Event Comment: By His Royal Highness's Command. [For the Princess' attendance at this play, see Diary of Mary Countess Cowper, pp. 46-47.

Event Comment: [Princesses Mary and Louisa present.]

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Ben Johnson. By Her Majesty's Command. [The Queen, Prince of Wales, Duke, and Princesses Caroline, Mary, and Louisa present.]

Event Comment: Benefit for Dodd. Afterpiece: Not acted these 9 years. [See 26 March 1763.] Married at Marylebone Church-W. Lacy, Esq one of managers of Drury Lane to Miss Orpen, daughter of an eminent hatter (Winston MS 10). Married: Willoughby Lacy, Esq to Miss Orpen of St Mary-le-bon (Gentleman's Magazine, 1744, p. 141). Receipts: #166 16s. Charges: #64 12s. Profits to Dodd: #102 4s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: [By Mary de la Riviere Manley.] Never Acted before. And by Reason of the Extraordinary Charge for Habits, Boxes 5s., Pit 3s., First Gallery 2s., Upper Gallery 1s. Preface: Almyna was admirably Acted, and advantagiously dress'd: The first was owing to Mr Betterton's unwearied care...the second to Mr Swiny...for venturing...to make so great an Expence...both justly condemn'd for playing it at so ill-fated a Time, viz. The immediate Week before Christmas between Devotion and Camilla

Event Comment: By Their Majesties' Command. [Their Majesties, Duke, Princesses Amelia, Caroline, Mary, Louisa present.] London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 20 Nov.: Mrs Porter perform'd the Part of Belvidera, without having either Stick or Cane to support her. Receipts: #168 12s. 6d

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by the late Mr Congreve. Daily Journal, 8 March: On Friday Night last died Mrs Mary Heron, a celebrated Actress belonging to Drury-lane Playhouse

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Inchbald. Mainpiece: By Permission of Colman [proprietor of the HAY, owner of the copyright of the play, and author of Epilogue]. Morning Chronicle, 22 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Inchbald, No. 10, Great Russel-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #107 8s. (71/17/6; 5/1/6; tickets: 30/9/0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: The King's Company. Pepys, Diary: With my Lord Bruncker and his mistress to the King's playhouse, and there saw The Indian Emperour; where I find Nell come again, which I am glad of; but was most infinitely displeased with her being put to act the Emperour's daughter, which is a great and serious part, which she do most basely. The rest of the play, though pretty good, was not well acted by most of them, methought; so that I took no great content in it. But that, that troubled me most was, that Knipp sent by Moll [Mary Meggs] to desire to speak to me after the play; and she beckoned to me at the end of the play, and I promised to come; but it was so late

Event Comment: By Command of Their Royal Highness the Duke and the Princesses Amelia, Caroline, Mary, and Louisa

Event Comment: Benefit for Chaplin, Wilson, Walker & Mrs Booth. Receipts: #176 6s. (19/2/0; 6/12/6; 0/14/6; tickets: 149/17/0) (charge: #106 16s. 10d.)

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Wilkinson. [For Miss Thompson see DNB, under Mary Anne Clarke.] Tickets to be had of Wilkinson, No. 33, Warwick-street, Golden-square. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Wilkinson. Mainpiece [T 3, by John Penn, 1st acted at Richmond, Feb. 1796. Prologue by the author (see text)]: A New Historical Play in 3 Acts (with songs [by John Wall Callcott]). Morning Herald, 11 Apr.: This Day is published The Battle of Eddington, as acted at the Haymarket and at Richmond (1s. 6d.). Tickets to be had of Wilkinson, No. 14, Mary-le-bone-street, Golden-square. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Thomas Holcroft, adapted from Le Complaisant, by Antoine de Feriol comte de Pont-de-Veyle, and from Clavigo, by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. It has been attributed to John Fenwick (Genest, VII, 360-61; London Chronicle, 14 Feb. 1798). But for Holcroft's acknowledgment of authorship see his Life, ed. Elbridge Colby, 1925, II, 170. Author of Prologue unknown. Epilogue by the author (Knapp, p. 88)]. Times, 12 Apr. 1798: This Day will be published He's Much to Blame (2s.). "Mrs Mattocks has of late habituated herself to a constant titter, which destroys the effect of her best scenes" (Times, 14 Feb.). Receipts: #249 1s. (240.5; 8.16)

Event Comment: Paid Mr Heath for point lace, 9s.; Mr Cropley (linen draper) 2 bills #93 12s. 6d.; 8 extra trumpets for 6 nights, #18; Wax Chandler's Bill #21 3s. 4d.; Mr Squire, Chorus, 15 nights #3 15s.; Printer's Bill #9 6s.; Mr Weston's Note & Bill to Mr Flaherty #5 6s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Mrs Robinson Angelica-very indifferent (+Hopkins MS Notes). Receipts: #133 11s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Siddons. 1st piece: Never acted in this Theatre. [Prologue by George Colman, elder. Monologue by Hester Lynch Piozzi (European Magazine, May 1797, p. 343).] True Briton, 12 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Siddons, No. 49, Great Marlborough-street. "The scenery destroyed much of the effect of the tragedy; for the characters are supposed to be 'steeped in poverty to the very lips;' and yet their apartments would have become a family in the meridian of wealth and prosperity. Mrs Siddons was also too well dressed for Mrs Wilmot" (Monthly Mirror, May 1797, p. 308). "In the scene in which [Mrs Siddons's] son having put into her hands a casket to keep, and she having touched a spring it opens and she sees jewels, her husband (Kemble) enters, and in despair exclaims, 'Where shall we get bread?' With her eyes fixed on the jewels, she runs to him, knocks the casket against her breast and exclaims, 'Here! Here!' In Mrs Siddons's tone and in her look there was an anticipation of the murder which was to take place" (Robinson, I, 39). Receipts: #618 2s. (386.8.6; 43.19.0; 2.4.0; tickets: 185.10.6) (charge: #211 1s.)

Event Comment: The Duenna [advertised on playbill of 10 Oct.] is obliged to be deferred on Account of Mrs Billington's Indisposition. Receipts: #126 16s. 6d. (124.8.6; 2.8.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Thomas Holcroft, based on Le Glorieux, by Philippe Nericault, dit Destouches. In 1793 reduced by the author to an afterpiece of 3 acts. Prologue and Epilogue by the author (Knapp, 101, 307). This play was originally attributed to James Marshall (Public Advertiser, 5 Feb.); on 8 Feb. he wrote a letter to the editor of the Oracle, stating that "The School for Arrogance is not mine, but Mr Holcroft's...By appearing for a time as the ostensible author I hope I have contributed to heal what was most unaccomodating between Mr Harris and Mr Holcroft." And see Genest, VII, 24, 27.] Oracle, 19 Feb. 1791: This Day is published The School for Arrogance (1s. 6d.). "If Mrs Wells could be prevailed upon to speak out, so that the audience might hear, it would be of some advantage to the new play. At present, the performer who happens to be on the stage with her has it all in confidence" (Gazetteer, 9 Feb.). Receipts: #186 11s. (181.8; 5.3)

Event Comment: 2nd piece [1st time; MD 3, by James Boaden; some of the songs written by George Colman, ynger]: With new Musick, Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. The new Musick by Dr Arnold. With an appropriate Overture, accompanied by two Pedal Harps and the Union Pipes, by Weippert, C. Jones, and Murphy. The Scenery by Marinari. The Dresses and Decorations designed by A. Johnston, and executed by him and Mrs Egan. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. "Any exertion of impartial criticism to check the prevalent taste for the marvellous and the horrific which so wantonly conjures up the spirit (it was once thought had been for ever laid) of gross superstition and Gothic barbarism must, we fear, prove at present unavailing" (Times, 23 July). Morning Chronicle, 30 July 1798: This Day is published Cambro-Britons (2s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Robinson, musician, and Mrs Newby

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. Afterpiece [1st time; INT 1, by Horace Walpole. Text 1st Published in Walpole's Works, vol. II (G. G. and J. Robinson and J. Edwards, 1798)]

Event Comment: Benefit for Beeston, Brereton, Longley & Colley. Tickets delivered by Robson, Stephenson, Robinson, Varley, Smallwood, Jennings, Halliburton, Shuter, Pilbrow, Turtle, Wm. Ansell will be admitted this Evening. Receipts: #263 9s. (24/14; 1/18; tickets: 236/17)