Event Comment: Mainpiece: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. A few nights ago was buried under the Tower of St Bride's, Mr Benjamin Annable, the best Ringer that was ever known in the world. Till his time Ringing was only call'd an art, but from the strength of his great genius, he married it to the Mathematics and 'tis now a science. This man in figure and ringing was like a Newton in Philosophy, a Ratcliffe in Physic, a Hardwicke in Wisdom and Law, a Handel in Music, a Shakespeare in writing and a Garrick in acting. O Rare Ben! (Public Advertiser). Receipts: #170 (Cross)

Event Comment: Composed by Mr Smith. The Oratorio published. Price 1s. Altered and adapted to the stage from Milton by Benjamin Stillingfleet

Event Comment: Oratorio By Command of their Majesties. This Day is publish'd Price 1s. Deborah, a Sacred Drama, or Oratorio, as it is performed By Command of their Majesties at Covent Garden...Printed for Benjamin Dod at the Bible and Key in Chancery Lane

Event Comment: Oratorio publih'd by Benjamin Dod at 1s

Event Comment: Oratorio by Benjamin Stillingfleet, words adapted from Milton, set to Music by John Christopher Smith (Biographia Dramatica)

Event Comment: In afterpiece, added, following Lord Mayor's Show: A New Historical Procession of the Several Companies, with their respective Pageants, and the Chief Magistrates belonging to the City of London, from its Foundation. The Scenes, Machinery and Decorations, both of the Pantomime and Procession, invented and designed by Richards, and executed by Him, Smirk, Hodgins, Catton, and others. Book of the Songs, with an Explanation of the Procession [reprinted in Public Advertiser, 21 Jan.], to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 21 Jan.: The glee is the composition of the late [Benjamin] Rogers (who lived in 1600); the other airs are by Handel, [the Earl of] Kelly, Abel, Stamitz, and Shield . . . More than 200 supernumeraries are employed to walk in the Procession. Receipts: #236 4s. 6d. (231/4/0; 5/0/6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; T 5, by Joseph Berington, altered from the same, by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. MS: Larpent MS 1041; not published; synopsis of plot in Morning Herald, 30 Oct. It has hitherto been assumed that this play was altered by Benjamin Thompson, but "This Tragedy was translated from the German by the Rev. Jos. Berrington [sic]" (Kemble Mem.). Dr. Berington's authorship is also referred to in London Chronicle, 30 Oct. 1794. Thompson's translation was published by Vernor and Hood in 1800. Prologue by Richard Cumberland. Epilogue by George Colman, ynger (London Chronicle, 29 Oct.)]: The Dresses, Scenes and Decorations are entirely new. The Scenery in the four first Acts is the work of Signor Barzago and of his Brother; and in the fifth of Greenwood, by whom also a new Frontispiece is designed and executed. [Miss Miller, who had appeared the previous season as a chorus singer, is identified in European Magazine, Nov. 1794, p. 363.] The Doors to be opened at 5:15. To begin at 6:15 [see 20 Apr. 1795]. Powell: Emilia Galotti rehearsed at 10. The New Frontispiece and Stage doors were exhibited for the first Time this Evening. Receipts: #317 19s. 6d. (270.8.6; 46.5.0; 1.6.0)

Event Comment: During February and March 1678@9 two plays, titles unknown, were acted before the King. See an order: To Edward Griffin, Esq. Treasurer of the Chamber, to be paid over to John Lacy, assigne of Charles Killigrew, Mastr of the revells, for two plays acted before his said Majestie in Feb'ry and March 1678@9 (Moneys Received and Paid for Secret Services, ed. J. Y. Akerman, Camden Society, LII 1851, 34)

Event Comment: The United Company. There is uncertainty concerning this date; it appears on Luttrell's copy (Huntington Library) of the separately printed Prologue and Epilogue, and the date may represent the time of his purchase rather than a date of performance. The Prologue and Epilogue are reprinted in Wiley, Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 141-45. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, pp. 39-40): All the preceding Plays, being the chief that were Acted in Dorset-Garden, from November 1671, to the Year 1682; at which time the Patentees of each Company United Patents; and by so Incorporating the Duke's Company were made the King's Company, and immediately remov'd to the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane. Upon this Union, Mr Hart being the Heart of the Company under Mr Killigrew's Patent never Acted more, by reason of his Malady; being Afflicted with the Stone and Gravel, of which he Dy'd some time after: Having a Sallary of 40 Shillings a Week to the Day of his Death. But the Remnant of that Company; as, Major Mohun, Mr Cartwright, Mr Kynaston, Mr Griffin, Mr Goodman, Mr Duke Watson, Mr Powel, Sr, Mr Wiltshire, Mrs Corey, Mrs Bowtell, Mrs Cook, Mrs Montfort. [Joined the new company]. Note, now Mr Monfort and Mr Carlile, were grown to the Maturity of good Actors. The mixt Company then Reviv'd the several old and Modern Plays, that were the Propriety of Mr Killigrew, as Rule a Wife, and have a Wife: Mr Betterton Acting Michael Perez; Don Leon, Mr Smith, Cacofogo, Mr Cartwright: Margaretta, Mrs Barry: Estiphania, Mrs Cook. Next, @The Scornful Lady.@The Plain Dealer.@The Mock Astrologer.@The Jovial Crew.@The Beggars Bush.@Bartholomew-Fair.@The Moor of Venice.@Rollo.@The Humorous Lieutenant.@The Double Marriage.@ With divers others. George Powell, Preface to The Treacherous Brothers (1690): The Time was, upon the uniting of the Two Theatres, that the Reviveing of the old stock of Plays, so ingrost the study of the House, that the Poets lay dorment; and a new Play cou'd hardly get admittance, amongst the more precious pieces of Antiquity, that then waited to walk the Stage. Cibber, Apology, ed. Lowe, I, 95-96): I shall content myself with telling you that Mohun and Hart now growing old [for, above thirty Years before this Time, they had severally born the King's Commission of Major and Captain in the Civil Wars), and the younger Actors, as Goodman, Clark, and others, being impatient to get into their Parts, and growing intractable, the Audiences too of both Houses then falling off, the Patentees of each, by the King's Advice, which perhaps amounted to a Command, united their Interests and both Companies into one, exclusive of all others in the Year 1682. This Union was, however, so much in favour of the Duke's Company, that Hart left the Stage upon it, and Mohun survived not long after

Event Comment: English Post, 8-11 Nov.: There was a full House...but Capt Griffin, who was chief actor therein, being taken ill, they were dismissed all having their money returned

Event Comment: Benefit Griffin. Admission: 5s., 3s., 2s., 1s

Event Comment: Benefit Griffin. Written by the famous Ben. Johnson. At 5:30 p.m. No Money to be return'd after the Curtain is drawn up

Event Comment: Benefit Hall and Griffin. Afterpiece: [Author unknown. Apparently not published.] A New Farce

Event Comment: Benefit Griffin and Knap

Event Comment: Benefit Griffin. At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality

Event Comment: DDaily Advertiser, 30 May: We hear that Mr Cibber, Jun. one of the present Directors of his Majesty's Company of Comedians together with Mr Mills, Sen Mr Johnson, Mr Miller, Mr Harper, Mr Griffin, Mr Mills, jun. Mr Shepard, Mr Hallam, jun. Mrs Horton, Mrs Heron, Mrs Butler, and others of the Company, waited Yesterday on his Grace the Duke of Grafton...to deliver...an humble Petition, and they met with gracious Reception

Event Comment: Receipts: #76 15s. 6d. Rec'd #27 12s. for the deficiency 21 Dec. Paid Barry his one third of the surplus above the #80 House Charges: #0. Paid Mrs Martha Bedwell, Mrs Creighton, Mr Bedwell and Mr Griffin their renter's interest, #24 12s. Gave King's Footmen and Chairmen #4 4s., the Prince of Wales's Footmen and Chairmen #2 2s., and the Princess of Wales's Footmen and Chairmen #2 2s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Receipts: #157 15s. [The Account Book lists the payment of 2s. per acting night to each shareholder: @Shareholder Mrs Martha Bedwell No. Share 1@No. Nights 36@Payment #3 12s.@Shareholder Mrs Creighton No. Shares 1@No. Nights 36@Payment #3 12s.@Shareholder Mr Francis Bedwell No. Shares 1@No. Nights 37@Payment #3 14s.@Shareholder Mr Robert Griffin No. Share 1@No. Nights 37@Payment #3 14s.@Shareholder Mr John Mitchell No. Shares 1@No. Nights 87@Payment #8 14s.@Shareholder Mrs Mary Michell No. Shares 1@No. Nights 87@Payment #8 14s.@Shareholder Mr John Walsh No. Shares 1@No. Nights 86@Payment #8 12s.@Shareholder Mr Lucuss No. Shares 1@No. Nights 54@Payment #5 8s.@Shareholder Col. Wade No. Shares 1@No. Nights 8@Payment 16s.@Shareholder Sir Arthur Croft No Shares 1@No. Nights 8@Payment 16s.@Shareholder Mr John White No. Shares 1@No. Nights 5@Payment 10s.@Shareholder Mr John Croft, Esq No. Shares 1@No. Nights 5@Payment 10s.@Shareholder Mr Rubin Adolphus No. Shares 1@No. Nights 5@Payment 10s.@Shareholder Mr Henry Woodfall No. Shares 1@No. Nights 3@Payment 6s.@Total No. Shares 14@No. Nights 494@Payment #49 8s.@ Winston MS 8 notes that on 1 Feb. dl had only 20 renters at 2s. a night.

Event Comment: To be published by Subscription: A General History of The Stage, for the last ten years; comprehending all remarkable Occurrences during that Period, the Production and Success of every new Piece, and Anecdotes of the Principal Performers. By Joseph Younger. Prompter to the Theatre Royal In Covent Garden. Printed Proposals to be had Becket and DeHondre in the Strand, and of Griffin in Catherine Street

Event Comment: Paid Simpson for new music for the orchestra #10 10s. Paid Griffin, bookseller, as per bill #1 3s. 4d. (Account Book). Receipts: #193 4s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Acted but once these 7 years. [See 23 Jan. 1767.] The 11th night of the Dramatic Poem of Elfrida is oblig'd to be deferr'd, on account of the indisposition of Mr Hartley (playbill). Paid Wright (glazier) #24 2s. Freke (iron-monger) #4 10s.; Griffin (bookseller) #4 5s. 6d.; Farrington & Scarr (haberdashers) #13 7s. (Account Book). Receipts: #1338s