Event Comment: Afterpiece: Taken from Ossian (composed by Byrn). View of the Sea and Rockv from which Oscar escapes, by leaping from a Precipice into arms of his Soldiers--a View of a Bridgev, with the Camp of Carrol--the Death of Carrol by the Hand of +Malvina, with his Fall into the Sea, and the Burning of the Camp of Carrol. [This was included in all subsequent performances.] The Overture by Reeve, with an accompaniment on the Harp by Weippert. "[The afterpiece] is a showy spectacle, but by no means equal in merit to the heroic ballet of Raymond and Agnes. It were greatly to be wished that some safer expedient could be adopted for breaking the violence of Oscar's fall, in the scene where he leaps from the rocky precipice into the arms of his soldiers. A serious disaster happened in this part last season, and had nearly occurred again this evening" (Dramatic Censor, I, 311). Receipts: #317 3s. 6d. (311.1.6; 6.2.0)

Event Comment: Mr Salomon having insinuated that he alone is in possession of a correct Score of this celebrated Oratorio, I feel compelled, in justice to myself, to state that the Oratorio was published by subscription at Vienna, and that the printed Copy, from which I had the Parts transcribed, was delivered by Dr Haydn to a subscriber in Vienna, and brought from thence expressly for me, and on which is the Doctor's initials. The accuracy with which it was performed, and the enthusiasm with which it was received, are, I hope, convincing proofs that no other directions are necessary to "produce the effect required by the Author." I should not thus have obtruded myself, but I conceived it requisite to justify myself from the imputation of having attempted to impose a spurious production upon that public to whom I am under so many obligations. I am, with the greatest respect and gratitude, their most obedient servant, John Ashley. March 29. [On 29 Mar. the following card had appeared in most of the daily newspapers: Mr Salomon having received from Dr Haydn an early Copy of his New Oratorio called The Creation of the World, and having been favoured by him exclusively with particular directions on the style and manner in which it must be executed, in order to produce the effects required by the Author, begs to acquaint the Nobility and Gentry, that he means to perform it on Monday, the 21st of April next, at the King's Theatre. The performance took place on that date in the Ancient Music Room, i.e. the large concert-room situated inside the King's, on the east side, level with the first tier of the boxes. The reason for this change was, states the playbill, "the present Performances in the Opera House not allowing sufficient time to erect an Orchestra on the Stage." The principal singers were Mme Mara, Mme Dussek, Small, Page, Denman, Bartleman. Samuel Wesley presided at the organ and at the piano forte.