Event Comment: The King's Company. Pepys, Diary: With Sir Philip Carteret to the King's playhouse, there to see Love's Cruelty, an old play, but which I have not seen before and in the first act Orange Moll come to me, with one of the porters by my house, to tell me that Mrs Pierce and Knepp did dine at my house to-day, and that I was desired to come home. So I went out presently, and by coach home, and they were just gone away; so, after a very little stay with my wife, I took coach again, and to the King's playhouse again, and come in the fourth act; and it proves to me a very silly play, and to everybody else, as far as I could judge. But the jest is, that here telling Moll how I had lost my journey, she told me that Mrs Knepp was in the house, and so shews me to her, and I went to her, and sat out the play.... I could not but observe that Sir Philip Carteret would fain have given me my going into a play; but yet, when he come to the door, he had no money to pay for himself, I having refused to accept of it for myself, but was fain; and I perceive he is known there, and do run upon the score for plays, which is a shame.... In the pit I met with Sir Ch. North

Event Comment: The King's Company. The date of the premiere is most uncertain. The play was apparently finished in July 1671-see C. E. Ward, The Life of John Dryden (Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 1961), p. 83-and the play may have been acted before April 1672. For the possibilities see Macdonald, Bibliography of Dryden, p. 110, and Nicoll, Restoration Drama, pp. 404-5. The Prologue and Epilogue are in Covent Garden Drollery, 1672. The song, Whilst Alexas lay prest, the music by Nicholas Staggins, was printed in Westminster Drollery (entered in the Stationers' Register, 3 June 1672) and in Choice Songs and Ayres, The First Book, 1673. Another song, Why should a foolish Marriage Vow, set by Robert Smith, is also in Choice Songs and Ayres, 1673

Event Comment: At the Sign of the Sun at North-Hall

Event Comment: Benefit Beard. Tickets at Beard's House, New North Street, Red-Lion Square

Event Comment: Benefit Beard. [Part of the Stage will be formed into Side-Boxes. Tickets at Beard's House, New North Street, Red Lion Square.

Event Comment: By Command of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales. Benefit Beard...Tickets and Places to be had at Beard's lodgings on the North Side of Red Lyon Square. Those Ladies who have already taken places, are humbly requested to send for Tickets. Tickets and places also to be had of Hobson at the stage door. Stage will be form'd into side boxes

Event Comment: Benefit for Beard. Part of Pit will be rail'd into Boxes, where servants may keep Places and on the Stage. Tickets to be had of Beard at his House in New North St., Red Lion Square, and of Hobson at the stage door. Rec'd front Cash #67 12s., plus #132 13s. in tickets. Total #200 5s. Paid Hobson for 2 suits of cloaths #21; Salary list #203 7s.; Norton for 1 chorus 5s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #205 (Cross); charges, #63 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Beard. No part of pit will be rail'd into the Boxes. Servants allow'd to keep Places on the stage. Tickets and Places to be had of Beard at his House in North St., Red-Lion Square, and at the Sta ge Door. Tickets deliver'd out for the 21st of March will be taken. Last time of performing the mainpiece this season. Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Berry. Tickets at Popes Perke maker Russell St., and at the Stage Door. Tickets deliver'd out for 26 March will be taken. At Punch's Theatre in James St., near the Haymarket, this, and every Evening this week, the Town will be entertained with Yeates's inimitable dexterity of Hand; likewise by Mr Punch's Company of performers will be exhibited the play of Jane Shore. To conclude with a New Grand Machine, representing the Temple of the Sunv, at Mexico, in North America, which has given universal satisfaction to the Nobility and Gentry (General Advertiser). Receipts: #212 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for one Barry a Jeweller (Cross). A Charity Play, recommended by the City of London for Barry, Jeweller in Salisbury Court (being in great distress). Tickets at Grigsby's, Shadwell's, Janeway's and Sam's Coffee Houses by the Royal Exchange; Peele's, Nando's Anderton's and Temple Exchange in Fleet St., Marsh's Coffee House in Silver St., and at the stage door. Stage will be form'd into an Amphitheatre (General Advertiser). Mr Reinhold dy'd (Cross). A man no less admired for his private character than his publick performance. He has left behind him a Wife and Four small children in great distress; for the relief of whom the Managers of Drury Lane, and the actors have agreed to perform a play Gratis, some time next week; when it is hop'd the good nature of the publick will favour the intention of the performers. Tickets to be had of Mr Beard, at his house in North St., Red Lion Square, and at the theatre (General Advertiser, 16 May). Receipts: #60 (Cross)

Event Comment: Oratorio [1st time in public. It had 1st been performed at Oxford, 8 July 1773, as part of the ceremony of the installation of Lord North as Chancellor.

Event Comment: Benefit for Peile. [In the playbill his part is specified.] Public Advertiser, 15 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Peile at his House, North-street, Westminster. Receipts: #184 7s. 6d. (69.6.6; tickets: 115.1.0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Benefit for Peile. Mainpiece: Not acted these 6 years. Tickets delivered by Dagueville will be taken. Public Advertiser, 1 May and 27 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Peile at his house in North-street, Westminster; of Dagueville, Bow-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #149 2s. 6d. (56.14.6; tickets: 92.8.0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Benefit for Peile. Mainpiece: With the Triumphal Entry of Alexander into Babylonv. Public Advertiser, 22 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Peile, North-street, Westminster

Event Comment: Benefit for Peile. Public Advertiser, 20 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Peile at his house, North-street, Westminster. Receipts: #190 4s. 6d. (95.11.6; tickets: 94.13.0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 3, by George Colman, ynger. Prologue by the Hon. Francis North. Epilogue by the author (see text)]: With new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. Public Advertiser, 2 Sept. 1788: This Day is published Ways and Means (1s. 6d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Dignum. Part of the Pit will be laid into the Boxes. Public Advertiser, 14 May: Tickets to be had of Dignum, No. 23, New North-street, Red Lion-square. Receipts: #56 16s. (43.1.0; 11.8.6; 2.6.6; tickets: none listed) (charge: #121 6s. 4d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Dignum. Afterpiece [1st time; F 2]: Written by George Saville Carey. Morning Herald, 15 May: Tickets to be had of Dignum, No. 23, North-street, Red Lion-square. Receipts: #525 15s. (67.15; 22.19; 5.10; tickets: 429.11) (charge: #173 6s. 10d.)

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Silvester. Mainpiece: Written by Congreve. The Doors to be opened at 5:00. To begin at 6:00. Tickets to be had of Silvester, No. 50, Brewer-street, Golden-square, and at No. 25, North Audley-street, Grosvenor-square; of Massey, No. 18, Snow-hill; of Frith, No. 39, King-street, West Smithfield; and of Blandford, Pea-Hen, Bishopsgate-street

Event Comment: Benefit for Dignum and Mrs Powell. [Afterpiece in place of The Devil to Pay, advertised on playbill of 23 May.] Morning Herald, 23 May: Tickets to be had of Dignum, No. 25, New North-street; of Mrs Powell, No. 22, Henrietta-street, Covent-Garden. Receipts: #510 1s. (54.13.6; 26.7.6; 3.17.0; tickets: 425.3.0) (charge: #160 5s. 10d.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Richard Cumberland. Prologue by the Hon. Francis North. Epilogue by George Colman, the younger (see text)]. Morning Chronicle, 20 Mar. 1794: This Day is published THE BOX-LOBBY CHALLENGE (1s. 6d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Dignum. Morning Chronicle, 19 May: Tickets to be had of Dignum, No. 23, New North-street, Red Lion-square. Receipts: #667 14s. (127.2.6; 35.17.6; 7.16.0; tickets: 496.18.0) (charge: #222 0s. 8d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Dignum. Morning Herald, 20 May: Tickets to be had of Dignum, No. 23, New North-street, Red-lion-square. Receipts: #148 10s. 6d. (81.10.0; 57.6.6; 2.3.0; tickets: none listed; odd money: 7.11.0) (charge: #214 1s. 7d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Dignum. [3rd piece in place of Lodoiska, advertised on playbill of 7 June.] Morning Herald, 22 May: Tickets to be had of Dignum, No. 23, New North-Street, Red-Lion-Square. Receipts: #578 7s. (60.5; 46.19; 6.6; tickets: 464.17) (charge: #223 11s. 9d.)