Event Comment: By Authority. By the French Company of Comedians. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Victor, History of the Theatres, I, 54-60: People went early to the Theatre, as a crouded House was certain. I was there, in the Centre of the Pit; where I soon perceived that we were visited by two Westminster Justices, Deveil and Manning. The Leaders, that had the Conduct of the Opposition, were known to be there; one of whom called aloud for the Song in Praise of English Roast Beef, which was accordingly sung in the Gallery by a Person prepared for that Purpose; and the whole House besides joining in the Chorus, saluted the Close with three Huzzas! This, Justice Deveil was pleased to say, was a Riot; upon which Disputes commenced directly, which were carried on with some Degree of Decency on both Sides. The Justice at first informed us, 'That he was come there as a Magistrate to maintain the King's Authority; that Colonel Pulteney, with a full Company of the Guards, were without, to support him in the Execution of his Office; that it was the King's Command the Play should be acted; and that the obstructing it was opposing the King's Authority; and if that was done, he must read the Proclamation; after which all Offenders would be secured directly by the Guards in waiting.' To all these most arbitrary Threatnings, this Abuse of his Majesty's Name, the Reply was to the following Effect:-'That the Audience had a legal Right to shew their Dislike to any Play or Actor; that the common Laws of the Land were nothing but common Custom, and the antient Usuage of the People; that the Judicature of the Pit had been acknowledged and acquiesced to, Time immemorial; and as the present Set of Actors were to take their Fate from the Public, they were free to receive them as they Pleased.' By this Time the Hour of Six drew near; and the French and Spanish Embassadors, with their Ladies; the late Lord and Lady Gage, and Sir T@R@, a Commissioner of the Excise, all appeared in the Stage Boxes together! At that Instant the Curtain drew up, and discovered the Actors standing between two Files of Grenadiers, with their Bayonets fixed, and resting on their Firelocks. There was a Sight! enough to animate the coldest Briton. At this the whole Pit rose, and unanimously turned to the Justices, who sat in the Middle of it, to demand the Reason of such arbitary Proceedings? The Justices either knew nothing of the Soldiers being placed there, or thought it safest to declare so. At that Declaratinn, they demanded of Justice Deveil (who had owned himself the commanding Officer in the Affair) to order them off the Stage. He did so immediately, and they disappeared. Then began the Serenade; not only Catcalls, but all the various portable Instruments, that could make a disagreeable Noise, were brought up on this Occasion, which were continually tuning in all Parts of the House; and as an Attempt to speaking was ridiculous, the Actors retired, and they opened with a grand Dance of twelve Men and twelve Woman; but even that was prepared for; and they were directly saluted with a Bushel or two of Peas, which made their Capering very unsafe. After this they attempted to open the Comedy; but had the Actor the voice of Thunder, it would have been lost in the confused Sounds from a thousand Various Instruments. Here, at the waving Deviel's Hand, all was silent, and (standing up on his Seat) he made a Proposal to the House to this Effect:-'That if they persisted in the Opposition, he must read the Proclamation; that if they would permit the Play to go on, and to be acted through that Night, he would promise, (on his Honour) to lay their Dislikes, and Resentment to the Actors, before the King, and he doubted not but a speedy End would be put to their acting.' The Answer to this Proposal was very short, and very expressive. 'No Treaties, No Treaties!' At this the Justice called for Candles to read the Proclamation, and ordered the Guards to be in Readiness; but a Gentleman seizing Mr Deveil's Hand, stretched out for the Candle, begged of him to consider what he was going to do, for his own Sake, for ours, for the King's! that he saw the unanimous Resolution of the House; and that the Appearance of Soldiers in the Pit would throw us all into a Tumult, which must end with the Lives of many. This earnest Remostrance made the Justice turn pale and passive. At this Pause the Actors made a second Attempt to go on, and the Uproar revived; which continuing some Time, the Embassadors and their Ladies left their Box, which occasioned a universal. Huzza from the whole House! and after calling out some Time for the Falling of the Curtain, down it fell. [For other accounts of this evening, see Daily Advertiser, 9 and 10 Oct.; London Evening Post, 12 Oct.; Gentleman's Magazine, VIII (1938), 545; Historical Register, XXIII, 278-87.

Event Comment: Receipts: #200 7s. 6d. (Account Book). Mainpiece: With New Dresses and Decorations. [The first of a series of five performances (the last, Merchant of Venice, 18 Nov.) which got Macklin dismissed from the theatre until 1775, when his lawsuit against six persons whom he claimed formed a conspiracy to hiss him from the stage and ruin his livlihood was concluded favorably for him. His performance of Macbeth was favorably treated but with certain misgivings in the Morning Chronicle (25 Oct.), but he was mercilessly criticized in the London Evening Post and St James Chronicle: "In Act II, Sc. i, Shakespeare has made Macbeth murder Duncan; Now Mr Macklin, being determined to copy from no man, reversed this incident, and in the very first act, scene the second, murdered Macbeth." The favorable review (Morning Chronicle) thought he did well in first and last acts, but gave way to stage rant and "vehemence of energetic expression" wanting any variation in tone in between. It also pointed out a certain faulty memory of his lines. His novel stage effects came in for a paragraph of comment: The alterations in the jeux de theatre respecting the representation of this tragedy do Mr Macklin great credit. His change of the scenery is peculiarly characteristical. The Quadrangle of Macbeth's castle, and the door which is supposed to lead to Duncan's apartment (both of which are entirely new) are additions of consequence to the exhibition of the play. The door also through which Macbeth comes to the Weird Sisters, in the 4th act, is a better and more probable entrance than through the common stage portal. The dresses are new, elegant, and of a sort hitherto unknown to a London audience, but exceedingly proper. The Banquet was superbly set out, and it must be confessed that the managers seem to have spared neither cost nor assiduity to ornament and add to the effect of the representation." A favorable letter from a correspondent to the London Evening Post adds: "I must observe, Mr Printer, that from the graceful and characteristic manner in which Macbeth was introduced by the martial music and military procession, from the manner of M. Macklin's acting, from his judicious alteration of the dresses, the disposition of the scene where the King is killed, the cave of the witches in the 4th act, from the improvement of Mrs Hartley's thinking in Lady Macbeth and from her manner of speaking, which seemed plainly to be the effects of some intelligence she had received from Mr Macklin...I thought Mr Macklin deserv'd great praise." See the newspaper comments all gathered and reprinted in an Apology for the Conduct of Charles Macklin, (London, 1773). See also note to 30 Oct. See also London Chronicle, Oct. 23-26 (cf. Odell, I, 453). The Westminster Magazine suggests the performance was pitiable. "Macklin knew what he ought to do, but could not do it." The Scenemen's pay this week was about double the normal cost. (Account Book).] Verse Squibs from St James Chronicle (Oct. 1773) against Macklin: @Macbeth@"Eight Kings appear and pass over in order, and Banquo the last"@Old Quin, ere Fate suppressed his lab'ring breath@In studied accents grumbled out Macbeth:--@Next Garrick came, whose utt'rance truth impressed,@While ev'ry look the tyrant's guilt confess'd:--@Then the cold Sheridan half froze the part,@Yet what he lost by nature sav'd by art.@Tall Barry now advanc'd toward Birnam Woodv@Nor ill performed the scenes--he understood--@Grave Mossop next to Foris shaped his march@His words were minute guns, his action starch.@Rough Holland too--but pass his errors o'er@Nor blame the actor when the man's no more.@Then heavy Ross, assay'd the tragic frown,@But beef and pudding kept all meaning down:--@Next careless Smith, try'd on the Murd'rer's mask,@While o'er his tongue light tripp'd the hurried task:--@Hard Macklin, late, guilt's feelings strove to speak,@While sweats infernal drench'd his iron cheek;@Like Fielding's Kings [in Tom Thumb] his fancy'd triumphs past,@And all be boasts is, that he falls the last.@ Also from St James Chronicle:@The Witches, while living deluded Macbeth@And the Devil laid hold of his soul after death;@But to punish the Tyrant this would not content him,@So Macklin he sent on the stage to present him.

Event Comment: Afterpiece An Historical Dramatic Piece of on act (taken from Shakespear) with a representation of the Trials of the Lords for High Treason, in the Reign of King Henry V. The Characters dress'd in the Habits of the times. With proper Scenes and Decorations. On account of the Extraordinary Scenery, &c, and to prevent any interruption in the performance, it's desired no persons will take it ill that they cannot admitted behind the Scenes.--General Advertiser. [This adaption most certainly occasioned by the trial, which began in Westminster Hall on 28 July of Lord Kilmarnock, Lord Cromarty, and Lord Balmerino for participation in the Rebellion of '45! (Hogan, Shakespeare in the Theatre, p. 199).] An Historical Dramatic Piece of one act, taken from Shakespear, will be perform'd, after a play, at Drury Lane; it will be a Representation of the trials of Lord Cambridge, Lord Scroopv, &c for High Treason, in the reign of King Henry the Fifth. The Characters are to [be] dress'd in rich antique Habits of the times.--Daily Advertiser, 31 July. Last night the Dramatick Piece call'd The Conspiracy Discover'd; or French Policy Defeated, with a representation of the Trials of the Lords for High Treason, was acted at dl, with great applause, and will be performed again tomorrow night at the desire of several persons of Distinction.--General Advertiser, 5 Aug

Event Comment: Mrs Barry was not in Spirits--not much applause (Hopkins Diary). Mrs Barry Failed greatly tonight from what she did the first night (MacMillan). Rec'd Mr Condill's 2nd payment for Fruit Office #20; Mr Burges one yrs rent to Xmas last with #4 4s. King's tax deducted, #16 16s.; Paid Mr Burges, Bricklayer #53 14s. 6d; Barrow & Co. for Oil #96 1s.; Mr Lawrence, paperhanger, #24 4s. 6d.; Mrs Lowe and Co., glaziers, #13 2s. 6d.; Mr Cropley, linen draper, #17 18s.; Mr Hatsell, mercer, #112 17s.; Hewetson & Co., lacemen, #28 19s. 6d.; Mr Scott, copper laceman, #37 6s. 6d.; Spermacetti Candles' Bill #286 8s.; Mr R. Johnston's Bill #124 5s. (Treasurer's Book). [The Westminster Magazine this month printed a counterblast to the flattering Picture of Garrick given 1 Feb. This article damned him as a manager, and quoted Smollett from Roderick Random, II, 260.] Receipts: #176 18s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. To which will be added the Coronation Scene of Anna Bullen , and the Ceremony of the Champion in Westminster Hallv; with several additional Decorations. Daily Post, 27 Nov.: The Coronation of Anna Bullenv having met with such extraordinary Success...the Players have been encouraged to give the Town and additional and different View of that Solemnity, by shewing the whole Magnificence at one, with the Ceremony of the Champion in Westminster Hall, &c. And we hear that several Persons of Quality being unwilling to lose their usual Variety of Plays, have desired the Comedians to add the Coronation, &c. as a separate Entertainment, to any other Play the Town may be inclin'd to see

Event Comment: [The French Company advertised that it would not perform this day in honor of the birth of the Princesse de Galles, but would present on 24 Nov. Moliere's Tartuffe and Arlequin Nulla. The General Advertiser also carried the following long note from Lord Trentham on the following day]: To the worthy inhabitants of the City and Liberty of Westminster, Gentlemen: His Majesty having been graciously pleased to appoint me one of the Commissioners for executing the Office Lord High Admiral, by which my seat in Parliament is vacated; and the shortness of time not permitting me to apply personally to you, I take this method of entreating your votes and interest to be re-elected your representative in Parliament, which will ever be acknowledged by Gentlemen, your oblig'd and humble servant, Trentham. N.B. the Election comes on Tomorrow the 24th instant at Covent Garden at nine o'clock in the Morning. N.B.B. Whereas it has been maliciously reported, in order to impose on the worthy inhabitants of the City and Liberty of Westminster, and to prejudice me in their opinion at this time, that I was active in the disturbance at the French Playhouse last Tuesday night; I do declare upon my honour, that I was neither in the Pit nor Gallery where the Disturbance happened during the time of the performance, nor drew my sword, nor made use of any weapon, either to strike or terrify any of the spectators; nor was I even present at the first and chief disturbance at that playhouse; nor have I been at any Representation at that playhouse since the first Night of the Performance, as has been falsely suggested. Trentham" In a few days will be publish'd A Particular Account of the Disturbance in the Haymarket Theatre, on Tuesday and Wednesday the 14th and 15th Instant; in which the behaviour of a noble Lord will be fully vindicated. By one of the French Comedians

Event Comment: Benefit for Westminster Lying In Hospital, near Westminster Bridge. Charges #85 5s. Balance due to the Hospital #12 5s. 6d. The Hospital also receiv'd income from delivery of tickets, #102 3s. Box 203, Pit 228, Gallery 172 (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Westminster New Lying@In Hospital near Westminster Bridge. Charges #85 15s. Balance due to Hospital #21 7s. plus #140 9s. income from 332 Box 273 Pit and 165 Gallery tickets (Account Book). Total House value #247 11s. Receipts: #107 2s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece seems, according to the Public Advertiser, to have had in it entertainments of dancing.] Benefit for Westminster New Lying-In-Hospital near Westminster Bridge (playbill). Charges #86 18s. 6d. Profit to Hospital #19 10s. 6d., plus #79 7s. from tickets (Box 172; Pit 161; Gallery 122) (Account Book). Receipts: #106 9s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Westminster New Lying In Hospital, near Westminster Bridge

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for an Infant Orphan Family. Tickets to be had at No. 17, Tufton-street, Westminster; of Appleby, Hosier, Parliament-street; Mrs Cleaver, Cannon-row, Parliament-street; Newcomb, Confectioner, Bridge-street, Westminster; Taylor, Linen-draper, Whitehall; Thomas, Butcher, Charing-cross; Medhurst, Pastry Cook, Russel-court, Drury-lane; Rice, at the Theatre, where Places for the Boxes may be taken

Event Comment: Charles II entered London on this day, an event which occasioned several works of a quasi-dramatic nature. One was The Famous Tragedie of the Life and Death of Mrs Rump...As it was presented on a burning Stage at Westminster the 29th of May, 1660. It has a Prologue and Epilogue; the author is not known. A second is An Ode Upon the Happy Return of King Charles II to his Languishing Nations, May 29. 1660. This work, by James Shirley, with music by Dr Coleman, was printed in 1660, and reprinted in A Little Ark, ed. G. Thorn-Drury (1921), pp. 21-23. A third is A True Relation of the Reception of his Majestie and Conducting him through the City of London...on Tuesday the 29 of this instant May, being the Day of his Majesties Birth

Event Comment: The King's Company. The date of the premiere is most uncertain. The play was apparently finished in July 1671-see C. E. Ward, The Life of John Dryden (Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 1961), p. 83-and the play may have been acted before April 1672. For the possibilities see Macdonald, Bibliography of Dryden, p. 110, and Nicoll, Restoration Drama, pp. 404-5. The Prologue and Epilogue are in Covent Garden Drollery, 1672. The song, Whilst Alexas lay prest, the music by Nicholas Staggins, was printed in Westminster Drollery (entered in the Stationers' Register, 3 June 1672) and in Choice Songs and Ayres, The First Book, 1673. Another song, Why should a foolish Marriage Vow, set by Robert Smith, is also in Choice Songs and Ayres, 1673

Event Comment: [The preliminary number of The Westminster Magazine this date heartily condemned Colman's Comus "picked down into a skeleton," his production of King Henry VIII, and the new play Cross Purposes.] Receipts: #172 10s

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. [From the Westminster Magazine for March: "On Friday the third instant the Entertainments peculiar to this season commenced. Messrs Bach and Abel were first, and have been at each successive Oratorio since (one night excepted when the King and Queen favored Mr Stanley, with bringing the only good House he has hitherto had), honoured with the presence of their Majesties, who have been accused, we think justly, of partiality to these foreigners, in overlooking Mr Stanley's past services and great personal merits. Justice, however, requires us to observe, that both in point of vocal and instrumental performers, the former have displayed a striking superiority over the latter. The singers at Messrs Bach and Abel's are, Parry, Corse, Mrs Weichsel, Miss Brown and Sga Corri. At Drury Lane, Norris, Reinhold, Mrs Mattocks, Mrs Barthelemon, and a young Lady from the Founding Hospital."