Event Comment: Benefit John Clegg, a Youth of Nine Years of Age, lately arriv'd from Ireland. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Pit and Boxes half a guinea. Gallery 5s. At 7 p.m

Event Comment: Mr Salomon having insinuated that he alone is in possession of a correct Score of this celebrated Oratorio, I feel compelled, in justice to myself, to state that the Oratorio was published by subscription at Vienna, and that the printed Copy, from which I had the Parts transcribed, was delivered by Dr Haydn to a subscriber in Vienna, and brought from thence expressly for me, and on which is the Doctor's initials. The accuracy with which it was performed, and the enthusiasm with which it was received, are, I hope, convincing proofs that no other directions are necessary to "produce the effect required by the Author." I should not thus have obtruded myself, but I conceived it requisite to justify myself from the imputation of having attempted to impose a spurious production upon that public to whom I am under so many obligations. I am, with the greatest respect and gratitude, their most obedient servant, John Ashley. March 29. [On 29 Mar. the following card had appeared in most of the daily newspapers: Mr Salomon having received from Dr Haydn an early Copy of his New Oratorio called The Creation of the World, and having been favoured by him exclusively with particular directions on the style and manner in which it must be executed, in order to produce the effects required by the Author, begs to acquaint the Nobility and Gentry, that he means to perform it on Monday, the 21st of April next, at the King's Theatre. The performance took place on that date in the Ancient Music Room, i.e. the large concert-room situated inside the King's, on the east side, level with the first tier of the boxes. The reason for this change was, states the playbill, "the present Performances in the Opera House not allowing sufficient time to erect an Orchestra on the Stage." The principal singers were Mme Mara, Mme Dussek, Small, Page, Denman, Bartleman. Samuel Wesley presided at the organ and at the piano forte.

Event Comment: [As afterpiece Public Advertiser announces The Rival Candidates, but see Hopkins Diary, 12 Oct.] The Managers met again to-day, but nothing settled. Hamlet was given out. I saw Mr Sheridan, he told me that Mr Lacy and he had agreed that no Play should be given out, nor any Bills put up, till they had settled this Affair, which was to be done to-Morrow at Mr Wallis's (the Attorney's) where they were all to dine. I waited on Mr Lacy, who agreed to the same, and no Bills or Paragraph were sent to the Papers. All the Business of the Theatre is at a Stand, and no Rehearsal called. Wed. 16th--Mr Sheridan, Dr Ford and Mr Linley dined today by Appointment with Mr Wallis where Mr Lacy was to have met them; about four o'clock he sent a verbal Message that he could not come to Dinner, but would wait upon them in the Evening, and about nine o'clock he came, and everything was settled to the Satisfaction (of them all) and a Paragraph sent to the Papers, and the Hypocrite and Christmas Tale was advertised for Friday, but no Play was to be done on Thursday--Covent Garden did not play on Friday (Hopkins Diary). Public Advertiser, 16 Oct., summarizes the proprietors' dispute: the Drury Lane patent had been purchased [in 1747] by David Garrick and James Lacy. On his death Lacy had devised his half-share to his son, Willoughby Lacy; on his retirement from the stage Garrick had sold his half-share to Sheridan, Ford and Linley. The original agreement between Garrick and Lacy, as recited in a document retained by the attorney Albany Wallis was that, in case of the sale of either share of the patent, or any part of either share, the seller was obligated to offer the first refusal to purchase to the other partner, and that this was to be done only when the theatre was closed for the summer. In selling one half of his share to Robert Langford and to Edward Thompson, Willoughby Lacy was--so argued his three partners--acting illegally: he had not offered to them the first refusal, and he was negotiating the sale at a time when the theatre was open. Public Advertiser, 17 Oct.. prints a statement from Lacy saying that he did not feel himself bound by the original agreement between his father and Garrick, but that, in the interest of the business of the theatre, he had asked Langford and Thompson to withdraw their claim to partnership, to which request they had acceded. Receipts: #130 9s. 6d

Event Comment: [Extra night] By Grant from the Proprietors, a Free Night; Benefit for Lacy, formerly of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. [Address by John Taylor (Poems, I, 68).] Receipts: #97 3s. (53.15.6; 40.16.6; 1.10.0; odd money: 1.1.0; tickets: none listed) (charge: free)

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Boy, 25-28 April 1696, suggests that it was acted not later than the period preceding Passion Week (6-11 April 1696). In addition, the large number of minor performers in the cast suggests a Lenten performance by the young actors. In Act I, Scene i, there is an Entertainment of Instrumental Musick, Compos'd by Signior Finger: Then a Song, set by Mr John Eccles, and Sung by Young La Roche. In III, iii: A Dialogue set by Seignior Baptist. The play is an adaptation of John Webster's Cure for a Cuckold. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702): The City Bride, by another Player, Damn'd

Event Comment: The King's Company. See Herbert, Dramatic Records, p. 118. This was a new play, but it is not clear that this day was the premiere. BM Add. Mss. 34217, in Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 246: @For the surprizall it was a good proofe@By its getting them mony it took well enough@Without which Divell take the Play@Be it never so good the Actors say@But they may thanke God with all their hart@That Lacy plaid Brankadoros part.

Event Comment: The King's Company. See Herbert, Dramatic Records, p. 118. Langbaine (English Dramatic Poets, p. 477): This Play has been received with Success (as I said) in our Time; and as I remember, the deceas'd Mr Lacy acted Jonny Thump, Sir Gervase Simple's Man, with general Applause

Event Comment: The King's Company. This is the first known performance of the comedy, but it may not be the premiere. Evelyn, Diary: At night saw acted the Committe, a ridiculous play of Sir R. Howards where that Mimic Lacy acted the Irish-footeman to admiration: a very Satyrus or Roscius. Downes, Roscius Anglicanus, p. 16: @For his Just Acting, all gave him due Praise,@His Part in the Cheats, Jony Thump, Teg and Bayes,@In these Four Excelling; The Court gave him the Bays.

Event Comment: The King's Company. For praise of Lacy, see Downes, Roscius Anglicanus, p. 16, or 27 Nov. 1662. Pepys, Diary: To the Royal Theatre by water, and landing, met with Captain Ferrers his friend, the little man that used to be with him, and he with us, and sat by us while we saw Love in a Maze. The play is pretty good, but the life of the play is Lacy's part, the clown, which is most admirable; but for the rest, which are counted such old and excellent actors, in my life I never heard both men and women so ill pronounce their parts, even to my making myself sick therewith

Event Comment: The King's Company. For an edition of this play from the MS prompt copy, see The Change of Crownes, ed. F. S. Boas (Oxford University Press, 1949). For the consequences of Lacy's ad libbing, see 16, 20, and 22 April, and 1 May. Pepys, Diary: I to the King's house by chance, where a new play: so full as I never saw it; I forced to stand all the while close to the very till I took cold, and many people went away for want of room. The King and Queene, and Duke of York and Duchesse of York there, and all the Court, and Sir W. Coventry. The play called The Change of Crownes; a play of Ned Howard's the best that ever I saw at that house, being a great play and serious; only Lacy did act the country-gentleman come up to Court, who do abuse the Court with all the imaginable wit and plainness about selling of places, and doing every thing for money. The play took very much.... Gervase Jaquis to the Earl of Huntington, 16 April: Here is another play house erected in Hatton buildings called the Duke of Cambridgs play-house, and yester-day his Matie the Duke & many more were at the King's Playe house to see some new thing Acted (Hastings MSS, HA 7654, Huntington Library)

Event Comment: The King's Company. Pepys, Diary: To the King's house, and there did see Love in a Maze, wherein very good mirth of Lacy, the clown, and Wintersell, the country-knight, his master

Event Comment: uthor unknown.] Benefit Morgan and Lacy. Receipts: money #10 5s.; tickets #93 13s. Probable attendance: boxes, 10 by money and 118 by tickets; stage, 3 by money; pit, 11 by money and 259 by tickets; first gallery, 14 by money and 253 by tickets; second gallery, 57 by money

Event Comment: Benefit Lacy, Pitt, Mrs Rice. Written by Mr Farquhar. Receipts: money #4 10s.; tickets #87 11s. Probable attendance: boxes, 3 by money and 76 by tickets; stage, 4 by money; pit, 4 by money and 261 by tickets; first gallery, 4 by money and 294 by tickets; second gallery, 18 by money

Event Comment: Benefit Theo. Lacy. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality

Event Comment: Benefit of Prompter (Steed). Receipts: money #20 19s. 16d.; ticekts #62. Tickets for Lacy and Miss Horsington taken

Event Comment: RRylands: Lacy play'd. Receipts: #40

Event Comment: This play was wrote by Mr Shirly & was at Lisbon when Acted--it was receiv'd with great Applause--only a little groaning at some of the Love Scenes; the prologue greatly lik'd--he says the play attempted after ye Manner of Shakespear (Cross). Paid salary list at #51 7s. 7d. per diem, #308 5s. 6d.; Blakes per order #1 1s.; Maltair added to salary list at 10s. per day. Paid Lacy as per draft #105; Xmas box to Prince and Princess's footmen #2 2s.; Mr Maltair for 11 days #5 10s. (Treasurer's Book). [Maltair is presumably the dancer Maltare who had appeared at dl in 1740.] Receipts: #180 (Cross); #185 13s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. Mrs Davies Miss Tittup--La! La! King sent a letter to $Sheridan desiring to be off his Engagement--all made up at night. Mattocks came and told me that Lacy had sold Half his Share of the Patent to Mr Langford (The Auctioneer) and Captain Thomson (Authour of the Syrens &c.). I acquainted Sheridan of it--he had not heard it before (Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #267 6s

Event Comment: Alexander the Great? [announced on playbill of 4 Nov.] is obliged to be deferred. [The playbill lists Mrs Yates as Lady Townly, but see following note. Miss Younge's name appears in all subsequent playbills, except on 19 Dec.] Alexander was advertised for this Night, but Lacy being hoarse, who was to have played Alexander, it was obliged to be deferred, and this Play substituted. It was between eleven and twelve o'clock at (Night) before we got it settled. Mr. Sheridan ordered me not to send to Mrs. Yates about (it) till the Morning. About eight o'clock I sent her Notice that the Provoked Husband was to be performed at Night. A little after nine, she sent Word by her Niece that she was never so ill treated in her life, that she was never before asked to play on the fifth of November [which day was traditionally set aside for the acting of Tamerlane], that she would not play Lady Townly that Night, nor would she play any more; and if she had an Inclination to play, she had no Cloaths ready to play it in; and sent back the Part of Semiramis in a new Tragedy that was preparing [see 16 Nov., 14 Dec.]. I got Miss Younge to do Lady Townly, and an Apology was made by Packer that Mrs Yates having refused this Morning to do Lady Townly, Miss Younge at a Minutes' Notice undertook to do it. Miss Younge was much applauded and Yates had a few hisses (Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #179 11s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit for Smith. Mr Lacy play'd Cyrus. Spoke too Low and wanted Spirit. Was receiv'd with Applause (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly.] Tickets delivered for Siege of Damascus, for that night, will be taken. The Bill For establishing a Fund for Decayed Actors of dl Theatre has passed the House of Lords (Winston MS 11). Receipts: #134 19s. Charges: #67 7s. 6d. Profits to Smith: #67 11s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: During February and March 1678@9 two plays, titles unknown, were acted before the King. See an order: To Edward Griffin, Esq. Treasurer of the Chamber, to be paid over to John Lacy, assigne of Charles Killigrew, Mastr of the revells, for two plays acted before his said Majestie in Feb'ry and March 1678@9 (Moneys Received and Paid for Secret Services, ed. J. Y. Akerman, Camden Society, LII 1851, 34)