Event Comment: The opening of the season was originally announced for 21 Dec. 1799, but on that day the Morning Chronicle carried the following notice: "The Nobility and Gentry, Subscribers to the Opera, and the Public, are most respectfully informed that the opening of this Theatre is unavoidably postponed to Saturday next, the 28th instant, on account of the indisposition of one of the principal Performers." But on the 28th the opening was again postponed to 4 Jan. On 6 Jan. a notice appeared in the Morning Herald, as follows: "King's Theatre, Saturday Evening, January 4, 1800. The Directors beg leave respectfully to inform the Nobility and Gentry (Subscribers) and the Public in general that the Theatre was advertised to be opened This Evening, with the concurrence and approbation of the Trustees, and it was not until this afternoon that they heard of an unforeseen difficulty having arisen with respect to issuing the License. It was then too late to advertise by means of the Public Newspapers the necessary postponement of the opening; but every effort was made on the part of the Direction to apprise the Subscribers, by sending to their respective houses, and by distributing a hand-bill in all the principal streets; notwithstanding which, they lament to find that many Ladies and Gentlemen were disappointed. The Directors humbly hope that on this statement of the fact they shall stand acquitted of all disrespect to the Subscribers and the Public, who shall have the earliest notice of the conclusion of all the arrangements for the immediate opening of the Theatre and performance of Operas for the season." See 11 Jan. A copy of the hand-bill referred to above, making mention of the "unforeseen circumstances," is attached to the Kemble playbill of dl, 4 Jan.

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Lady Perrott and her Orphan Family. Lady Perrott trusts that this will be her last appeal to public commiseration, hoping to obtain justice from her claims in Jamaica. When it is considered that these agonizing efforts to preserve five helpless children are made by a woman born to all the delicate indulgences attending on rank and fashion, every species of apology would be deemed an insult to be had of Lady Perrott, No. 28, Spring-street, Portman-square

Event Comment: Benefit for Mme Hilligsberg. Tickets to be had of Mme Hilligsberg, No. 43, Gerrard-street, Soho. 2nd ballet [1st time]: Composed by Didelot, the music by Bossi. With new Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. The Public are respectfully informed that a Programme of the Ballet may be had at the doors

Event Comment: Benefit for Suett. Account-Book; Suett to have a Moiety of his tickets over #105. Morning Chronicle, 19 May: Tickets to be had of Suett, No. 21, King-street, Bloomsbury-square. Receipts: #588 18s. (359.17.6; 38.13.0; 2.2.0; tickets] 188.5.6) (charge: none listed)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mme Banti. A New Serious Opera [1st time; SER 2]. The Poetry by Metastasio, and the Music entirely new, composed by an English Gentleman [Richard Edgcumbe, Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe], who has obligingly lent Mme Banti the Score, and kindly consented to its being represented upon that occasion. Tickets to be had of Mme Banti, No. 24, St. Alban's-street. "Having granted the use of this opera to Banti only, I withdrew it immediately, and would not permit it to be again represented for the manager, who requested to have it. After this, Roselli sung no more, nor had we ever another soprano [i.e. castrato] at the opera [until 1825]" (Mount-Edgcumbe, 88)

Event Comment: Benefit for Dignum. Morning Chronicle, 28 May: Tickets to be had of Dignum, No. 23, New North-street, Red Lion-square. Receipts: #628 0s. 6d. (92.5.6; 41.1.6; 8.11.0; tickets: 486.2.6) (charge: #70 7s. 11d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Didelot and Mme Rose Didelot. Tickets to be had of Didelot, No. 13, Panton-street, Haymarket

Event Comment: Benefit for Jewell, treasurer. Morning Chronicle, 1 Sept.: Tickets to be had of Jewell, No. 26, Suffolk-street, Charing-cross

Event Comment: Benefit for Fawcett. "We were careful to repair to the Theatre at an early hour. But, to see the whole street lined with carriages and blockaded on both sides with pedestrians vainly pressing for admittance, was more than we had anticipated. Hundreds, who had purchased tickets, were under the necessity of returning home, without passing the threshold of the Theatre...Fawcett exerted the whole scope of his abilities, in grateful return for the patronage with which he was so profusely honoured...Whenever Fawcett moves in his proper sphere, as a comic actor, he is never known to fail" (Dramatic Censor, III, 129). Morning Chronicle, 6 Sept.: Tickets to be had of Fawcett, No. 3, Tanfield-court, Temple

Event Comment: Powell: Deaf Lover rehearsed at 10; New Ballet at 11 (dismissed). Receipts: #230 (182.14.6; 42.14.6; 3.16.0; 6.1.2 tks.: 0.15.0)