Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Egerton. Afterpiece: Not acted in 3 years. [See 3 April 1769.] [Genest in Volume of News Clippings (Harvard Library) quotes Edinburg Evening Courant of 29 April: Last night between the play and the farce at Drury Lane Theatre, a disturbance arose which continued for a full hour. Mr Weston it appeared was in debt to the managers a considerable sum of money, on which account they had impounded all the cash received on his benefit night. This the comedian did not like, and therefore yesterday evening sent word that he could not play, that he was arrested and detained in a springing house, but desired that no apology should be made of his being 'suddenly ill' (the usual stage plea) as it would be an egregious falsehood. After the play Mr Vernon came forward and inform'd the audience that Mr Weston 'was suddenly taken ill' and could not perform. Weston instantly started up in the front of the upper Gallery, and inform'd the house that he was not ill, but in the custody of an officer, and if the audience would have patience he'd inform them of the whole affair. A long altercation ensued. The Managers sent on Mr Vernon repeatedly; and after much pro and con Weston came down and played his part of Sneak." The article must have referred to the 24th of April, when Weston play'd Sneak in The Mayor of Garratt. The Managers promis'd the Town a publication of the whole affair."] Paid Mr Brathwait for men's cloaths #33s. Receipts: #200 8s. Charges: #70 12s. Profit to Mrs Egerton: #129 16s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid 4 day's salary list at #94 11s. 6d. per diem #378 7s. 4d.; J. French on acct #5 5s. (Treasurer's Book). [From the Westminster Magazine, March, p. 125: "A disturbance on account of Mrs Yates having left the theatre without speaking the Epilogue to Braganza. The House was clamorous and would not give up their right. Mr Vernon endeavoured to appease their fury, by declaring that Mrs Yates being taken with a hoarseness, had left the theatre,' but this excuse the Audience would not accept. Mr Vernon withdrew, and after a short time returned assuring the House that he had sent to Mr Garrick (who was confined to his room with a fit of the stone) but who had directed the messenger immediately to fetch Mrs Yates, and that her husband was then in the theatre. He was directly called for, and instantly came on the stage to know the pleasure of the Audience. They told him bluntly they did not want to see him, but to hear his wife, whose obstinacy and pride had betrayed her into the present insult. He in vain tried to assure them, that his wife's conduct proceeded from a very contrary cause from that which they alledged; and the cause was real illness. As the clamor was universal, Mr Yates quitted the stage; and at length, an hour and a half being spent in tumult, the overture was suffered, and the farce went on, but not in silence." See note, 9 March.] Receipts: #201 19s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Vernon. Public Advertiser, 5 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Vernon, Vauxhall. Receipts: #219 12s. 6d. (107.16.0; 20.13.6; 7.16.0; tickets: 83.7.0) (charge: #71 19s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Vernon. Public Advertiser, 17 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Vernon at Mahon's, the corner of Bow-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #222 19s. (108.19.0; 18.17.6; 0.6.6; tickets: 94.16.0) (charge: #65 1s.). Account-Book totals the charge as follows: Ord[inary] Charge #64 4s.; Sup[ernumeraries] 3s.; K[ettle] D[rum] 5s.; 6 Ext[ra] Carp[enter]s 9s

Event Comment: Benefit for Vernon. Mainpiece: With a Grand Procession, as 23 Dec. 1778. [Miss Pinto was from the Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin.] Public Advertiser, 15 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Vernon at Mahon's, the corner of Bow-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #217 1s. 6d. (121.8.0; 21.11.0; 0.19.6; tickets: 73.3.0) (charge: #73 3s. 6d.)