Event Comment: Mainpiece: 7th Time [i.e. in continuation of the reckoning for the previous sesaon]. The Overture and the rest of the Music composed and selected by Shield. The Harp by Weippert. Receipts: #118 9s. 6d. (112.10.0; 5.19.6)

Event Comment: The Fatigue attending the representation of some of the Characters [in The Castle-Spectre] renders it impossible to repeat the performance every night in the week. The 5th night will be on Wednesday. Account-Book: Paid One years' House & Window Tax #222 0s. 6d. Receipts: #396 5s. (315.9.6; 78.0.6; 2.15.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; MF 1, by John O'Keeffe. Larpent MS 1188; not published]: The Overture and Music by Attwood. European Magazine, Jan. 1798, p. 42: Written with allusion to Their Majesties' attendance at St. Paul's [on this day, at a thanksgiving service held in honor of the recent naval victories of Howe, St. Vincent and Duncan]. Receipts: #289 17s. (286.11; 3.6)

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. Doors, &c. as 6 Dec. Receipts: #437 5s. 6d. (434.19.6; 2.6.0)

Event Comment: The Beaux Stratagem [advertised on playbill of 21 Dec.] is obliged to be postponed on account of the Indisposition of a Principal Performer. Receipts: #151 19s. (145.5; 6.14)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; P 2 (?), by John Cartwright Cross]: With new Music, Scenery, Machinery, Dresses, &c. The Overture and new 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: #314 15s. (303.1; 11.14)

Event Comment: [As afterpiece the Account-Book lists No Song No Supper.] Receipts: #281 7s. 6d. (228.17.0; 50.18.0; 1.12.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 20 years [acted 4 Jan. 1786. Mrs Johnstone, who is identified in Thespian Dictionary, 1805, was from the Birmingham theatre]. Receipts: #222 6s. (200.13; 21.13)

Event Comment: On account of the Indisposition of a principal performer The Wheel of Fortune [advertised on playbill of 5 Jan.] is obliged to be deferred. Receipts: #104 4s. (58.1.6; 45.0.6; 1.2.0)

Event Comment: The New Comedy [i.e. Secrets Worth Knowing, advertised on playbill of 8 Jan.] is unavoidably deferred till Thursday, on account of the Indisposition of two Principal Performers. Receipts: #187 18s. 6d. (173.6.6; 14.12.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Thomas Morton. Prologue by William Thomas Fitzgerald (his Miscellaneous Poems, 1801, p. 88). Epilogue by Miles Peter Andrews (London Chronicle, 12 Jan.)]: With new Scenes and Dresses. Morning Herald, 14 Apr. 1798: This Day is published Secrets Worth Knowing (2s.). Receipts: #311 6s. (307.9; 3.17)

Event Comment: Notwithstanding the great demand for places for The Castle-Spectre, the system of giving as much Novelty as possible at this Theatre necessarily prevents its repetition till Monday next. Receipts: #381 1s. (329.17.6; 50.12.6; 0.11.0)

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. Receipts: #491 2s. 6d. (487.18.6; 3.4.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; MD 2, by George Colman, ynger, based on Raoul Barbe Bleue, by Michel Jean Sedaine (although, in the 1st edition of the play, this denied by Colman). Text (Cadell and Davies, 1798)]: The Scenery, Machinery, Dresses, and Decorations entirely new. The Musick composed and selected [from Paisiello] by Kelly. The Scenes designed and executed by Greenwood? Jun, Chalmers, and others. The Machinery, Decorations, and Dresses designed and under the direction of Johnston, and executed by him, Underwood, Gay, and Miss Rein. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. Times, 8 Feb. 1798: This Day is published Blue Beard (1s. 6d.). "In the course of the representation, many blunders in working the scenery, which are unavoidable in a first representation of this nature, occurred, and the delays which took place were frequently very great...It was twelve o'-clock before the curtain dropped...The Expense of getting it up is said to be not less than #2,000" (London Chronicle, 18 Jan.). Proud swells the tide, with loads of capering heels, And vacant Folly shouts applause in peals; Hoards, even beyond th miser's wish, are thrown, To deck some sham farago for the town...Money for dresses, money for new scenes, New music, decorations, and machines; The cost of these, including every freak, Would pay ten decent players four pounds a week. Anthony Pasquin (pseud. for John Williams), "Innovation," in The Devil [1787], II, no. 2, 46. Receipts: #319 14s. 6d. (216.17.6; 102.2.0; 0.15.0)

Event Comment: On account of the Indisposition of a principal performer, the new Comedy of Knave or Not [avertised on playbill of 17 Jan.] is obliged to be deferred till Tuesday next. Receipts: #325 0s. 6d. (208.5.6; 111.13.0; 5.2.0)

Event Comment: "Could Kelly check that constant tempest of passion which tears to rags almost every sentiment he delivers, the dialogue of the piece [Blue-Beard] would be much improved" (Times, 20 Jan.). Receipts: #348 13s. 6d. (241.2.0; 104.13.6; 2.18.0)

Event Comment: On account of the indisposition of Suett the New Comedy of Knave or Not [advertised on playbill of 22 Jan.] is obliged to deferred till Thursday next. Receipts: #388 18s. (264.6.6; 122.7.6; 2.4.0)

Event Comment: [On this day Mrs Spencer was married to Pope (see 26 Jan.), but in mainpiece she is listed under her former name.] Receipts: #241 17s. (232.16; 9.1)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Thomas Holcroft, based on La Serva Amorosa and on Il Padre di Famiglia, both by Carlo Goldoni. Author of Prologue unknown. Epilogue by Matthew Gregory Lewis (see text)]. Times, 7 Feb. 1798: This Day is published Knave or Not (2s.). Receipts: #358 2s. (283.11.6; 71.2.0; 3.8.6)

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. Receipts: #358 9s. 6d. (351.10.6; 6.19.0)

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. [Mainpiece in place of Secrets Worth Knowing, advertised on playbill of 29 Jan.] Receipts: #329 19s. 6d. (327.15.6; 2.4.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Musick composed by Kelly. Receipts: #284 17s. 6d. (219.2.6; 64.19.6; 0.15.6)

Event Comment: The Double Gallant [advertised on playbill of 1 Feb.] is obliged to be deferred, on account of the Indisposition of a principal Performer. Receipts: #168 12s. 6d. (155.13.6; 12.19.0)

Event Comment: [Afterpiece in place of Comus, advertised on playbill of 3 Feb.] Receipts: #411 13s. 6d. (341.2.0; 67.17.6; 2.14.0)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of Knave or Not, advertised on playbill of 6 Feb.] Receipts: #310 5s. (203.5.6; 101.19.6; 5.0.0)