Event Comment: [The playbill states that Elliston was appearing "by Permission of the Manager of the Theatre Royal Bath, and for the Last Time." But see 12 Oct.] Receipts: #207 18s. 6d. (197.11.6; 10.7.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: In Act I a Grand Masquerade. [For Miss Allingham see 13, 18 Oct.] Receipts: #172 7s. (170.10; 1.17)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time: CO 3, by Joseph George Holman. Text: George Cawthorn, 1796]: The new Music composed by Shield. The Selections from Gretry, Giornovichi, Jackson, and Mahon. The new Scenery painted by Richards. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. Oracle, 7 Dec. 1796: Tomorrow will be published Abroad and at Home (2s.). Receipts: #220 9s. (219.2; 1.7)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of Abroad and at Home, advertised on playbill of 29 Dec.] Receipts: #221 13s. (216.11.6; 5.1.6)

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. [1st piece in place of A Cure for the Heart Ache, advertised on playbill of 18 Feb.] Receipts: #484 19s. (478.13; 6.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Quick. 2nd piece: In one Act. A Tragi-Comic, Pastoral, Operatical, Farcical Drama, written by the Author of The Beggar's Opera [John Gay]. True Briton, 3 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Quick, No. 30, Little Queen-street, Lincoln's Inn-Fields. Receipts: #352 0s. 6d. (140.15.6; 5.9.0; tickets: 205.16.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Holman. 1st piece [1st time; C 5, by Benjamin Hoadly, based partly on L'Ecole des Femmes, by Moliere. Larpent MS 1160; not published. Prologue by John Taylor; Epilogue by Edward Jerningham (European Magazine, May 1797, p. 342)]: Mr Holman having been favored by the Family of Doctor Hoadly, Author of the Suspicious Husband, with a Manuscript Comedy in Five Acts, the production of that celebrated Writer, he most respectfully informs the Public that it will be presented under the Title of The Tatlers. True Briton, 1 May: The Play was given to Holman by Dr Hoadly Ashe, Hoadly's nephew. Ibid, 10 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Holman, No. 14, John-street, Adelphi. Account-Book: Paid Insurance and Duty on #10,000 for one year from 16th Inst. at the Royal Exchange Fire Office #136 17s; ditto on #10,000 for one year from Lady Day at the Phoenix Fire Office #112 10s. Receipts: #290 11s. 6d. (143.16.0; 10.11.6; tickets: 136.4.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Siddons. 1st piece: Never acted in this Theatre. [Prologue by George Colman, elder. Monologue by Hester Lynch Piozzi (European Magazine, May 1797, p. 343).] True Briton, 12 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Siddons, No. 49, Great Marlborough-street. "The scenery destroyed much of the effect of the tragedy; for the characters are supposed to be 'steeped in poverty to the very lips;' and yet their apartments would have become a family in the meridian of wealth and prosperity. Mrs Siddons was also too well dressed for Mrs Wilmot" (Monthly Mirror, May 1797, p. 308). "In the scene in which [Mrs Siddons's] son having put into her hands a casket to keep, and she having touched a spring it opens and she sees jewels, her husband (Kemble) enters, and in despair exclaims, 'Where shall we get bread?' With her eyes fixed on the jewels, she runs to him, knocks the casket against her breast and exclaims, 'Here! Here!' In Mrs Siddons's tone and in her look there was an anticipation of the murder which was to take place" (Robinson, I, 39). Receipts: #618 2s. (386.8.6; 43.19.0; 2.4.0; tickets: 185.10.6) (charge: #211 1s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Bannister Jun. 1st piece [1st time; C 5, by Richard Cumberland. Text 1st published in his Posthumous Dramatic Works, Vol. II (G. and W. Nicol, 1813); it assigns no parts, but adds George Ivey and David Duncan, acted by Caulfield and Packer. Genest erroneously assigns Sir Adam to Wewitzer and Beau Tiffany to R. Palmer. Prologue and Epilogue by the author (True Briton, 9 May). Songs by Michael Kelly, in Act I harmonized by Sir William Parsons.] True Briton, 25 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Bannister Jun., No. 65, Gower-street, Bedford-square. Receipts: #581 15s. (294.18.6; 72.7.0; 3.17.6; tickets: 210.12.0) (charge: #213 6s. 8d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Leak. 3rd piece [1st time: BO 2, author unknown. Larpent MS 1170; not published]: The Overture and Musick entirely new, by Dr Arnold, Composer to His Majesty. True Briton, 20 May: Tickets to be had of Miss Leak, Upper Mews-Gate, Castle-street, Leicester-Fields. Receipts: #364 6s. 6d. (65.9.0; 59.13.0; 2.6.0; tickets: 236.18.6; (charge: #213 10s. 2d.)