Event Comment: Benefit for Johnstone. Afterpiece [1st time; MF 2. Larpent MS 980; not published]: By a Gentleman of the Bar [Horatio Edgar Robson]. The Story partly founded on the celebrated old Scotch Ballad of the Heir of Lynne. The Irish, Scotch, Italian and French Airs selected, and the new Music and Medley Overture composed by Reeve. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Morning Herald, 24 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Johnstone, No. 19, Piazza, Covent-Garden. Receipts: #488 9s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit for Follet, Sloper & Farley. By Particular Desire of His Excellency the Turkish Ambassador [see 7 May). 2nd piece: To conclude with a Representation of the Engagement and Defeat of the French Navy, by the British Fleet under the Command of Lord Howe, on the Glorious First of June (1794); with the bringing in La Juste, Sans Pareille, L'America, L'Achille, Northumberland, et L'Eupeteux; and the Sinking of Le Vengeur; with Rule Britannia. Receipts: #357 10s. (66/2/6; 3/16/6; tickets: 287/11/0)

Event Comment: In celebration of the Glorious Victory of His Majesty's Fleet over the Fleet of the French

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Gibbs. 3rd piece [1st time; M. ENT 2, by James Roberts]: End of Act I A Grand View of the British Fleet and the French Prizes entering Portsmouth, and an appropriate Procession. The Piece to conclude with a representation of the Town, &c. of Portsmouth, as illuminated on the glorious occasion. With a Transparency of Earl Howe. [These were included in all subsequent performances.] The selected Musick by Mornington, Handel, Dr Arne, Boyce, Pleyel, &c. A Naval Overture, and the new Musick, by Dr Arnold. The Scenery by Rooker. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Morning Chronicle, 24 Oct. 1794: This Day is published RULE BRITANNIA! (1s.)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: End of Act I an exact Representation of the Engagement between the British and French Fleets on the First of June [1794]. The whole to conclude with a Grand Fire-Work, in honour of Earl Howe. Ladies and Gentlemen are respectfully requested to give peremptory orders to their servants to set down with their Horses Heads towards Drury-Lane, and to take up with the Horses Heads towards Covent-Garden. No Carriage can be permitted to stop the way after proper Notice given to the Company. Powell: Glorious First of June rehearsed at 11. Miss DeCamp came 10 minutes beyond the Time, Dignum 15 minutes, Miss Leak 20 minutes. Receipts: #328 13s. 6d. (271.11.6; 56.2.6; 0.19.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Martyr. By Special Desire of the Turkish Ambassador [Yussuf Adijah Effendi]. 2nd piece [1st time; M. INT 1, probably by William Pearce. Text (Glindon and Co., 1795)]: The Music composed by Shield, Reeve, &c. The Dance and Procession by Byrn. With a Naval Medley Overture composed by Dr Arnold. In the course of the Piece will be represented the Engagement in which the brave Captain Robert? Faulknor fell [in an action off Guadeloupe on 5 Jan. 1795] between the English Frigate the Blanche and the French Frigate La Pique. To conclude with the Funeral Procession of Capt. Faulknor (composed by Byrn), accompanied by a new Dead March (composed by Shield). Morning Chronicle, 21 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Martyr, No. 16, Martlett-court, Bow-street, Covent-garden. Receipts: #402 10s. (201.0; 5.19; tickets: 195.11)

Event Comment: 2nd piece [1st time; M. ENT 1, but printed in 2, by George Nugent Reynolds]: With new and appropriate Scenery by Phillips, &c. The new Music by Reeve. Books of the Songs and Chorusses to be had in the Theatre. [This piece is based on the attempt of the French navy to make a landing in Bantry Bay on 24 Dec. 1796.] Receipts: #293 5s. 6d. (284.5.6; 9.0.0)

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: Under the Patronage of their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, Duke of York, Duke of Clarence, Duke of Cumberland, and Her Royal Highness the Duchess of York [and] the Duchess of Devonshire and the Duchess of Gordon. Benefit for O'Keeffe, the Unfortunate Author of the following successful Dramatic Pieces: The Son in Law, Agreeable Surprise, Peeping Tom, Dead Alive, Young Quaker, Life's Vagaries, Castle of Andalusia, Czar, Tony Lumpkin in Town, Poor Soldier, Modern Antiques, Basket Maker, Wild Oats, Wicklow Mountains, French Grenadier [never acted], Positive Man, Love in a Camp, Tantara Rara Rogues all, Beggar on Horseback, Toy, London Hermit, Highland Reel, Blacksmith of Antwerp, Man Milliner, Irish Mimic, Little Hunchback, World in a Village, Fontainbleau, Magic Banner, Farmer, Doldrum, Sprigs of Laurel, Birth Day, Prisoner at Large, &c. &c. Tickets delivered for The Belle's Stratagem will be admitted. [O'Keeffe is referred to as being unfortunate because he was totally blind. In delivering his Poetical Composition, which is printed in Dramatic Censor, II, 265-67, the Monthly Mirror, June 1800, p. 367, reports that he was led on and off the stage by Lewis. It also notes that "Mrs Jordan...came from Drury-Lane, where she had performed the Child of Nature, to officiate at Covent-Garden as the handmaid of charity."] The Last Night of the Company's performing this season. Receipts: none listed

Event Comment: In L. C. 5@139, p. 373, is a list of plays allowed to the Duke's Company: The Poetaster [by Ben Jonson]. Cupids Reuenge [by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher. See 17 Aug. 1668]. Timon of Athens [by William Shakespeare]. Troyolus and Grisseida [by William Shakespeare]. Three parts of H. ye 6 [by William Shakespeare]. The honest mans fortune [by John Fletcher and others]. Woemen pleas'd [by John Fletcher]. Witt at Seuerall Weapons [by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher]. The Woemen Hater or The hungry Courtier [by Francis Beaumont]. All fooles [by George Chapman]. Birons Conspiracy [by George Chapman]. Broken heart [by John Ford]. Bird in a Cage [by James Shirley]. Chabot Admirall of ffranse [by James Shirley, with George Chapman]. ffaithful Shepherd [possibly Guarini's Il Pastor Fido]. Herod and Antipater [by Gervase Markham with William Sampson]. Humor out of breath [by John Day]. Jealous Louers [by Thomas Randolph]. Loues Melancholy [Lover's Melancholy, by John Ford]. Muliasses the Turke [by John Mason]. Queene of Arragon [by William Habington]. Revenge of Bussy D'Ambois [by George Chapman]. Revenge for Honor [or The Parricide, by Henry Glapthorne]

Event Comment: Know all men by these presents, that Colley Cibber, Esq; of the Parish of St/James's in the County of Middlesex, for and in consideration of the sum of Eighty Pounds of lawful Mony of Great Britain to him in hand paid by John Watts of London, Stationer, he the said Colley Cibber, Esq; hath bargained, sold and assigned, and set over, and by these presents doth bargain, sell, assign and set over all that the full and sole right and title, of, in and to the copy of a Tragedy, intitled, Papal Tyranny in the Reign of King John, written by the said Colley Cibber, Esq; to have and to hold the said copy of the said tragedy unto the said John Watts, his heirs and assigns for ever, notwithstanding any act or law to the contrary: In witness whereof the said Colley Cibber, Esq; hath hereunto sett his hand and seal this twentieth day of February, 1744/5. [Signed] C. Cibber. [Witnesses] James Webster, John Mark Bimson. [Original Document in Folger Shakespeare Library, validated by three Sixpence stamps, and Cibber's seal. Case No. 993 among Cibber documents.

Event Comment: The King's Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@141, p. 359. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 346. There is no certainty that this performance is the premiere, but as the play was licensed for printing on 9 Jan. 1676@7, this performance may well be the first one. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, pp.9-10) lists the same cast except for the ommission of Letice. It is not certain which Mrs Knight played Letice. Possibly it was Frances Maria Knight (see Wilson, All the King's Ladies, where she is tentatively listed for that role), but the presence of Mrs Ursula Knight on an undated L. C. list, 3@24, with the date of her swearing into the company given as 12 March 1676@7, it is quite likely that she played this role. (I owe this reference to Ursula Knight to Professor John Harold Wilson.) John Dennis: And when upon the first representations of the Plain Dealer, the Town, as The Authour has often told me, appeard Doubtful what Judgment to Form of it; the foremention'd gentlemen [The Duke of Buckingham, Earl of Rochester, Earl of Dorset, Earl of Mulgrave, Savil, Buckly, Sir John Denham, Waller] by their loud aprobation of it, gave it both a sudden and a lasting reputation (Defense and Defects of Dramatick Poetry, 1725, in The Works of John Dennis, ed. Hooker, II, 277)

Event Comment: Paid John Doe and John Claridge 12s. 6d. each for performing 5 nights in the Ass [in Mother Shipton] to the 2nd inst. Paid John Smith 12s. 6d. for performing in the Hog in the same. Paid Younger for writing parts as per bill #7 4s. 10d. (Account Book). [N.B. The three Johns receiv'd 2s. 6d. each for making up in the ass and hog each night Mother Shipton was played for the rest of the season. No further notation will be transcribed of this payment.] Receipts: #152 8s. (Account Book)