Event Comment: MMr Vernon-Macheath, 1st time; Mr Parsons-Filch, Mrs Parsons-Mrs Peachum (Cross Diary). Mr William Parsons came with Mr James Love from Edinburg, and Made his first appearance on the stage in London this evening; He died of an asthma on Tues. 3 February in the severe winter of 1795, and was buried in the churchyard of Lea-Church near Blackheath in Kent; he was in his 60th year (Macmillan [Hopkins MS Notes]). Afterpiece: Not acted these 2 years. [See 19 Oct. 1759.

Event Comment: [This year was published The Companion to the Playhouse; or, An historical account of all the Dramatic Writers, and their works that have appeared in Great Britain and Ireland to the year 1764. Composed in the form of a Dictionary. for the more readily turning to any particular author or performance. Two vols. Dedicated to Garrick. (Who receives eleven and one-half columns of comment, more than any other dramatist.) This is the beginning of the Biographia Dramatica. This year was published Essays on Important Subjects intended to establish the Doctrine of Salvation by Grace, by John Witherspoon (President of Princeton). Vol. II, contained a Serious Enquiry into the nature and effects of the Stage," being an attempt to show that contributing to the support of a Public Theatre is inconsistent with the character of a Christian (112 pp).

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Benefit for Mrs Cibber. Send servants to keep places at 3 o'clock. Tickets deliver'd for King John will be taken. Garrick returned [from trip to France and Italy] to his house in Southampton St. (Winston MS 9)

Event Comment: N.B.: The Cunning Man is oblig'd to be deferr'd. Rec'd Condell's first [fruit concession] payment #20; Paid French on account #20; Mr John Palmer on his note #10. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #127 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Yates. House Charges #65 5s. [Profit to Yates #118 16s. 6d.] Not performed for 20 years. Revived with alterations. Paid B. Johnson's Head Bill #2 5s. 6d. Paid #2 2s. for licensing Dido (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #184 6d. (Treasurer's Book). About 5 went into the Pit at Drury Lane to see the False Friend reviv'd with alterations, for the benefit of Yates. It engages the attention, but was very well performed. Don John by Holland; Don Pedro by Powell; Lopez by Mr Yates, the drinking Servant by Baddeley; Leonora by Mrs Barry (whom I never saw before); Isabella by Miss Plym and Jacintha by Mrs Yates. I think an Abigail an odd character for her, but no doubt she was willing to play anything for her husband's benefit. After the dance of the Vintage, Mr Yates spoke by way of Interlude a new piece on his being in France called the "Modern Traveller," containing some strokes on the affectation of French Fashions, &c. We had the Farce of High Life Below Stairs with minuet by Mrs Yates and a French Valet, which I do not remenber to have seen when I saw this Farce (before) (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: The Fifth Performance of the Mainpiece. The Music by Mr Linley of Bath. Afterpiece: By Particular Desire. Paid James Abbott for Flowers etc. for the Garland Dance #5 11d. and paid Mrs Winter for flowers etc. for the same #2 13s. 4d. (Account Book). [See 14 Dec.] Receipts: #211 2s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Gave Princess of Wales' Footmen #1 1s.; and Chairmen #1 1s. Paid James Dyer 9 nights as extra dancer #1 17s. 6d. (Account Book). Receipts: #97 19s

Event Comment: Rosetta first time by Miss Sharp--a loud Voice a bad face and mean figure She had Applause--but it won't do (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly and adds: Miss Sharpe was a Scholar of Mr Bates's--since married to Mr William Palmer, brother to Mr John and Mr Robert Palmer."] Rec'd the late Mr Powell's bond for #200 and 9 years interest in full #290; Stopages #11 18s. Paid Barrow and Co., Oil Bill #50 3s.; Powney, (stationer) #14 11s. 6d.; Tallow Chandler's third bill #47 12s. 4d.; Evans on Wardrobe acct #10 10s.; Grist on acct #6 6s.; Machin, Chorus 13 nights, #3 5s. Receipts: #116 13s. [Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Boxes 10s. 6d. Pit 4s. 1st Gallery 3s. 2nd Gallery 2s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Sarjant (only) at the Stage Door. Books of the Oratorio to be had at the Theatre. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [same throughout oratorio season. The Account-Book notes that the director of the oratorios this season was James Hook.

Event Comment: Benefit for Quick. Afterpiece 1st time; F 2, by Ursula Agnes Booth, based on the same, by John Fletcher and Philip Massinger. The playbill lists Death in place of Lee Lewes, but he 'Was not to be found...Hull begged permission for Lee Lewes to read Death's part in his own undress, which [was] granted" (London Chronicle, 28 Apr.).]. Books of the Entertainment to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 30 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Quick, No. 15, Drury-lane. Receipts: #262 2s. (157.2; tickets: 105.0) (charge: #64 10s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Pope. Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by James Cobb, based on La Fausse Suivante; ou, Le Fourbe Puni, by Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de Marivaux. Prologue by the author (Knapp, 117). Larpent MS 476; not published. In 1780 this was acted at the hay as The Female Captain]. Part of the Pit will be laid into the Boxes. Public Advertiser, 15 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Miss Pope, Little Russel-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #202 10s. (54.14; 17.6; 1.12; tickets: 128.18) (charge: #65 17s. 2d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Jackson. 3rd piece [1st time in London; F 2, by James Solas Dodd, based on Le Naufrage, by Joseph de laFont, and 1st acted at Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin, 1772, as The Funeral Pile. "The performers were exceedingly correct, which is unusual in benefit piece" Oulton, 1796,1,81). Prologue by the author (Town and Country Magazine, May 1779, p.270)]: With an Indian Processionv. Public Advertiser, 24 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Jackson in the Great Piazza, Covent Garden

Event Comment: Benefit for Wilson. 1st piece [1st time; PREL I, probably by Richard Wilson. Larpent MS 557; not published]. 3rd piece [1st time; F 2, by James Cobb. Larpent MS 556; not published. Author of Prologue unknown]. Receipts: #222 6s. 6d. (122.18.6; tickets: 99.8.0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: [MS annotation on playbill in Harvard Theatre Collection: "Mrs Cargill run away this day with Colman Jun. James? Winston?." And see 11 Sept.

Event Comment: Mainpicce [1st time; burl 3, by Charles Dibdin]: Taken from [Amphitryon, by John] Dryden. [MS: Larpent 573; not published.] With new Scenery, Dresses, &c. The Music by several eminent Composers [Charles Dibdin, William Shield, &c.]. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #153 15s. 6d. (151/8/0; 2/7/6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bulkley. 2nd piece [1st time; c 2, by James Brown Williamson. MS: Larpent 630; not published. Prologue probably by the author; Epilogue by the author; speakers' names (Public Advertiser, 3 Sept.)]

Event Comment: Benefit for Wells. Public Advertiser, 9 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Wells, No. 417, Strand. Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by Edward Topham, with incidental music by James Hook. Prologue-Epilogue by Edward Topham {Public Advertiser, 21 Apr.)]. Morning Herald, 25 Apr. 1786: This Day is published The Fool (1s.)-Receipts: #174 15s. 6d. (45/3/0; 20/14/6; 0/2/0; tickets: 108/16/0) (charge: #108 13s. 9d.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years. Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by James Cobb. MS: Larpent 698; not published; synopsis of plot in Public Advertiser, 28 Apr. Prologue by the author (Public Advertiser, 9 June)]. Account-Book, 30 May: Paid Cobb in full for Humourist #100. Receipts: #58 16s. (28/15; 29/1; 1/0)

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. [Afterpiece: Prologue by James Cobb.] Receipts: #303 13s. (285/4/0; 17/1/6; 1/7/6)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Author [of mainpiece, who is named in the Account-Book, but not on the playbill]. "The Captives were set at liberty last night, amidst roars of laughter. I see the doctor [i.e. the author] publishes it this week . . . Cadell bought this sublime piece before it appeared, for fifty pounds, agreeing to make it a hundred on its third representation. It has been played three times, and I dare say old Sanctimony will have no remorse in taking the other fifty." J. P. Kemble to Edmond Malone (Life of Edmond Malone, by Sir James Prior, i860, p. 126). Receipts: #138 13s. 6d. (91/19/0; 40/18/0; 5/16/6; tickets: none listed) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; T 5, by Robert Jephson. Prologue by Edmond Malone. Epilogue by John Courtenay (see text)]: With new Dresses, Decorations, &c. Public Advertiser, 18 Dec. 1787: This Day is published Julia (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #217 2s. 6d. (201.5.0; 15.11.0; 0.6.6)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; C 3, by James Wild]: Reduced [from the same by Henry Fielding] into 3 Acts. Receipts: #287 8s. 6d. (282.2.6; 5.6.0)

Event Comment: 2nd piece [1st time; ball. P 3, adapted by Sir George Collier from La Mort du Capitaine Cook a son Troisieme Voyage au Nouveau Monde, by Jean Francois Mussot, dit Arnould. For a detailed synopsis of the action, see 13 Apr.]: As now representing in Paris with uncommon Applause. With the original French Music. New Dresses, Scenery, Machinery and Decorations. Books, containing a description of the Ballet [by James Byrne (World, 23 Mar.)], to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #257 16s. 6d. (247.16.0; 10.0.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; T 5, by the Hon. John St.John. Prologue by William Fawkener.-Epilogue by the author (see text)]. Public Advertiser, 1 May 1789: This Day is published Mary Queen of Scots (1s. 6d.). [As afterpiece the playbill announces Who's the Dupe?, but it was not acted. Kemble Mem. lists the substitute play.] Receipts: #240 9s. (226.4.0; 13.8.6;0.16.6)