Event Comment: Cibber, Apology, I, 203-9, refers to an incident which occurred after the division of the companies, perhaps early in their competition. Essentially, Drury Lane, learning that Lincoln's Inn Fields was to act Hamlet on a Tuesday, posted it for Monday at Drury Lane, whereupon Betterton's Company, having announced The Old Batchelor for Monday, cancelled it in favor of Hamlet. As a countermove, Drury Lane altered its program to The Old Batchelor on Monday, Powell to mimic Betterton. A last-minute discovery that no one had been assigned to Fondlewife, originally played by Dogget, gave Cibber an opportunity to play the role, which he learned on short notice and which he acted with applause; he was pleased to see Dogget in the pit watching his performance

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for The Literary Fund. [In this performance the male parts were acted chiefly by amateurs; the female parts were acted by professionals. Prologue and Epilogue by Thomas Morris (Morning Herald, 17 Apr.).] The Committee for the Management of the Literary Fund respectfully inform the Public that affecting instabces of Merit in distress exceed their power of relief by the ordinary Subscription; and that they wish to have recourse to every honourable expedient to increase that power. The Admission will be by Tickets, at the Opera Prices. Boxes and Pit 10s. 6d. 1st Gallery 5s. 2nd Gallery 3s. No more Company will be admitted than the House will hold with perfect convenience; and when the proper number of Tickets is issued, no means of admission can be obtained. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 precisely. Registers: Thomas Dale, M. D.; Mr Deputy Nichols. Treasurers: Thomas Morris, Esq.; Mr E. Brooke. "In the course of the play we observed several restorations of Shakespeare's text, with some interpolations. The boldest of the latter was the introduction of Richard's son to him in the tent, the night befiredthedbefore the Battle of Bosworth field. This scene was borrowed, as we believe, from Thomas? Hull's Legendary Tale of Richard Plantagenet. It was well written, and produced a considerable degree of effect. The Ghosts were banished, and the start and stagger of Richard, heretofore the theatrical trick of the scene, necessarily omitted" (Diary, 17 Apr.)