Event Comment: Not acted in 5 years. [See 4 Feb. 1758.]
The Drummer was revived at this period at both
theatres...to take advantage of
the reigning weakness of
the people, who went in crowds many days
and nights to an Haunted House, by what was called
the Cock-Lane Ghost-a delusion set on foot,
and very ingeniously carried on by a girl of 12 years of age, daughter of a clerk of
St Sepulchre's Church, who resided in
Cock Lane near
Smithfield. [
The Ghost was supposed to be that of one Fanny, a gentleman's mistress buried in
the church. By knoc
kings
and scratchings she supposedly haunted
the girl intimating foul practices concerning her death.] It would be incredible to relate
the numbers of persons of distinction that attended this delusion! many of whom treated it as a serious
and most important affair...at last
the girl's fa
ther
and three or four o
thers were tried in
the King's Bench, found guilty' Pillioried
and imprisoned. This most effectively laid
the Ghost;
and is
the best
and properest cure for every ghost that may arise hereafter. (
Victor, History of the Theatres, III, 18 ff). [
The theme exploited again by
Garrick in
The Farmer's Return from London,
dl 20 March.