Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first performance is not certain, but contemporary sources refer to the fact that William Smith, who died in the last week of December, fell ill on the fourth day of its run; hence, it probably was first presented in mid-December. One song, O take him gently from the pile, set by John Eccles and sung by Mrs Bracegirdle, is in Deliciae Musicae, The Fourth Book, 1696. Downes, Roscius Anglicanus, p. 44: The Grand Cyrus, wrote by Mr Banks; it was a good Play; but Mr Smith, having a long part in it, fell Sick upon the Fourth Day and Dy'd, upon that it lay by, and ne'er have bin Acted since. Gildon, English Dramatick Poets, p. 6: Tho' this Play had been formerly refus'd the Action, yet it held up its Head about Six Days together, and has been since Acted several Times. A Comparison Between the Two Stages: Sullen, p. 16: Banks's, which the Players damn'd and wou'd not Act of a great while, but at length it was acted, and damn'd then in manner and form

Event Comment: Receipts: #115 9s. Paid Blackmore for the following Cloaths: A Blue velvet Coat & Breeches, with white sattin waistcoat emb. with gold, #18; a Light cloath coat & waistcoat (yellow) emb. with silver #12; A Blue & Silver stuff suit, #8; a crimson velt suit #6; a black velvet suit #4 10s.; a scarlet cloath suit trimm'd with black, #1 10s.; Paid into the hands of Mr Forrest [attorney] by John Rich #200. Mr Austin advanc'd 6d. each acting night form 29 Oct. for snuffing the candles

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)