Event Comment: James Brydges, Diary: I went to ye Playhouse in Covent Garden where I met Mr Knight, after wch I went to yr other playhouse, & there saw Sr Charles Barinton, & Mr Mildmay; before ye play was done, I came hence home (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: James Brydges, Diary: I went to Tom's Coffee house, where I met Mr Marshall, he told me of Capt. Hill being kill'd by Ld Mohun, from hence I went to Wills, where I met Dr Davenant, I staid here almost half an hour, & coming home by ye way stopt & just lookt in at ye Playhouse being about seven a clock (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: James Brydges, Diary: About seven I went to ye playhouse in Covent Garden;...from thence I went to ye Playhouse in Lincolns inn fields, but meeting at ye door Mr Pelham, & he telling me the play was done, I came home (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: James Brydges, Diary: About 6: I went to ye Playhouse, and let my Lady Lucy Bright & my Wife out & came with them home (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: James Brydges, Diary: I went to Mr Roberts's, who had a consort of musick, Mr Frank Roberts Mr Banister, la Riche Mr Shore, &c. I staid here till towards eleven, & then home with Lady Lucy Bright & my Wife (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: Flying Post, 23-25 Aug. 1698: At Mr Barns's and Mr Appleby's Booth, over against the Cross-Daggers in Smithfield, is to be seen the most famous Rope-Dancers of Europe, who have brought over the Morocco Woman, the two German Maidens, and the Danish Woman and her Company, which out-does all Men and Women that ever danced yet on the Ropes, the German Maiden outdoing all Men and Women, that ever Danc'd before her, both for high leaping and fine Dancing, and whatever has been done by any person on the Ground, as side, upright, cross or back Capers, is performed by her on the Dancing Rope, and rises to that prodigious height, as will startle all that see her. William King, A Journey to London in the Year 1698 (2d edition, corrected, 1699), pp. 27-28: I was at Bartholomew Fair....I went to the Dancing on the Ropes, which was admirable. Coming out I met a man that would have took off my Hat, but I secur'd it, and was going to draw my Sword, Crying out, Begar! Damn'd Rogue! Morblew, &c. when on a sudden I had a hundred People about me, Crying here, Monsieur, see Jephtha's Rash Vow, here, Monsieur, see the Tall Dutch Woman, see the Tyger, says another; see the Horse and no Horse, whose Tayl stands where his Head should do; see the German Artist, Monsieur; see the Siege of Namur, Monsieur: So that betwixt Rudeness and Civility, I was forc'd to get into a Fiacre, and with an air of Hast, and a full Trot, got home to my Lodgings

Event Comment: James Brydges, Diary: I din'd at Mr Gervase Pierrepoint's, with Mr Moor, Dr Davenant, Mr Scobell, & Mr Harcourt; about 8: I set ye 2 first down at ye playhouse, & came home (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. James Brydges, Diary: About 6: he [Brydges' brother Henry] set me down at y- Playhouse in Lincolns inn fields, where I met Me Coke, Mr Hammond, & Sir Godfrey Coply: about 8: I came home (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: Benefit Penkethman. The Boxes and Pit 2s. 6d., the Boxes being laid open to the Pit. Note, No Subscribers' Tickets to pass this Day. To begin exactly at 5 of the Clock, by reason that the Gentlemen and Ladies that come from London may have time to return home before Night. Note, The Tide happens very luckily for Mr Penkethman's Friends in London: It Ebbs to Greenwich from 10 in the Morning till 6 at Night, flows from 6 in the Evening till 11, it being Moon-light

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. At his home, Second Door at the Right Hand in Park Place

Event Comment: By His Majesty's Command. Daily Journal, 23 Nov.: The Italian Comedians, having not met with the Success they expected, we hear they design to return home soon after Christmas

Event Comment: First time of performance. The Company to be waited on by two Knights, from the Land's End, and a Brace of Cats from Italy. The Ladies and Gentlemen are desired to leave their Lapdogs and Spaniels at home because of the Cats. To begin exactly at twelve

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. As Mr Edward Berry, one of the comedians of Drury Lane, was returning home from Temple Bar, he was stopt at the end of Arundel St. by three Fellows, one with a Horse-Pistol, another with a short pistol, and the other with a hanger, who robb'd him of his watch, some silver, and his Neck-cloth, and then walk'd off with their booty (General Advertiser, 20 Jan.). During the Performance on Saturday Night [11 Jan.] at Drury Lane, a dispute was carried on at great length between Mr V-n and a Gentleman unknown but on the Gentleman's being made sensible of his error, and making publick submission and Gentleman-like reparation, it was amicably terminated (General Advertiser). Receipts: #170 (Cross)

Event Comment: MMr Woodward's Night for Making ye Genii (Cross). There was such a Prodigious crowd to get into the Pit and Galleries at Drury Lane, being Mr Woodward's Night, that many of the females who came there with aprons, Handkerchiefs, caps and Capuchins, returned home without them; it was the most numerous and brilliant Audience that has been seen for some time(Public Advertiser, 16 Jan.). Receipts: #206 (Cross)

Event Comment: MMr Larpent...called upon me at Somerset House & went to Drury Lane & see Richard 3rd & Harlequin's Invasion & sat in the front Boxes. It was the first play I have seen this winter & I think I shan't be in a hurry to go again till there is better Co[mpany]y in the Boxes. It was not over till 11, went to the Turk's Head & home (Hailey, Brietzcke Diary, N & Q, Vol. 199, p. 260)

Event Comment: Paid Cooper (printer) as per bill, #41 9s. (Account Book). Went to Covent Garden-could not get into either Pit or Gallery, so came home (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #230 18s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: NNeville MS Diary: We lighted at Somerset Coffee-house and soon after took a boat from Somerset stairs to Spring Gardens, Vauxhall, open for the first time this season. These gardens are lighted by lamps disposed in different figures, with an orchestra from which the company are entertained from 7 to 10 with music...An artificial cascade from rocks which, continuing for 10 or 15 minutes only, has a fine effect. M. meeting with some acquaintance, we supped under the trees and after trying in vain to get a coach, returned and had some wine in one of the Boxes. I scarcely tasted any thing...all the wine at Vauxhall is vile. I proposed walking home, as it is very dangerous to go by water in the night. Half past 1 in the morning when I entered our house

Event Comment: NNeville MS Diary: At 6 went to Marybone Gardens, a place of the kind of Ranelagh-but not so elegant nor frequented by such good company--indeed much indifferent company resort to both. A transparent picture of a Patagonian man, woman and child was exhibited for the first time; went and returned on foot. Marybone fields are much pleasanter than the gardens. Got home about 11

Event Comment: TTancred and Sigismunda deferred. Mrs Barry ill. I call'd upon Mr Barry. He was not at home. In the afternoon I sent him a note desiring they would send notice when they were able to perform. He sent me an angry note in answer on Fryday. I, by the managers [orders] answer'd it on Fryday morning, both which letters Mr Garrick has (Hopkins MS Memorandum Book)

Event Comment: "Palmer's Stukely was exactly infamous, his Scene with Mrs Beverley was just on both hands, each seemed to gain Spirit by the Nature and Exactness of the other-it was inimitable. Kemble's Beverley was all we could wish; his Manner, peculiar as it is, gave us home Sensations" (Public Advertiser, 9 Dec). Receipts: #226 13s. 6d. (202/6/0; 23/10/0; 0/2/6; tickets not come in: 0/15/0)

Event Comment: Paid Home & Co., Coal Merchants #166 18s. Receipts: #244 4s. (218/8/0; 24/16/0; 0/7/6; tickets not come in: 0/12/6)