Mrs Francis, who is identified in Monthly Mirror, June 1798, p. 371, was from the Royalty Theatre.] Account-Book: Outstanding tickets taken. Receipts: #95 16s. 6d. (19.17.6; 5.6.6; tickets: 70.12.6)