Event Comment: Mr Baker made his first Appearance in Jerry Sneak--he is a tall, thin, awkward Figure, looked like a Pinmaker, is a very strong Copy of poor Weston, has some Requisites, may in Time be a tolerable Actor in low Comedy--pretty well received. [Note added by $J. P. Kemble: Mr Baker, I have heard, had at this Time just received an Inheritance of fifteen thousand Pounds, which he so quickly dissipated as to be reduced within five years after to the Condition of Coachman to a Bristol Diligence] (Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #181 2s

Event Comment: Mr Inchbald from the Norwich Compy. made his first appearance in Osmyn very bad Figure, Indifferent voice and a very bad Actor. a Small hiss at End of Play (Hopkins Diary). Osmyn, Young Gentleman (Cross Diary). This appears to be the last night of Miss Younge's performing in London this season--She left Drury Lane, and went ot Dublin. Mr Joseph Inchbald became an actor in the York Company of Comedians--He died at Leeds in Yorkshire, where he is buried--I knew him intimately--he was an excellent man, and an admirable actor of old comic characters, and of drunken men--He was at once-poor fellow-the greatest Sloven and in many Particulars of the nicest Delicacy too, that could be imagined (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan)

Event Comment: Nusquam hodie effugies, veniam quocumque vocaris. Rare Words. I wonder where he stole 'em. Swift. To begin at 7 p.m. Boxes 3s. Pit 2s. Gallery 1s. [A contest was in the making. This night Macklin advertised at his Great Room in Hart St.; At the request of most of the Wits, Witlings, Scorners, Laughers, Jokers, Sneers, and other Choice Spirits of this Metropolis...will come on before the Inquisitor General, the Trial of the egregius Sam. Smatter, alias Woud'be, alias Mimic, alias Buffon, alias Critt, alias Wit, alias Beau, alias fine Gentleman, and vulgarly call'd Esquire, for a public cheat and Imposter. The whole public are summoned to be on the Jury. Common Sense their Forman. Nusquam hodie effugies, veniam quocumque vagaris. Rare words, I wonder where he stole 'em. Swift. Out of Mr--'s Portmanteau; the particulars of which Sam Smatter can inform any person of who shall ask him that favour."

Event Comment: The Principles not to be didactically and drily delivered but demonstrated by apt and familiar instances and illustrated by a set of Pupils long trained and properly prepared for the Purpose. [This performance originally scheduled for 26 April, but deferred to this date, a noon performance.] See Sketch of Mr Foote's Lectures on Oratory, as delivered Yesterday at the Little Theatre in the Haymarket (St James Chronicle, as 29 April)

Event Comment: The Conscious Lovers was given out, & in the Bills for this Night, but Mr Barry being ill, Mr Garrick made an Apology & ye Audience took ye P; Wife in its stead. Mr Barry over night said he wou'd not play, so that his sickness was doubted--the Farce was ill receiv'd that in ye middle I went on & said--Gent: we must beg yr Indulgence in permitting this piece to be perform'd once more, for the benefit of Mr Arne who has taken great pains in composing the Music & it shall be play'd no more--Applause (Cross). Bill alter'd from the Conscious Lovers, Mr Barry saying he was ill (Treasurer's Book). No latter account. Books of the Entertainment to be had at the theatre. Receipts: #90 (Cross); #78 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit Penkethman, Note, The Subscribers are desir'd not to bring their Tickets this Day, his Friends having promis'd to make this a Jubilee Day to him, and fill the House at the full Price, Mr Penkethman being at a greater Charge than ordinary. For the Entertainment of Madam la Signiora Fount, Signiora, Espagnola, Native d'Barcellone di cale Quallificatta, who will, in a particular Manner, hounour Mr Penkethman...by appearing in her own Country Habit. The Boxes opened to the Pit at 2s. 6d. At five o'clock, by reason of thelength of the Entertainments, and that the Gentry may return to London before 'tis Dark

Event Comment: [The following letter appeared in the General Advertiser]: To Mr Ryan, Sir: As the Author whom you have judiciously, I think, call'd in to your Assistance on your Benefit Night is little known; his Name not having appeared upon the Stage in our Days; and from whence some may be apt to think it scarce worth while to produce him now;--it was thought advisable by many of your Friends, of which Number I profess myself, to draw up the following Account of him and his Dramatic Works, that such as are Strangers to him may have some further Inducement to favour you with their Company. Mr Thomas Randolph lived in the Reign of King Charles I, was Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge; but died young. He was a Man of pregnant Wit, gay Humour and of excellent Learning; which gain'd him the Esteem of the Polite Part of the Town, and particularly recommended him to the Favour of Ben Johnson, who adopted him one of his Sons, and held him in equal Esteem with the ingenious Mr Cartwright, another of the Laureat's adopted Sons:--The Plays he wrote were: [he lists 5 plays, commenting from Cokayne and Rich of Christ's Church College, Oxon, and West on the ethical quality of the last one, The Muses' Looking Glass]. In short, Sir, I doubt not but his old nervous Wit will still please, and join'd with the New Masque you have added, excite Curiousity enough to answer your Design; since by your Steadiness it was absoluteley necessary you should hava Novelty, as well as Interest, to procure half so good a House, as we all wish you, and especially, Your Humble Servant, I. M. [See 14 March afterpiece.

Event Comment: [The playbill announces this as "By Command of Their Majesties," but "His Majesty intended going to Drury-lane Theatre last night, but was prevented by the multiplicity of business at St James's" (Morning Post, 19 Nov.).] Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years [acted 2 May 1776]. Receipts: #212 11s. 6d. (184.8.0; 27.6.6; 0.17.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. Paid Thorley, Wax Chandler, #81 12s. Receipts: #91 13s. 6d. (65/15/0; 22/18/0; 0/15/6; tickets not come in: 2/5/0)

Event Comment: [2nd piece in place of The Orphan; 3rd piece of Blunders at Brighton [i.e. The Irish Mimic], both advertised on playbill of 9 Oct.] "Where [Lewis] absolutely exceeded all expectation, even from spirits like his own, was in the first scene of the fifth act, where he meets with Cacafogo, who has been Cozened, too, and by a woman also (indeed the same woman); the convulsive joy of his laugh, frequently renewed, and invariably compelling the whole audience to a really painful sympathy, was one of the most brilliant exploits of the comedian...[Lewis] had one peculiarity, which was the richest in effect that could be imagined, and was always an addition to the character springing from himself. It might be called an attempt to take advantage of the lingering sparks of gallantry in the aunt, or the mother of sixty, or the ancient maiden whom he had to win, to carry the purposes of those for whom he was interested. He seemed to throw the lady by degrees off her guard, until at length his whole artillery of assault was applied to storm the struggling resistance; and the Mattockses and the Davenports of his attentions sometimes complained of the perpetual motion of his chair, which compelled them to a ludicrous retreat, and kept the spectator in a roar of laughter. In short, whether sitting or standing, he was never for a moment at rest--his figure continued to exhibit a series of undulating lines, which indicated a self-complacency that never tired, and the sparkling humour of his countenance was a signal hung out for enjoyment" (Boaden, Siddons, II, 364-66). Receipts: #365 4s. 6d. (357.6.6; 7.18.0)