Event Comment: New Scene [1st time; by Edward Thompson, with music by Dr Arne. Larpent MS 438; synopsis ("Macheath, after trial, is sentenced to work on the Thames" in London Chronicle, 18 Oct.]. Paid Hull on Acct. of salary as Acting Manager #30. Account-Book, 23 Mar. 1778: Paid Capt. Thompson for writing the new Scene in The Beggar's Opera #25. Receipts: #240 9s. (240.2.6; 0.6.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 12 years. [The playbill retains Wilson as Maclaymore, but "At the close of the Play Hull came forward and made an Apology for Wilson's not playing Maclaymore...on Account of his being taken suddenly ill with an Ague, and begged their Acceptance of Fearon in the Part, which was accepted with that good Nature which distinguishes a British Audience" (Morning Chronicle, 24 Oct.).] Receipts: #100 15s. 6d. (100.11.0; 0.4.6)

Event Comment: The last Time of performing this Season. [This was Mrs Hartley's last appearance on the tstage.] Account-Book, 29 May: Paid Foulis for writing Music #101 17s.; 31 May: Received of Their Majesties for this Season #60, of Prince of Wales #30; 16 June: Paid Pattinson, tallow chandler, #332 8s. Paid Cooper, printer, #335 11s. Paid Harris, manager, #500. Paid Enderby, oil merchant, #1,061 17s. Paid Hull, salary as Acting Manager #150. Paid Mrs Hartley in lieu of a Benefit #105; 6 July: Received Stage Forfeits this season #42 3s. 6d. Receipts: #63 8s. (61.14.6; 1.13.6)

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: Benefit for Kemble [who had 1st acted Macbeth at Hull, 30 Oct. 1778]. Public Advertiser, 17 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Kemble, No. 2, Leicester Court, Castle-street, Leicester Fields. [In mainpiece the playbill retains R. Palmer as Malcolm, but "Preceding the play there was an apology, on its appearance evidently exciting doubt and trepidation in the audience [probably for fear that Mrs Siddons would be unable to appear]; but Palmer's fourth word broke the spell. R. Palmer was suddenly prevented attending the house:--what could the house do, but laugh?--Laugh they did;--'and Barrymore will read his part.' The house laughed again. And so Britannia was delivered" (Morning Chronicle, 1 Apr.). The name of R. Palmer's substitute in the afterpiece is not given.] Receipts: #293 3s. (175/2; 9/16; 0/5; tickets: 108/0) (charge: #115 10s. 3d.)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. As the play was not printed until 1689, the date of composition is uncertain. In Act I, however, a reference to the death of the Earl of Rochester (26 July 1680) suggests that the play probably followed that even rather closely. On the other hand, the latest likely date for the first production seems set at late 1682 by the fact that Thomas Farmer's music for the play in BM Add. Mss. 19183-19185 is dated December 1682. The play has been placed in September 1680 as the earliest likely date (the presence of an experienced cast makes somewhat unlikely a production in mid-summer 1680). A song, All other blessings are but toys, with music by Thomas Farmer, is in Choice Ayres and Songs, The Fourth Book, 1683. A song, Lovely Selina, innocent and free, with music by John Blow, is in the same collection; and another, Weep all ye nymphs, with music by John Blow, is in The Theater of Music, The First Book, 1685

Event Comment: The King's Company. Newdigate newsletters (Folger Shakespeare Library), 15 Nov. 1681: This being ye Q.s birthday ye K.s players acted Alexdr ye great after wch was a ball & entertainment given to ye Ct. (Wilson, Theatre Notes from the Newdigate Newsletters, p. 80). Luttrell, 15 Nov. 1681: The 15th, being the birth day of her majestie, was kept with ringing of bells, bonefires, &c.; and at night there was a play acted at Whitehall before the king and queen, where the court appeared in great splendor (A Brief Relation, I, 144). The Earl of Arran to Ormond, 15 Nov. 1681: I am going to a play at court (HMC, Ormonde MSS., New Series, VI, 230). L. C. 5@144, p. 246, 22 Nov. 1681: Whereas Jeoffrey Ayleworth, Thomas ffarmer, Thomas ffinall & Richard Tomlinson foure of his Mates Musitians have neglected their dury in attending at ye play acted before his Mate at Whitehall on Tuesday night last for which I have suspended them (L. C. to the Treasurer of the Chamber, in Boswell, Restoration Court Stage, p. 100)

Event Comment: London Gazette, 25-29 Nov. 1686: Whereas Mr Thomas Otway some time before his death made Four Acts of a Play, whoever can give Notice in whose Hands the Copy lies, either to Mr Thomas Betterton, or Mr William Smith, at the Theatre Royal, shall be well Rewarded for his pains

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Boy, 27-30 June 1696, suggests that it was first acted not later than early June 1696 and probably not later than late May 1696. A dialogue, Fly, fly from my sight, between a Eunuch Boyr and a Virgin, set by Daniel Purcell and sung by Bowen and Mrs Cross, is in Deliciae Musicae, The Second Book of the Second Volume, 1696. This was also printed separately, without a date, by Thomas Cross, with the statement that the dialogue was written by Thomas D'Urfey. Gildon, English Dramatick Poets, ca. 1698, p. 111: For the Distress of Morena never fail'd to bring Tears into the Eyes of the Audience

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. John Coke (see below), writing on 16 March 1696@7, referred to a "new farce" appearing at this theatre on this day, but no "new farce" is known at this period; on the other hand, an edition of Mountfort's farce published in 1697 indicates a revival in this season and is a likely possibility for this date. John Coke to Thomas Coke, 16 March 1696@7: Saturday a new farce was acted at the new house, which did not take. The Mourning Bride was acted till Saturday, and was full to the last (HMC, 12th Report, Part II, Cowper MSS., II, 368). Robert Shirley to Thomas Coke, 13 March 1696@7: I am, dear Sir, indebted to you in sending me so ingenious an account of Mr Congreve's tragedy, which I hear on all sides far exceeded what the world expected from him in that part of dramatic poetry (ibid)