Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 6 years [acted 17 Apr. 1790. The playbill assigns Theodosia to Mrs Clendining, but "The absence of Mrs Clendining from the theatre on Friday last is due to...accident by which her shoulder and collar-bone were dislocated and she now lies dangerously ill" (Morning Herald, 5 Jan.). On 14 Jan. the part was acted by Mrs Arnold]. Receipts: #164 15s. 6d. (158.16.6; 5.19.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Martyr. 3rd piece [1st time; M. INT 1, by John Cartwright Cross. Larpent MS 1124; not published]: Founded on the recent and glorious Achievement, at the above French Fort, of Sir Sydney Smith. [On 17 Mar. 1796 a force under Sir William Sydney Smith had destroyed six French vessels in the Bay of Herqui.] To conclude with the British striking the French Colours on the Fort, burning their Corvettes in the Harbour. The new Music by Shield. Oracle, 29 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Martyr at her house, No. 16, Martlett-court, Bow-street, Covent-Garden. Receipts: #384 11s. 6d. (192.14.0; 10.1.0; tickets: 181.16.6)

Event Comment: Account-Book: Tickets delivered by Mrs Hall (b[ox-keeper]), Warwhick, Robson (p[it door-keeper]), W. Ansell, W. Linton, West, Purkins, Standen, Ashwin, Hill, Morris will be admitted. Receipts: #334 0s. 6d. (35.18.0; 3.13.0; tickets: 294.9.6)

Event Comment: "Although [Mrs Esten] is rather under-hung, her face may fairly be pronounced pretty, and her figure engaging. Her voice, in the pathetic tones, resembles that of Mrs Siddons, but is more clear and articulate' (Diary, 21 Oct.). Receipts: #182 14s. 6d. (180.12.0; 2.2.6)

Event Comment: By Desiire of the Cherokee Chiefs [see 12 Nov.]. Afterpiece: Not acted these 7 years. [European Magazine, Dec. 1790, p. 468, says that this was Mrs Ferguson's 1st appearance in London; she was from the Richmond theatre.] Receipts: #205 5s. (202.8.6; 2.16.6)

Event Comment: By Desiire of the Cherokee Chiefs [see 12 Nov.]. Afterpiece: Not acted these 7 years. [European Magazine, Dec. 1790, p. 468, says that this was Mrs Ferguson's 1st appearance in London; she was from the Richmond theatre.] Receipts: #205 5s. (202.8.6; 2.16.6)

Event Comment: The Last Night of the Company's performing this Season. [Account-Book: Tickets delivered by Mrs Lloyd, W. Bayzand, Timkins (box-keeper), Street, Barnes, Morris, Rye, Dosel, Wells, King, Timkins (carpenter), Thompson (near Stage), Coates, Roberts, Thompson, (gallery door-keeper) will be admitted.] Receipts: #419 1s. (38.16; after-money: not listed; tickets: 380.5)

Event Comment: Lewis having a severe Hoarseness, Fortune's Fool [advertised on playbill of 4 Nov.] is deferred till Monday. Afterpiece [1st time: BURL 2. by John O'Keeffe. MS: Larpent MS 1141; not published, except for Airs (T. N. Longman, 1796)]: Partly new, and partly taken from The Golden Pippin [by Kane O'Hara]. The Overture and new Music by Reeve. The Selections from Pergolesi, Rousseau, Mornington, Fisher, Carolan, Rizzio, &c. With new Scenery, Machinery, Dresses and Decorations. The Scenery by Phillips, Blackmore, Hollogan, and assistants. The Dragon, the Car and the Machinery designed and executed by Cresswell. The Dresses by Dick and Mrs Egan. "The beauty of the scenery is only to be equalled by the ingenuity of the machinery. The descents and ascents of the Deities were managed with astonishing regularity and adroitness; and the Flying Cupids hovered in the air in very pleasing attitudes...The Pas de Russe, danced by Delpini, a-la-Parisot [see dl. 1 Oct.], in the character of a fine Lady, with Munden, was irresistibly comic" (Morning Herald, 7 Nov.). Receipts: #191 2s. 6d. (185.10.6; 5.12.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Mattocks. 1st piece: In 3 Acts. [In 1st piece the playbill assigns Welford to Holman, and in 3rd piece Don Carlos to the same. But "An uncle of Holman expired suddenly on Saturday morning. An apology was made for Holman in the evening, and Macready took the Parts he was to have performed in the Play and Farce" (True Briton, 8 May). In 1st piece Cheaterly is assigned to Macready; who took his place is not stated.] True Briton, 22 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Mattocks, No. 8, Great Russell-street, Covent-Garden. Receipts: #223 12s. 6d. (118.10.0; 4.2.0; tickets: 101.0.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Fawcett. 1st piece: Not acted some years [acted 30 Oct. 1790]. 2nd piece [1st time: ENT 1]. 3rd piece: By Permission of George Colman, Esq., and for that Night only. Tickets and Places to be had of Fawcett at his house, No. 10, Golden Square, and of Brandon, at the Theatre. "To the Public, May 16, 1797. In consequence of repeated Forgeries of Tickets on Benefit Nights, particularly those of Miss Wallis, Mr Incledon, Mr Holman, and Mrs Mattocks, it has been found necessary to offer a large Reward for the Discovery of the Person or Persons concerned in this unjust and cruel Practice. Mr Fawcett, therefore, thinks it his Duty to warn his Friends and the Public from purchasing Tickets for his Night of Strangers, especially those Persons who sell them in the Avenues of the Theatre, as all such will be stopt at the Doors, and if forged the Persons offering them for Admittance will be drawn into a disagreeable dilemma" (printed slip attached to Kemble playbill). Receipts: #462 5s. (189.12; 8.13; tickets: 264.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bland. Morning Chronicle, 19 Aug.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Bland, No. 6, Southampton-place, Tottenham-Court-Road

Event Comment: On Account of the numerous Complaints [etc., exactly as on dl playbill, 16 Sept.] [Mr and Mrs Duncan were from the Chester theatre.] Receipts: #193 10s. 6d. (190.11.6; 2.19.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Pope. Public Advertiser, 23 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Pope at her house, Half-moon-street, Piccadilly. Receipts: #267 12s. (178.4.6; 3.13.6; tickets: 85.14.0)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Miss Brunton as Lady Anne, but she "who attended, and was dressed for her character...was suddenly taken ill...The part was read by Mrs Rock" (Public Advertiser, 24 Oct.).] Receipts: #197 1s. (195.15; 1.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Martyr. Tickets sold at the Doors will not be admitted. [Prologue by John Wolcot (European Magazine, May 1790, p. 386).] Gazetteer, 15 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Martyr, No. 16, Martlet-court, Bow-street, Covent-garden. Receipts: #293 7s. 6d. (136.14.0; 13.8.6; tickets: 143.5.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Quick. 1st piece: Written by Mrs Inchbald. 2nd piece: For that night only. 3rd piece: Written by Foote; 1st time at that Theatre. Morning Herald, 28 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Quick, No. 98, High Holborn. Receipts: #325 4s. 6d. (152.3.0; 5.10.6; tickets: 167.11.0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Benefit for Powel, Thompson, Rock & Mrs Henley. [3rd piece in place of THE SHIPWRECK, advertised on playbill of 10 June.) Morning Herald, 11 June: Tickets to be had of Rock, No. 4, Martlett-court, Bow-street, Covent Garden [other recipients not listed). Receipts: #295 13s. 6d. (54/10/6; 10/19/0; tickets: 230/4/0)

Event Comment: [As Miss P. Farren Mrs Knight had 1st appaared in London on 15 May 1777 at the hay.] "[Knight's] simplicity is the type of nature, untainted With buffoonery; and what we very rarely meet with, his attention was so wholly engrossed by the business of the scene as to make him appear unconscious of being before an audience" (Morning Chronicle, 26 Sept.). Receipts: #248 3s. 6d. (240.2.6; 8.1.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; P 2, author unknown]: The Pantomime partly new and partly compiled. The principal parts of the Compilation from The Choice of Harlequin, The Magic Cavern, The Enchanted Castle, The Sylphs, and The Sorcerer. The Music compiled from, and composed by, Michael Arne, Shield, J. C.? Bach, Spofforth, &c. The Scenery, Machinery, and Decorations are partly new, and the rest completely repaired by Hodgins, Phillips, Hollogan, Blackmore, and assistants. The Dances composed by Byrn. The Dresses by Dick and Mrs Egan. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #274 14s. 6d. (254.13.0; 20.1.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr and Mrs Follett. [Egerton was from the hay (see 23 Jan.).] 2nd piece: In one Act. 3rd piece: Two new Scenes, as 17 Apr.; Procession, as 26 May. Morning Herald. 5 June: Tickets to be had of Follett, No. 46, Drury-lane. Receipts: #360 18s. (116.13.6; 3.11.0; tickets: 240.13.6)

Event Comment: "In point of voice, there are few women so highly favoured as Mrs Litchfield [whose 1st appearance at cg was on 27 May 1796]; through every gradation of tone it is perfect, combining strength and melody, it is equal to any task which the theatre (large and extensive as it is) can impose. It is suited to the firmness of declamation, the tenderness of pathos, and the burst of indignant passion" (Monthly Mirror, Oct. 1797, p. 226). The Epilogue is not listed on the playbill, but "The audience would not be satisfied without the original Epilogue [by Miles Peter Andrews], which Lewis came forward and spoke" (True Briton, 21 Sept.). [Afterpiece in place of The Poor Soldier, advertised on playbill of 18 Sept.] Receipts: #225 0s. 6d. (195.14.0; 29.6.6)

Event Comment: [This was Mrs Abington's 1st appearance on the stage since 12 Feb. 1790, except for 14 June 1797, when she spoke an epilogue at a charity benefit.] "Her former Beatrice was a chaste, animated, unaffected and captivating performance; but her Beatrice of this night was, for the greater part, languid and unattractive. Her deportment, however, is easy and graceful; but her person is too big and heavy to give any effect to the more gay and sprightly scenes. We conceive it to be the height of folly and imprudence in her to come forward in the present advanced period of her existence; and that too, with a person so ill calculated for the department, and attempt characters which demand all the vigour and activity of youth" (Monthly Visitor, Oct. 1797, p. 352). [Address by George Colman, ynger (London Chronicle, 7 Oct.).] Receipts: #348 2s. (336.18; 11.14)

Event Comment: 3rd piece [1st time; P 2, by John Fawcett. Text 1st published by Duncombe and Moon, c. 1825]: With entire new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. The Overture and most of the Musick composed by Dr Arnold. The Selections from eminent Masters, and the whole adapted by him to the Action of the Drama. The Scenery, comprehending a display of Views in the Island of Jamaicav, designed and painted [on playbill of 1 July: from Views taken on the Spot, and documents of undoubted authority] by S. Whitmore. The Machinery by Ronaldson, Sylvester, &c. The Dresses [on playbill of 1 July: made for the purpose by Persons acquainted with the spot where the Scene of Action lyes] by Gay, Mrs Egan, &c. A Prospectus of the Action with the Songs annexed, Price Six-pence, to be had at the Theatre [and reprinted in Dramatic Censor, III, 21-29]

Event Comment: Benefit for Johnstone. 2nd piece: Taken from Mrs Centlivre's Gamesters [recte: Gamester]. 3rd piece [1st time; M.INT 1]: The Accompaniments by Shield. Gazetteer 14 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Johnstone, No. 10, Great Russell-street, Covent-Garden. Receipts: #296 11s. (153.2.6; 3.4.6; tickets:140.4.0)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of THE DUENNA; afterpiece of THE IRISH MAN IN LONDON, both advertised on playbill of 13 Dec. In mainpiece "Mrs Follett was the Lucinda of the third act, in the room of Mrs Mountain, who was suddenly taken ill towards the close of the second" (Public Advertiser, 16 Dec.).) Receipts: #230 6s. (225/9/6; 4/16/6)