Event Comment: By His Majesty's Command. Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. [The King, Duke, Princess Amelia, Caroline, Mary, and Louisa present.] London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 12 Jan.: Being the first time of his Majesty's being at any Publick Diversion since the Death of the late Queen

Event Comment: The bill was inserted in London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 4 June, but not repeated on 5 June

Event Comment: A New English Opera. The Music Compos'd by Mr Rush. Signora Cremonini, Clementini, made her first appearance on this Stage in the Character of Eliza. Sings very well, very Graceful Deportm[en]t & is a great Support to the Opera. many of the Songs were Encor'd. Some few Hisses. but upon the whole, was pretty well receiv'd (Hopkins). Books of the Opera to be sold at the Theatre. A new English Opera, the Royal Shepherd-the Musick composed by Mr Rush.-Siga Cremonini made her first appearance,--sings ver fine,--very graceful deportment, and is a great support to the Opera.--Some hisses--Many of the songs encored. Upon the whole was well liked...On this occasion the Stage was cut near two feet and a half to enlarge the orchestra, to make it contain the additional performers who belong to the Opera House, on whose account the Opera cannot be performed Tuesdays and Saturdays (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Paid Simpson for New Music for the theatre for seasons 1772 and 1773 #10 10s. Paid Whitefield for Cloaths bought #31 7s. (Account Book). Receipts: #114 6s

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@145, p. 120. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 020. The date of the first performance is not known, but it may well have been about this time, as the Prologue refers to Michaelmas Term and the reopening of the playhouses ("Theatres are up"). The play was entered in the Term Catalogues in February 1681@2

Event Comment: The United Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@145, p. 120: with ye Queene & a box for ye Maides of honor. [It is not certain in which theatre this play was given, but dl seems to have been preferred for drama, dg for operatic pieces. This play was reprinted in 1683.

Event Comment: By a Company of Comedians from both Theatres. At Common Prices. 6:30 P.M

Event Comment: At the Theatre, the Bottom of Lemon St., Goodman's Fields. [The terminology is repeated in the bills until 16 Feb. 1747. The concert formula is continued as before.] Afterpiece: By Particular desire. First time at this stage. [On Wednesday The Beggar's Opera and The Anatomist were announced for today.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. At common prices. Places to be taken of Mr Page at the stage door of the theatre. To begin exactly 6 o'clock. [Notice about prices, places, and time of curtain continues throughout the season. It will not be repeated further.

Event Comment: At the New Theatre, Bowling Green, Southwark. A concert, etc. Benefit for Goodman. To begin at 7 p.m. Prices: 2s. 6d., 1s. 6d., 1s., 6d

Event Comment: A new musical entertainment compos'd & wrote by Mr Arne--it was much hiss'd but suffer'd to be given out again (Cross). No latter account will be taken. Books of the Entertainment to be had at the theatre. [Pages covering this date missing from Treasurer's Book. Larpent MS 85 indicates the Character Capt. Sancho-Blakes, deleted.] Receipts: #100 ($Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Costollo and Miss Minors. Tickets of Costollo at his lodgings at Mr Waiter's, Chymist, the Golden Cross, in Russel St., Covent Garden; of Miss Minors, at Mr Nichols's a Baker, in Catherine St., near Russel Court, and at the Stage Door. We are assured that Sg Giardini's Performance on the Violin, at Sga Cuzzoni's Benefit, at the New Theatre in Haymarket, on Saturday Night last, gave the highest pleasure to several of the best judges of that instrument. Receipts: #90 (Cross)

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken at the stage door of the theatre. [Customary notice repeated for each bill this season.

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A New Pantomime, the Overture and Comic Tunes compos'd by Potter, the Airs and Chorusses by Batishall. Nothing under Full Prices will be taken. The Words of the Airs and Chorusses in the Entertainment will be given away at the theatre (playbill). At the end of the Play a great Noise & many cry'd out, the whole! the whole, &c. Mr Holland told 'em there never was any more play'd, which a little appeas'd em; but some noise continued till the Curtain was drawn up for the Pantomime & then all was quiet. The Pantomime got great applause; the Tunes were very bad, & a great want of Business & Incidents thro' the whole. The Scenery is very Pretty & well Executed. The Elephant is excellent & has a Fine Effect (Hopkins). Machinery Pleas'd. Business so, so (Cross Diary). [Wording in comment from Hopkins Diary-MacMillan, differs only slightly.] Receipts: #269 13s

Event Comment: [This year was published The Companion to the Playhouse; or, An historical account of all the Dramatic Writers, and their works that have appeared in Great Britain and Ireland to the year 1764. Composed in the form of a Dictionary. for the more readily turning to any particular author or performance. Two vols. Dedicated to Garrick. (Who receives eleven and one-half columns of comment, more than any other dramatist.) This is the beginning of the Biographia Dramatica. This year was published Essays on Important Subjects intended to establish the Doctrine of Salvation by Grace, by John Witherspoon (President of Princeton). Vol. II, contained a Serious Enquiry into the nature and effects of the Stage," being an attempt to show that contributing to the support of a Public Theatre is inconsistent with the character of a Christian (112 pp).

Event Comment: At 5 went into the Pit at Covent Garden to see Mrs Yates do Lady Townly. Yates is an excellent Sir Francis, but Powell does not shine in Lord Townly....The Entertainment was the new comedy in two acts called the Oxonian in Town, with a prologue by Woodward in the character of a student....It being suspected that a number of sharpers whose characters and practices are laid open in this piece, would attempt to damn it tonight (the 3rd of its being Performed) under pretence of its casting odium on the Irish, bills were dispersed in the House during the play vindicating it from any such intention. Woodward was allowed to speak the prologue, but as soon as the curtain drew up catcalls began. When the performers retired, Powell spoke several times, but was not heard. I was told that the author (Mr Colman) desires to know whom he has offended. The Pros were a very great majority, and at last after a contest of better than 1!2 an hour, the victory was over and the piece was performed. I think it contains many good sentiments, and excellent instruction to young men and is not unworthy of Mr Colman. If vice must not be exposed to hatred and contempt, the usefulness of our theatres is at an end. Only I think the Covent Garden pleasures are represented in too favourable a light. When all was over Powell came on the stage and thanked the audience for their generous protection (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #212 12s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: The last Night of the Company's performing this Season. Account-Book, 3 June: Paid Lewis in full his Salary as Acting Manager #200; 23 June: Received of Their Majesties for this Season #50; 28 June: Paid Hull in lieu of a Benefit #100; 30 June: Paid Harris for his trouble in superintending the Theatre #500; Paid Cooper, printer, #433 9s. Receipts: #227 6s. 6d. (223/5/9; 4/1/6)

Event Comment: [Miss Grist was from the Newcastle theatre.] Receipts: #294 7s

Event Comment: To prevent future disturbances in the Theatre, the Publick is most respectfully informed that nothing can be represented which is not included in the Entertainments regularly announced in the Bills of the Day

Event Comment: 3rd piece [1st time; MD 2, by John Rose; music by Thomas Attwood]: Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Salary List (Enthoven Collection): Paid Rose for Caernarvon Castle #18 6s. Morning Herald, 16 Sept. 1793: This Day is published Caernarvon Castle (1s.). [This piece had reference to the birthday of the Prince of Wales, which was 12 Aug.

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. 2nd Gallery 1s. The Doors to be opened at 6: 00. To begin at 7: 00 [same throughout season]. Places for the Boxes to be had of Rice at the Theatre. [Fawcett was from CG.]

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: [Mrs Gibbs was from the hay.] Afterpiece: 21st time [i.e. in continuation of the reckoning for the previous season]. The Music composed, and selected from Cherubini, Kreutzer and Andreozzi, by Storace. An Accurate Edition of Lodoiska to be had at the Theatre. Powell, 26 Sept.: Provoked Husband rehearsed at 10; Lodoiska at 12 (for Palmer); 27 Sept.: Lodoiska rehearsed at 10 (for Bannister). Receipts: #433 19s. 6d. (296.14.0; 134.13.0; 2.12.6)

Event Comment: 3rd piece: The Music by Storace. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for an Infant Orphan Family. Tickets to be had at No. 17, Tufton-street, Westminster; of Appleby, Hosier, Parliament-street; Mrs Cleaver, Cannon-row, Parliament-street; Newcomb, Confectioner, Bridge-street, Westminster; Taylor, Linen-draper, Whitehall; Thomas, Butcher, Charing-cross; Medhurst, Pastry Cook, Russel-court, Drury-lane; Rice, at the Theatre, where Places for the Boxes may be taken