Event Comment: Benefit for Bensley. Tickets deliver'd for The Siege of Damascus (for that night) will be taken. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Paid 8 extra trumpets #3; Mr Cook's singing boys, 17 nights #25 10s. Receipts: #187 15s. 6d. Charges: #78 16s. 6d. Profits to Bensley: #99 19s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Master Russell. Tickets to be had of Master Russell at the Swan, Elephant stairs. Afterpiece: Written by Henry Fielding, Esq. In Act I the Triumphal Entry of Tom Thumbv, attended with Giants, Giantess's, Dwarfs, Pigmies, Drums, Trumpets, &c

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Mrs Moss, who performed Peggy in February and October 1776. [Author of Prologue unknown.

Event Comment: London Chronicle, 12 Mar.: "The chorusses were more in character than we ever remember, from the circumstance of mixing women's voices with the boys'.

Event Comment: Paid Norris #105; Mrs Kennedy #115; Webster #80 17s.; Boy's Choir #52 10s.; David Richards #40; Parke #20; Advertisements in Public Advertiser #9 5s.; Band #354 9s. 6d.; Chorus Singers #174 19s. 6d.; Cramer, Cervetto, Crosdill #5 5s. a performance. Received from Stanley for Oratorio rent of theatre #308. Receipts: #206 3s. (204.10; 1.13)

Event Comment: The last Time of the Company's performing this Season. Account-Book, 8 June: Paid Boy counting Copper Tickets 185 nights #4 12s. 6d. Receipts: #168 14s. 6d. (134.19.0; 33.15.6; after-money not listed)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: To conclude with a perspective representation of the Grand Camp at Cox-Heathv [see 15 Oct. 1778], from a view taken by DeLoutherbourg, and executed under his direction. [This notice is included in al subsequent performances.] Account-Book, 29 Feb. 1780: Paid Serjeant for teaching boys and volunteers the exercise [in The Camp] #10 10s. Receipts: #221 0s. 6d. (177.1.0; 43.10.6; 0.9.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; P I, by George Colman, the elder. His authorship has hitherto been questioned, but for its authentication see Peake, II, 54. Larpent MS 532; not published]: An Original, Whimsical, Operatical, Pantomimical, Farcical, Electrical, Naval, Military, Temporary, Local Extravaganza.The Overture and new Musick by Dr Arnold. With new Scenes [by Canter (Public Advertiser, 5 Sept.)], Dresses and Decorations. The Views of the Temple of Health and the Camp in St. James's Park designed and executed by Rooker. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre

Event Comment: Benefit for Aldridge. Aldridge having sent an Invitation to the Scholars of the Maritime School, he flatters himself the Governor of that benevolent and politic Institution will permit them to be present. Receipts: #162 4s. (98.8; tickets: 63.16) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: [A detailed account of all three pieces appears in Sophie v. la Roche, Sophie in London, 1933, pp. 93-95. The theatre is described as seeming "exceptionally small, but it is very prettily painted in blue and white; the boxes, as in Paris, are open and everything is well lit." In 3rd piece "A twelve-year-old girl dressed as a poor boy who walks around with a bundle of rushes, straw and reeds to patch up old chairs, then really sits down to work on one, sang and played unusually well; indeed, was obliged to give two encores; the third time, however, announced with dignity and candour that it would not be possible, and that she feared she might be unable to take her part the next day; which would grieve her excessively, as she liked having her modest talents appreciated and applauded. Everyone clapped and praised her aloud. She is beuatiful, and deserves to be the nation's darling, and will certainly become a great actress, competent to keep her voice, gesture and features in complete control, never using her talents wrongly or producing exaggerated effects."]

Event Comment: The oratorio conductors do not receive the applause Stanley used to receive "owing to their being concealed by the boys, who are placed on high benches between the audience and the conductor, whose respects, though duly paid, have been scarely visible to the greater part of the house" (Public Advertiser, 28 Mar.)

Event Comment: The Band, both Focal and instrumental, are considerably augmented, with the addition of the Boys from his Majesty's@Chapels@Royal, The Choirs of St. Paul's and Westminster Abbey. Tickets to be had, and places for the Boxes to be taken, of Fosbrook, at the stage-door of the Theatre. Boxes 10s. 6d. Pit 5s. 1st Gallery 3s. 6d. 2nd Gallery 2s. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [same throughout oratorio season]

Event Comment: Benefit for Incledon. 2nd piece [1st time; M. INT 1]: Scene, A View of the British Fleet. Morning Chronicle, 14 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Incledon, No. 15, Charlotte-street, Bloomsbury. Receipts: #467 12s. 6d. (191.7.0; 3.19.0; tickets: 272.6.6)

Event Comment: [In 1st piece the playbill retains Mrs Siddons as Lady Macbeth, but "The Publick is most respectfully informed that Mrs Siddons, being suddenly taken ill...Lady Macbeth will be performed by Mrs Powell, who having undertaken the part at a very short notice, humbly intreats their indulgence" (printed slip attached to BM playbill, Harris, Vol. V).] 3rd piece: Engagement as 6 Mar. Receipts: #173 18s. 6d. (106.18.6; 62.19.6; 4.0.6)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Engagement as 6 Mar., but added: The Whole to conclude with a magnificent Illumination; displaying particularly two Ships of the Line in a most brilliant and superb Fire-Work. Receipts: #233 15s. (189.5.6; 41.2.6; 3.7.0)

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 Mrs Martyr. 2nd piece [1st time; ENT 1, by John Cartwright Cross (see Monthly Mirror, June 1797, p. 370). Larpent MS 1166; not published]; With a striking Representation of the Conflagration of the Spanish Fleet in the Gulph of Pariav, the Island's Capitulation and the Departure of its Garrison, Prisoner of War [on 18 Feb. 1797]. True Briton, 1 May: Tickets to be had of Mrs Martyr at her house, No. 16, Martlett Court, Bow-street, Covent-Garden. Receipts: #359 14s. (185.5; 8.2; tickets: 166.7)

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