Event Comment: Afterpiece: Not acted these 13 years [acted 5 May 1770]. With Alterations and 3 entire new Scenes [by Richard Brinsley Sheridan; and new music by Thomas Linley Sen.]. To conclude with a Representation of the Storming of Fort Omoa in the Bay of Hondurasv [when it was captured by the British from the Spaniards on 26 Oct. 1779. This scene was included in all subsequent performances]. The View and Machinery designed by DeLoutherbourg and executed under his direction. With New Dresses and Decorations. "The scenemen blundered egregiously all through the entertainment. During the siege of the fort so much gunpowder was fired off that the stage was so filled with smoke that the officers, men, were scarcely discernible from the boxes" (London Chronicle, 4 Jan.). Receipts: #203 2s. 6d. (154.7.0;47.17.0; 0.18.6)

Event Comment: By Permission [of the Lord Chamberlain]. Mainpiece [1st time; C 5 (?), author unknown. It was 1st advertised in Morning Chronicle, 15 Dec. 1783, for performance on 26 Jan. 1784, as "A new Comedy called The Artful Patriot; or, The Rage of the People." Prologue by Thomas Stewart (Morning Post, 23 Feb., which also gives names of T. Davis and Miss Hemet. Author of Epilogue unknown. MS not in Larpent; not published]. The Doors to be opened at 5:00. To begin at 6:30

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Phillips. Gazetteer, 5 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Miss Phillips, at Swift's, bookseller, Charles-street, St. James's-square. Mainpiece: With Accompaniments to the Airs composed by [Thomas] Linley [Sen.]. Receipts: #230 10s. (110/15/0; 30/11/6; 0/5/6; tickets: 88/18/0) (charge: #108 9s. 2d.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With Accompaniments to the Airs composed by [Thomas] Linley [Sen.]. Paid Properties #1 7s. 6d.; Lampmen #3 18s.; Billstickers #5 8s.; Supernumeraries #5 12s. 6d.; Tailor #7 18s. 7d. Receipts: #179 15s. 6d. (132/5/0; 47/3/6; 0/7/0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. The Music by Purcel and Dr Arne, with the additional Airs and Chorusses by the late [Thomas] Linley Jun. [Gazetteer, 9 Nov., notes that the music for the Chorus of Spirits was composed by Purcell, for Ariel's song by Dr Arne, for the storm scene by Linley Jun.] Receipts: #162 11s. (126/10/0; 35/19/6; 0/1/6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: The Music by Purcel and Dr Arne, with the additional Airs and Chorusses by the late [Thomas] Linley Jun. Receipts: #183 8s. 6d. (161/9/0; 20/7/0; 1/12/6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; T 5, by John Delap. Prologue and Epilogue by Thomas Vaughan (see text)]. Morning Chronicle, 22 Mar. 1786: This Day is published The Captives (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #222 1s. (204/17; 14/16; 2/8)

Event Comment: Benefit for Hull. Mainpiece: A New Alteration [by Thomas Hull], from Shakespeare and Shadwell. With characteristic Habits, Scenes and Decorations. [Mrs Duill is identified in Lyons, Collectanea.] Public Advertiser, 2 May: Tickets to be had of Hull, Duke's Court, near Dean's-yard, Westminster. Receipts: #80 10s. (77/5; 3/5; tickets: none listed) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: [Mrs Edwards is identified in European Magazine, July 1786, p. 60. Address by Thomas Busby (ibid.}.]

Event Comment: Benefit for a Fund for the Relief of those who, from their Infirmities, shall be obliged to retire from the Stage. [Prologue by Thomas Hull.] Gazetteer, 19 May: Tickets to be had of Hull, Treasurer to the Institution, No. 31, Bow-street, Covent-Garden. The Fund at Covent Garden Theatre was instituted in the Year 1765, and confirmed by Act of Parliament, 1776. It has been almost entirely supported by the weekly Contributions of the respective Members, and no Application has been made ot the Public towards its Increase for the space of 19 Years. Notwithstanding the utmost Oeconomy has been practised to promote the Advancement of this Fund, the whole capital Sum hitherto amassed is now become so inadequate to the unavoidable annual Disbursements that the Committee hold it incumbent on them to solicit the Patronage and Encouragement of the Public, at the within specified Performance. "The capital of this fund, invested in various stocks, amounted to #27,710 in the year 1824" (Brayley, 14). Receipts: #128 11s. (104.15; 15.16; tickets: 8.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Crouch. Afterpiece [1st time; CO 2, by Prince Hoare, based on La Grotta di Trofonio, by Giovanni Battista Casti. Not in Larpent MS; not published]; Written by the Author of No Song No Supper. The Music composed principally by Storace [partly adapted from Salieri, composer of Casti's opera; one song each by Anna Storace, Thomas Attwood, Giovanni Paisiello, Richard Suett]. Oracle, 28 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Crouch, No. 26, Bridges-street. Receipts: #280 2s. (100.12.0; 33.13.6; 4.13.6; tickets: 141.3.0) (charge: #119 9s. 8d.)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill omits Anna, but "Mrs Rock was a wretched Anna" (Thespian Magazine, Feb. 1793, p. 195). Miss Morris is identified in European Magazine, Jan. 1793, p. 69; and see 14, 16 Nov.] Afterpiece [1st time; P 2(?), author unknown. Text (i.e. synopsis of action), For the Booksellers, 1793. Larpent MS 964 contains Songs only]: Partly New, and partly a Selection of Scenery, Machinery, Tricks, and Business, from the most approved Pantomimic Productions of Lunn, Rich, Woodward, Messink, Rosamond [i.e. Rosoman], Lalauze, &c. The Music chiefly compiled [by Thomas Goodwin] from Pepusch, Galliard, Dr Arne, Vincent, Dibdin, Dr Arnold, Fisher, the rest by Shield. The selected Scenery and Machinery re-painted, and the several new ones designed and executed by Hodgins, Pugh, Walmsley, Lupino, &c. The Dances by Byrn, who will for the first time introduce a Burlesque Pas de Russe. With new Dresses, Machinery and Decorations. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. [In afterpiece the playbill lists Follett, but he "having received an injury at the morning's rehearsal, afforded that excellent actor, Munden, the opportunity of giving the Public an additional proof of the versatility of his talents: -he undertook the part of the Clown [i.e. Clodpole ], and performed it so well that he will probably be obliged to retain it" (Morning Herald, 21 Dec.). He was probably omitted from the Vocal Characters (see 21 Dec.).] Receipts: #258 10s. 6d

Event Comment: The Proprietor of this Theatre having informed us that a report has been recently circulated, highly injurious to this Building; we, in consequence of his request, beg leave to asure the Public that such report is unfounded. John Johnson, Mary-le-bone; James Paine, Northend, Hammersmith; Thomas Hardwicke, Rathbone Place; Robert Brettingham, Berkley-Square. Architects

Event Comment: [1st piece in place of THOMAS AND SALLY, advertised on playbill of 29 Mar. In 2nd piece Mrs Yates is identified in Thespian Magazine, Apr. 1794, p. 177, which also assigns the Greek Soldier, who is omitted from the playbill.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Johnstone. 1st piece: with Grand Naval Review, as 20 Aug. 3rd piece: By the permission of Thomas Harris, Esq.; never acted at this Theatre. [Mrs Fawcett was from CG.] Morning Chronicle, 23 Aug.: Tickets to be had of Johnstone, No. 19, Piazza, Covent Garden

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Mrs Yates, and her Infant Children. [Mr and Mrs Litchfield, with Mrs Litchfield as Little Pickle, are identified in Morning Chronicle, 10 Feb. Address by Thomas Roberts (European Magazine. Feb. 1797, p. 121).] Tickets to be had of Mrs Yates, No. 26, Great Pultney-street, Golden-square; and of Rice at the Theatre, where Places for the Boxes may be taken

Event Comment: [Extra night] Benefit for the Widows and Orphans of those brave Men who perished, and those who were wounded, in the Glorious Action of the 14th February last [see king's, 18 May.] Patrons: His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, His Royal Highness Duke of York, His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence. Stewards: Duke of Leeds, Duke of Bedford, Earl of Chesterfield, Earl Spencer, Lord Kinnaird, Charles Grey Esq., Thomas Tyrwhitt Esq., Wm. Lushington Esq., Wm. Manning Esq., John Thomson Esq., John Julius Angerstein Esq. Boxes to be taken, and Tickets had at the Office of the Theatre, and at the Bar of Lloyd's Coffee-House. Receipts: none listed

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by Samuel Birch, based on James Powell's unacted play, The Narcotic, 1787; incidental music by Thomas Attwood (see 28 Nov.). Larpent MS 1182; not published; synopsis of plot in Morning Chronicle, 30 Oct.]. Receipts: #309 19s. 6d. (222.7.6; 86.1.0; 1.11.0)

Event Comment: [2nd piece in place of Thomas and Sally, advertised on playbill of 11 Nov.] Receipts: #351 14s. (283.16; 66.10; 1.8)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; D 5, by Benjamin Thompson, altered from Menschenhass und Reue, by August Friedrich Ferdinand von Kotzebue. Prologue by William Linley; Epilogue by Matthew Gregory Lewis (European Magazine, Mar. 1798, p. 260)]: With new Scenes, Dresses, &c. With Musick [by Thomas Shaw]. "Mrs Siddons was succesful in all the impassioned parts; but she cannot sustain a mixed character. She is the Muse of Tragedy herself, and when she descends from her lofty state to the level of familiar dialogue, she instantly ceases to astonish and we to admire" (Monthly Mirror, Apr. 1798, p. 234). "The dialogue must be considerably abridged, as well for the purpose of preserving the interest of the piece, as for shortening the time of representation, which is at least an hour too long, it being half past ten before the curtain dropt" [see 26 Mar.] (Morning Herald, 26 Mar.). Receipts: #420 7s. 6d. (378.11.6; 40.18.0; 1.8.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Joseph George Holman. Prologue by William Thomas Fitzgerald; Epilogue by John Taylor (see text)]: With new Dresses, Scenery, &c. [Afterpiece in place of The Farmer, advertised on playbill of 11 Jan.] Morning Chronicle, 26 Mar. 1799: This Day is published The Votary of Wealth (2s.). Receipts: #326 10s. 6d. (321.2.6; 5.8.0)