Event Comment: The Country Girl deferr'd. Palmer ill. Receipts: #156 17s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mr J. Palmer's draft #50. Receipts: #160 10s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mr Palmer on note #50. Receipts: #200 14s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Garrick put the finish hand to the sale of half the patent &c. to Dr Ford, Linley, Ewart, and Sheridan for #35,000 to be delivered over in June next. Garrick it was said rais'd #12,000 last year by subscription to pay New Ornamentation, which cost #3000, so that the remaining #4500 and #35,000 was no bad interest for the #5,000 he gave in 1747. New property valuation giving him a...(Winston MS 11, from Burney News Cuttings). Paid Mr Palmer, spermacetti candle Bill #186 13s.; Mr Machin, Chorus, 19 times #4 15s. Rec'd Mr Percy's rent 1 year to Mich Last, #10; Stopages #14 5s. Receipts: #167 2s. (Treasurer's Book). From the Morning Chronicle, 19 Jan.: "David Garrick, Esq., has signed and sealed for the sale of his share in the patent and Property of Drury Lane Theatre. The purchasers are Dr Ford, Mr Ewart, Mr Linley, and Mr Richard Sheridan. The purchase money is #35,000. The public may now therefore depend upon it that this will be the last season of Mr Garrick's performing. The new proprietors as an act of their own, have stipulated that Mr Garrick shall continue to keep that box which has of late years been set apart for the accomodation of his family. Mr Garrick intimated last night to the audience his having sold his share in Drury Lane Theatre, by answering in the part of Abel Drugger , on being asked if he had any interest at the theatre, 'I had some, I don't know what I may have.'

Event Comment: The Rivals [announced on playbill of 25 Jan.] is obliged to be deferred on Account of Palmer's Illness. Receipts: #153 19s. 6d. (133.14.0; 18.19.0; 1.6.6)

Event Comment: The Critic [announced on playbill of 29 Mar.] is obliged to be deferred on account of Palmer's sudden Illness.Receipts: #90 0s. 6d. (76.3.0; 11.19.6; 1.18.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 12 years. [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Beverley to Palmer, but his "indisposition on Wednesday gave Kemble an opportunity of shewing himself in comedy" {Morning Chronicle, 28 Oct.).] Receipts: #110 10s. (81/18; 28/1; 0/11)

Event Comment: King Henry the Eighth [advertised on playbill of 19 Jan.] is, on Account of the Indisposition of Mrs Siddons, deferred 'till Sturday next (after which it will be laid aside from some Time, on Account of Preparations for Coriolanus [see 7 Feb.]) with The Critic [also advertised on playbill of 19 Jan.]. Kemble Mem.: Palmer imprisoned [seemingly for debt]. Receipts: #129 13s. (108.3; 19.19; 1.11)

Event Comment: Kemble Mem.: Palmer in Prison [see 20 Jan.]. Receipts: #170 1s. (134.4; 35.8; 0.9)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of The Force of Ridicule; afterpiece of Richard Coeur de Lion, both advertised on playbill of 28 Nov.] "The new Comedy last night was deferred upon the pretext of Miss Farren's illness...The Manager sent after Mrs Siddons, who was found at Covent-Garden Theatre, seeing Abroad and at Home. Brandon, however, ordered her a chair, and she kindly performed Isabella. Wroughton read the Father" (Oracle, 30 Nov.). "For near an hour the audience waited patiently...At half past seven Palmer addressed the audience" He said that Miss Farren was ill, that to those who preferred to leave the theatre their money would be returned, and that instead of the new play Mrs Siddons would act Isabella, "as soon as the dresses could be prepared for that purpose. This address was by no means favourably received, and hundreds of persons immediately left the house. A few minutes after eight, the Curtain drew up to the tragedy, which was well performed, and much applauded by the few who remained to witness it" (Morning Herald, 30 Nov.). "November 30. Miss Farren last night refused to appear in a new Play at Drury Lane which made much confusion in the House. The cause assigned was indisposition but that was not believed by the audience; and the fact Lysons says is, that as she cannot obtain payment from the Theatre, she resolutely told them she wd. not appear unless her demands were paid...Such is the unprincipled conduct of Sheridan" (Diary of Joseph Farington, 1922, I, 174). [On 1 Dec. Morning Herald prints a letter from Miss Farren, from Green-street, Grosvenor-square. saying that she really was ill. The editor of the paper adds a note in which he affirms his positive knowledge that rumours about a dispute as to Miss Farren's unpaid salary were without foundation.] Receipts: #134 2s. (82.2; 50.18; 1.2)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; D 5, by Elizabeth Inchbald, adapted from Das Kind der Liebe, by August Friedrich Ferdinand von Kotzebue. Prologue by John Taylor; Epilogue by Thomas Palmer (see text)]. Afterpiece [1st time; MF 2, by Charles Smith]: The Music composed by Attwood. The Overture accompanied on the Harp by Weippert. Morning Herald, 28 Nov. 1798: This Day is published Lovers' Vows [sic] (2s.). Times, 26 Oct. 1798: This Day is published A Day at Rome (1s.). Receipts: #197 15s. 6d. (194.3.6; 3.12.0)