Event Comment: On this day the news of the death of the Duchess of Modena was brought to Windsor, and newsletters stated that the Court was to go into mourning the following Sunday. Acting at the theatres may have been curtailed during the late summer

Event Comment: The warrant for the export of the goods of the French comedians who acted in the late summer is dated this day. See Calendar of Treasury Books, 1685-1689, p. 2082, and Boswell, Restoration Court Stage, p. 128. During October #200 was paid to John deSureis for himself and eleven companions, the French comedians who had been at Windsor (Boswell, Restoration Court Stage, p. 128)

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. There may have been a revival of Oedipus in the summer of 1696. In Francis Manning's Poems upon Several Occasions and to Several Persons (1701) there is a poem To Mr Betterton, Acting Oedipus King of Thebes. The first stanza describes the splendor of the installation of the Duke of Gloucester as a Knight of the Garter, an event which occurred at Windsor Castle in July 1696; but there is no certainty that Betterton's performance occurred before that date. It should be noted also that the play was reprinted in 1696

Event Comment: Benefit Chetwood. By Their Royal Highnesses' Command. N.B. Tickets given out for The Merry Wives of Windsor will be taken at this Play. [See Daily Post, 3 Aug., for Penkethman's celebration at Richmond on 1 Aug., the anniversary of the Hanoverian succession to the throne, and British Journal, 8 Aug., for an account of William Marshall, of lif, as an anti-Hanoverian demonstrator on 1 Aug.

Event Comment: Benefit for Ryan. Afterpiece: Written by Randolph, revised and shortened. Tickets deliver'd for the Merry Wives of Windsor will be taken

Event Comment: Benefit for Winstone and King. Tickets at Stage Door. Rec'd Cash #62 18s. 6d., plus #71 17s. from tickets. Total #134 15s. 6d. Paid King's Tax (Land) Windsor's House #10; Paid Mrs Swift for a suit of women's cloaths #12 14s. 6d.; Paid Knight (Lampman) month bill #7 8s. 6d.; Mrs Hobson a bill 16s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #150 (Cross); charges, #63 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Last night the Prince of Wales, Prince Edward, Prince Henry, Prince Frederick, and Princess Augusta were at Covent Garden to see The Merry Wives of Windsor and The What D'ye Call It (Public Advertiser)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Vincent. No Building on Stage. Tickets deliver'd out for the Merry Wives of Windsor will be taken. Receipts: #51 4s. plus #88 7s. from tickets (Box 142; Pit 239; Gallery 170) (Account Book). Charges: #64 (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted in 7 years. [See 18 Jan. 1765.] Paid Mr Asbridge for exchanging Kettle Drum Banners #4 4s.; Mr Wallis on note #2; Messrs Carver & Messink's Windsor Bill #3 11s. 4d.; Mr Thos French, 7 days-#2 16s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #189 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Not acted these 2 years. [See 21 April 1770.] Paid Dall (scene painter) for expenses to Windsor #6 17s. 11d. (Account Book). Receipts: #176 6s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of The Merry Wives of Windsor, announced on playbill of 19 Mar.] Receipts: #87 0s. 6d. (75.15.0; 11.5.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr and Mrs Johnston & Miss Williams. Mainpiece: Written by R. Cumberland, Esq., and perform'd at the Theatre-Royal, Drury-Lane, with great Applause. Never acted there. Tickets to be had of Mr and Mrs Johnston & Miss Williams at the Windsor Castle [Inn], Plough and Harrow, Angel, Cock and Magpie, Salutation; and of Waldron, No. 17, Dorville's Row, where places for the Boxes may be taken

Event Comment: Tickets delivered for The Merry Wives of Windsor will be admitted. Account-Book: Tickets delivered by Bourrelier, Shuter, Simmons, Strahan, Luxmore, Walker, Saby, Atkins, Young, Curteen, Hall [box-keeper], Hill, Combes, Heathcot, W. Ansell will be admitted. Receipts: #349 15s. (57.6; 5.16; tickets: 286.13)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Chapman. [Thespian Magazine, May 1816, p. 390, in an obituary of Eyre, states that his 1st appearance on the stage wa at Windsor in 1789.] Oracle, 11 May: Tickets to be had of Miss Chapman, No. 16, Henrietta-street, Covent-Garden. Receipts: #172 9s. (88.11; 11.1; tickets: 72.17)

Event Comment: Tickets delviered for The Merry Wives of Windsor will be admitted. Account-Book: Tickets delivered by Rowson, Blurton, Evatt, Jackson, Ratchford, Cross, Letteney, C. Powell, Little, Hall [box-keeper], Mrs Masters, Egan, Mrs Rock, Mrs Harris, Mrs Lefevre will be admitted. Receipts: #397 7s. (55.4.6; 4.7.6; tickets: 337.15)

Event Comment: 1st piece: With Alterations; Not acted these 6 years [acted 18 May 1792]. [The playbill announces this performance as "By Command of Their Majesties," but they, "who had been expected here last night, did not arrive; the indisposition of two of the Princesses having detained them at Windsor" (Morning Herald, 16 Apr.). "After the Relief of Williamstadt [which is not listed on the playbill, but which on 13 Apr. is called '8th Time,' and on 16 Apr. '10th Time'], the Irishman in London...was attempted to be performed; but after many unsuccessful apologies, the piece was not suffered to proceed, and the farce originally intended for representation, The Lying Valet, not without considerable difficulty, many of the performers having quit the theatre, was gone through with, to the gratification of a part of the audience who appeared determined rather to exercise their power than adhere to propriety" (Public Advertiser, 16 Apr.).] The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [same for rest of season]. Receipts: #345 5s

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; BALL. P 1, by James Byrn. Performed in place of Windsor Castle, advertised on playbill of 11 May]: The Overture and new Music composed, and the rest compiled, by W. Parke. "It being thought, by some, intended to treat the Clergy with disrespect, produced much disapprobation. The next night [20 May], when given only as an Interlude, it met with better success" (Oulton, 1796, II, 177). Receipts: #158 12s. (152.8. 6.4)

Event Comment: [1st piece in place of The Merry Wives of Windsor; 2nd piece of Hartford Bridge, both advertised on playbill of 31 Oct.] Receipts: #162 16s. 6d. (158.6.0; 4.10.6)

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for The Choral Fund, instituted for the Relief of their decayed Members, their Widows, and Orphans. Conductor-Dr Arnold. Leader of the Band-Barthelemon. Organ-Smart Jun. Principal Instrumental Performers-Lindley, Harrington, Holmes, Smart and Sons, Betts, Hyde, Lyon and Son, Boyce, Kauntze, French, Oliver, Dickenson, Manessier, Piercy, King, Brandi, Cubit and Son, Hoffman, Charlton, Gillingham, Buckinger, Nerborn, Wilcox, Mawby, Purryer, Barrett, Windsor, Jackson, Forrett, Fenny, Flack and Son, Dressler, Zwingman, &c. Double Drums-Jenkins; The Chorus will be selected, and assisted by the Young Gentlemen of the Westminster Choir. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. 2nd Gallery 1s. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin precisely at 7:00. A Subscription of One Guinea will entitle the Subscriber to Five Box Tickets. Tickets to be had at the principal Music Shops, and of the Secretary, J. Vale, Old Bethlem, Bishopsgate. Tickets and Places for the Boxes to be had of Rice, at the Theatre

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of The Merry Wives of Windsor, advertised on playbill of 10 Feb.] Afterpiece [1st time; BALL. P 1 (?), by John Cartwright Cross. Airs (T. Woodfall, 1798)]: The Scenery, Machinery, Dresses and Decorations entirely new. The Music by Reeve. The Scenery painted by Richards, Phillips, Lupino, Hollogan, and Blackmore. The Machinery by Cresswell, Sloper, Goostree, &c. The Dresses by Dick, Mrs Egan, &c. Receipts: #294 0s. 6d. (270.16.6; 23.4.0)