Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5]: By the celebrated Henry Fielding; and never yet performed or published. With new Scenes, Dresses, &c. [and incidental music by Michael Arne. Prologue by David Garrick. Epilogue by the same (see text)]. Public Advertiser, 12 Dec. 1778: This Day is published The Fathers (1s. 6d.). "This play was written by Mr Henry Fielding, some years before his death. Mr Garrick saw it at that time. Mr Fielding gave the only fair copy he had of it to his friend Sir Charles Williams, of whose judgment he entertained a high opinion. Sir Charles soon after went abroad, and the comedy was mislaid. Mr. Fielding communicated this circumstance to his family on his death-bed; and enquiry was made for it, but without effect. At length Mr Thomas? Johnes, Member for Cardigan, looking over Sir Charles's books, found a comedy in manuscript, which he read, and, approving, had it transcribed and sent to Mr Garrick for his opinion, who, like Archimedes, cried out, 'This is the lost sheep! This is Mr Henry Fielding's play!' Mr Garrick communicating it to Mr Johnes, Mr Johnes immediately sent the original manuscript, which was in Mr Fielding's hand-writing, to the family, with his best wishes for its success, promising to assist it to the utmost of his power" (Gentleman's Magazine, Dec. 1778, p.586). See also, for corroboration of the above and for other details, Wilbur L. Cross, The History of Henry Fielding, 1918, III, 99-104. Receipts: #210 11s. 6d. (186.6.0; 23.19.6; 0.6.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; T 5, ascribed to-Johnstone. Authors of Prologue and Epilogue unknown]: With New Scenes and Dresses. Public Advertiser, 1 Jan. 1779: This Day is published Buthred (1s. 6d.)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; P 2, attributed to Richard Brinsley Sheridan (see G. W. Williams in Studies in Philology, XLVII, 1950, 619-28). Synopsis of action (W. Randall, 1779) lists no parts]: The Overture and Music entirely new. With new Scenes, Machines, Dresses and Decorations. All the Scenery, Machinery, &c. designed by DeLoutherbourg and executed under his direction. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. [For a discussion of this pantomime see Theatre Survey, II, 54-66.] Public Advertiser, 24 Feb. 1779: This Day is published an Account of The Wonders of Derbyshire and the Songs (6d.). Receipts: #225 19s. (223.18.0; 2.1.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by the Author of Braganza [1st time; T 5, by Robert Jephson. Prologue and Epilogue by the author (see text)]. With new Scenes and Dresses. Public Advertiser, 15 Feb. 1779: This Day is published The Law of Lombardy (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #221 (196.19.0; 23.13.6; 0.7.6)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by Frederick Pilon]. Public Advertiser, 6 Mar. 1779: This Day is published The Liverpool Prize (1s.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With alterations by the author [William Mason]. The Overture and all the new Music composed by Giardini.[On playbill of 27 Feb.: With a New Scene painted by Richards.] Public Advertiser, 23 Feb. 1779: This Day at Noon is published Elfrida (price not listed). [Afterpiece: Prologue by the author (New Spouter's Companion, c. 1798, p. 59).

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Mattocks. Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years [acted 16 Feb. 1778]. Mrs Mattocks' Benefit has been unavoidably obliged to be deferred till this Day. Tickets delivered for Tuesday the 23d of March will be admitted. Public Advertiser, 27 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Mattocks at her house in Covent Garden

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years [acted 17 Apr. 1777]. Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by Hannah Cowley, based partly on The Stolen Heiress, by Susannah Centlivre]. Public Advertiser, 30 Apr. 1779: This Day at Noon is published Who's the Dupe? (price not listed). Receipts: #193 3s. 6d. (151.2.0; 39.12.6; 2.9.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Lee Lewes. 1st piece [1st time; PREL I, by Frederick Pilon. Author of Epilogue unknown. This Prelude had reference to the illuminations held on 11 Feb. 1779 in honor of the acquittal, on a charge of misconduct in the naval operations off Brest, of Admiral Augustus Keppel. In 1780 it was acted at this theatre, with alterations, as A Gazette Extraordinary]. Tickets delivered for The Distress'd Mother will be received. Public Advertiser, 30 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Lee Lewes at his house in Bow-street, Covent Garden. Ibid, 4 May 1779: This Day is published Illumination (1s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Wilson. Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. 3rd piece: Written by D. Garrick, Esq., with Additions. 4th piece [1st time; MF 2, by Charles Stuart]: The Overture and Music chiefly new, by Gehot, and Shield, who composed the music to The Flitch of Bacon. Public Advertiser, 3 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Wilson, No. 2, Henrietta-street, Covent Garden. Ibid, 29 Apr. 1779: This Day is published The Cobler of Castlebury (1s.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; T 5]: Written by the Author of Percy [Hannah More. Prologue by the author; Epilogue by Richard Brinsley Sheridan (see text)]. Public Advertiser, 1 Dec. 1779: This Day is published The Fatal Falsehood [sic] (1s. 6d.). Afterpiece [1st time; CO 2, by Charles Dibdin]: The Overture and all the Music composed by Dibdin. With new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations to both Pieces. Books of the Entertainment to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 6 May 1779: This Afternoon at three is published The Chelsea Pensioner (1s.). The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [same for rest of season]

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; T 5, by Hannah Cowley. Prologue by the author (Morning Chronicle, 9 Aug.)]: New Scenes painted by Rooker. Public Advertiser, 30 Aug. 1779: This Day is published Albina, Countess Raimond (price not listed)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; PAST 2, by Richard Josceline Goodenough, altered from his unacted play The Cottagers]: The Overture and Music composed by Baumgarten. [Baumgarten used this overture again in Robin Hood (see cg, 17 Apr. 1784).] Books of the Pastoral to be had at the Theatre. [Wordsworth is identified in the playbill of 22 Dec. Mrs Webb was from the Hay.] Public Advertiser, 24 Nov. 1779: This Day is published William And Nanny (1s.). Receipts: #122 15s. (116.15.6; 5.19.6)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; CO 2, by William Augustus Miles]: The music entirely new, composed by Michael Arne. With new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. Books of the Opera to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 15 Apr. 1780: This Day is published The Artifice (1s.). Receipts: #119 8s. 6d. (71.12.0; 47.1.6; 0.15.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Sophia Lee, based partly on Le Pere De Famille, by Denis Diderot. Prologue by George Colman elder (see text)]. Public Advertiser, 14 Sept. 1780: This Day is published The Chapter of Accidents (1s. 6d.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Thomas Lewis O'Beirne, based on Le Dissipateur; ou, L'Honnete Friponne, by Philippe Nericault, dit Destouches. Prologue by Frederick Pilon (Crouch, 1, 90). Author of Epilogue unknown. For Pastoral Interlude see 23 Nov.]: With new Scenery and Dresses. Public Advertiser, 13 Dec. 1780: This Day at Noon is Published The Generous Impostor (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #197 3s. 6d. (183.4.0; 13.10.6; 0.9.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; T 5, by Frances Brooke, based on the anonymous libretto of Sarti's opera Mitridate a Sinope. Prologue by the Rev. William? Collier (see text). Epilogue by Arthur Murphy (Murphy, Works, 1786, VII, 54)]: With New Scenes, Dresses, &c. Public Advertiser, 8 Feb. 1781: This Day at Noon will be published The Siege of Sinope. (1s. 6d.). Receipts:#231 5s. (228.10; 2.15)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Miles Peter Andrews. Prologue by Edward Topham. Epilogue by the author (see text)]: With New Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. The Words of the Roundelay [composed by Thomas Linley Sen.] introduced in the Comedy will be given gratis at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 9 Apr. 1781: This Day is published Dissipation (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #243 4s. 6d. (234.6.0; 8.4.0; 0.14.6)