Event Comment: 1st piece: Not acted these 2 years. 2nd piece: By Permission of the Proprietors of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

Event Comment: [Dowton was from the Tunbridge Wells theatre.] Receipts: #292 18s. 6d. (198.10.6; 90.4.0; 4.4.0)

Event Comment: Lewis having a severe Hoarseness, Fortune's Fool [advertised on playbill of 4 Nov.] is deferred till Monday. Afterpiece [1st time: BURL 2. by John O'Keeffe. MS: Larpent MS 1141; not published, except for Airs (T. N. Longman, 1796)]: Partly new, and partly taken from The Golden Pippin [by Kane O'Hara]. The Overture and new Music by Reeve. The Selections from Pergolesi, Rousseau, Mornington, Fisher, Carolan, Rizzio, &c. With new Scenery, Machinery, Dresses and Decorations. The Scenery by Phillips, Blackmore, Hollogan, and assistants. The Dragon, the Car and the Machinery designed and executed by Cresswell. The Dresses by Dick and Mrs Egan. "The beauty of the scenery is only to be equalled by the ingenuity of the machinery. The descents and ascents of the Deities were managed with astonishing regularity and adroitness; and the Flying Cupids hovered in the air in very pleasing attitudes...The Pas de Russe, danced by Delpini, a-la-Parisot [see dl. 1 Oct.], in the character of a fine Lady, with Munden, was irresistibly comic" (Morning Herald, 7 Nov.). Receipts: #191 2s. 6d. (185.10.6; 5.12.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 12 years. Receipts: #136 9s. (93.3.6; 42.9.6; 0.16.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Lewis. 1st piece: In 3 Acts. 2nd piece: Not acted these 12 years [acted 13 Dec. 1788]. 3rd piece: With all original Scenery, Machinery, Dresses and Decorations. New Music composed, and ancient Scots Music selected and adapted, by Shield. The Overture by Reeve. With Harp Accompaniment by Weippert. True Briton, 27 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Lewis, Bow-street. Receipts: #519 1s. 6d. (386.10.0; 6.0.0; tickets: 126.11.6)

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: Benefit for Mrs Mattocks. 1st piece: In 3 Acts. [In 1st piece the playbill assigns Welford to Holman, and in 3rd piece Don Carlos to the same. But "An uncle of Holman expired suddenly on Saturday morning. An apology was made for Holman in the evening, and Macready took the Parts he was to have performed in the Play and Farce" (True Briton, 8 May). In 1st piece Cheaterly is assigned to Macready; who took his place is not stated.] True Briton, 22 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Mattocks, No. 8, Great Russell-street, Covent-Garden. Receipts: #223 12s. 6d. (118.10.0; 4.2.0; tickets: 101.0.6)

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. Receipts: #507 14s. 6d. (49(.10.6; 8.4.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Johnstone. 3rd piece [1st time; F 2, by Thomas Knight; incidental music by William Reeve]: Partly taken from The Committee [by Sir Robert Howard]. Morning Herald, 21 June 1797: This Day is published [by G. Cawthorn] The Honest Thieves (1s.). True Briton, 25 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Johnstone, No. 19, Piazza, Covent-Garden. Receipts: #434 7s. 6d. (210.4.0; 11.18.0; tickets: 212.5.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Delpini. [1st piece in place of The School for Arrogance, advertised on playbill of 8 June.] 2nd piece [1st time; BALL. P 1, author unknown]. 4th piece: To conclude with a View of the Temple of Magic. True Briton, 2 June: Tickets to be had of Delpini, No. 27, Maiden-lane, Southampton-street, Covent-Garden. Receipts: #211 0s. 6d. (105.5.6; 13.11.6; tickets: 92.3.6)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Altered from the Comedy of The Committee; or, The Faithful Irishman [by Sir Robert Howard]. Never acted here

Event Comment: [Mrs Walcot's 1st appearance in London was at the hay, 26 Apr. 1785.] Account-Book: Paid Soldiers 17s. 6d. [this paid nightly]. Receipts: #316 2s. 6d. (201.17.6; 112.18.0; 1.7.0)

Event Comment: [Miss Humphries, who was from the Private Theatre, Tottenham Court Road, is identified by MS annotation on Kemble playbill. In afterpiece the playbill retains Barrymore as Sir Rowland, and Bannister Jun. as Walter, but "The Public are respectfully informed that Bannister being suddenly afflicted with a Hoarseness, and Barrymore having met with an unfortunate Accident, are both rendered incapable of the honour of appearing before them this Evening. To prevent a disappointment of The Children in the Wood Dowton will perform...Walter, and C. Kemble Sir Rowland, presuming humbly upon the usual kind indulgence experienced upon such emergencies" (printed slip attached to Kemble playbill).] Receipts: #259 18s. (160.0.6; 98.12.6; 1.5.0)

Event Comment: 2nd piece [1st time; M. INT 1, by Andrew Franklin. It refers to the King's departure from Greenwich on the Royal Charlotte yacht, 30 Oct. 1797, to visit Lord Duncan's fleet at the Nore. The visit was subsequently cancelled because of inclement weather]: With new Scenery, and Machinery. The Music partly new [by William Linley] and partly compiled; with an introductory Full Piece. In the course of the Piece a View of Greenwich Hospital, and an exact Representation of the Departure of the Royal Yatch [sic]. To conclude with a View of the British Fleet, and the Dutch Prizes [taken at Camperdown. 11 Oct.]. [These were included in all subsequent performances.] Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. Morning Herald, 16 Nov. 1797: This day is published A Trip to the Nore (1s.). Receipts: #317 5s. 6d. (234.8.6; 76.10.6; 6.6.6)

Event Comment: Mme Mara is prevented by a Severe Hoarseness from appearing this Evening; but will perform in Love in a Village [advertised on playbill of 8 Nov.] on Wednesday next. [2nd piece in place of Catherine and Petruchio, advertised as above.] Receipts: #193 6s. 6d. (185.6.6; 8.0.0)