Event Comment: Pepys, Diary: To church, it being thanksgiving-day for the cessation of the plague; but, Lord! how the towne do say that it is hastened before the plague is quite over, there dying some people still, but only to get ground for plays to be publickly acted, which the bishops would not suffer till the plague was over; and one would thinke so, by the suddenness of the notice given of the day, which was last Sunday, and the little ceremony

Event Comment: Luttrell, A Brief Relation, III, 410, 11 Dec. 1694: Sunday last was performed before their majesties in the chappel royal the same vocal and instrumental musick as was performed at St Brides church on St Cecilia's day last

Event Comment: Christopher Rich's Company. The date of this revival is not certain. Apparently the revival was in preparation before the division of the company, but the publication of the Songs in 1695 confines the production to the period between mid-April and the late autumn. For the opera, see The Works of John Dryden, Vol. VIII: The Plays, edited by John Harrington Smith and Dougald MacMillan (Berkeley and Los Angeles, 1692), pp. 325-30; Moore, Henry Purcell and the Restoration Theatre, Chapter VI;and Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, Vol. XIX. The Songs (1695), the music by Henry Purcell, lists the following pieces and singers: I, Wake, wake, Quivera, sung by Freeman. I, Why shou'd men quarrel, sung by The Boy, with Flutes. Their looks are such that mercy flows, sung by Freeman. II, I come to sing, sung by Freeman. Scorn'd Envy here's nothing, sung by Freeman. Begone, curst Feinds of Hell, sung by Freeman. III, Ah, how happy we are, sung by Freeman and Church. I attempt from Love's sickness to fly, sung by Mrs Cross. IV, They tell us that you mighty powers above, sung by Mrs Cross. In addition, other parts of the opera appeared elsewhere: Act V, a Masque, set by Daniel Purcell, O Bless the Genial Bed with chast delights, in Deliciae Musicae, First Book of the Second Volume, 1696. [The others, since they do not name the performers, are omitted here.

Event Comment: At Penkethman's Great Booth, above Bird-Cage Alley, over against St. George's Church. Mainpiece: a celebrated Droll

Event Comment: Thomas Gray to Horace Walpole, 3 Jan.: I went to King Arthur last night, which is exceeding fine; they have a new man to supply Delane's place, one Johnson, with ye finest person & face in the world to all appearance; but as awkward, as a Button-maker; in short, if he knew how to manage his Beauties to advantage, I should not wonder, if all the Women run mad for him: the inchanted part of the play, is not Machinery, but actual magick: the second scene is a British temple enough to make one go back a thousand years, & really be in ancient Britain: the Songs are all Church-musick, & in every one of ye Chorus's Mrs Chambers sung ye chief part, accompanied with Roarings, Squawlings & Squeakations dire. Mrs Giffard is by way of Emmeline, & should be blind, but, heaven knows! I would not wish to see better than she does, & seems to do; for when Philidel restores her to sight, her eyes are not at all better than before; she is led in at first, by a Creature, yet was more like a Devil by half, than Grimbald himself; she took herself for Madame la Confidente, but every body else took her to be in the Circumstances of Damnation: when Emmeline comes to her sight, she beholds this Mrs Matilda first, & cries out Are Women all like thee? such glorious Creatures! which set the people into such a laugh, as lasted the whole Act: the Frost Scene is excessive fine; the first Scene of it is only a Cascade, that seems frozen: with the Genius of Winter asleep & wrapt in furs, who upon the approach of Cupid, after much quivering, & shaKing sings the finest song in the Play: just after, the Scene opens, & shows a view of arched rocks covered with Ice & Snow to ye end of ye Stage; between the arches are upon pedestals of Snow eight Images of old men & women, that seem frozen into Statues, with Icicles hanging about them & almost hid in frost, & from ye end come Singers, viz: Mrs Chambers, &: & Dancers all rubbing their hands & chattering with cold with fur gowns & worsted gloves in abundance. Gray, Correspondence, I, 36-37

Event Comment: Mainpiece: And proper Scenes, particularly a New View of St. Dunstan's Church, &c

Event Comment: Benefit Destrade and Reinhold. Tickets deliver'd out by Mrs Louch will be taken. No tickets sold at the door will be admitted. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality, for the Benefit of Mrs Middlehurst, from Cheshire, whose name is now Louch; Tickets at Mrs Louch's, three Doors above St James Church, Piccadilly [Folger Bill]

Event Comment: 1 Written by Shakespear. Benefit Church, Baker, Saunder, Dunbar, Bride, Brooks, Peite, and Stephens (Gallery Box-Keeper). Places of Hobson at the stage door

Event Comment: Benefit Miss Haughton. Boxes 2s. 6d. Pit 2s. 1st gallery 1s. 6d. Upper gallery 1s. Tickets at Miss Haughton's Lodgings, at Mrs Simpson's, Church Lane

Event Comment: No money returned after the curtain is up. No admittance behind scenes. This day is published The Story on which the New Tragedy call'd The Roman Father is founded, with some account of the Author and his writings. Sold by W. Reeves, in Fleet St.; and A. Dodd opposite St Clement's Church in the Strand (General Advertiser). Paid Norton 6 chorus #1 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #170 (Cross); #164 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Norton 6 Chorus #1 10s. (Treasurer's Book). This Day is Publish'd at 6d. Remarks on the New Tragedy call'd The Roman Father, with a word to the Author. "When authors write such lively strains so sad,@They needs must make the honest Critic mad." By a Spectator. Sold by W. Reeve at Shakespeare's Head in Fleet St.; and A. Dodd at the Peacock opposite St. Clement's Church in the Strand. Receipts: #180 (Cross); #159 7s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Ray, W. Vaughan, G. Burton & ye Sub-Treasurer (Cross). Tickets of Ray, at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, St Clement's Church; at the Black Swan Tavern, in Bartholomew Lane; the Old King's Head Tavern, Facing Somerset House; For Vaughan, at the One Ton Coffee House, St. James' Market; for Burton, at Pope's next the Stage Door, Russel St.; and of Hobson at the Stage Door. Tickets deliver'd for the Lady's Last Stake, or the Wife's Resentment will be taken. Receipts: #214 (Cross)

Event Comment: [The theatres this night met competition from (I) an Assembly at the king's Theatre in the Haymarket, tickets 26s. each, to admit one Gentleman and two ladies. (2) another Assembly at the Five Bells Tavern, behind the New Church, in the Strand, where was opened the Temple of Taste, where will be exhibited a grand concert of Music. Also an attempt towards the Introduction of a new rational entertainment, consisting of an Occasional Prologue by a Gentleman; a panegyric on the Utility of Public Speaking, in which the Design is particularly illustrated; Propositions made from a Gentleman in the Chair, to be debated by the company, such as the Gay and Polite may be supposed to understand, and speak upon with success; to conclude with an Original Epilogue; the whole interspers'd with several grand concertos, Overtures, and Full pieces of Musick. This design, which has for its object the interest of Knowledge, Eloquence and Politeness, needs no Apology, and can be opposed by those, with whom to be at variance, is Virtue. No subject of so Sacred Nature as Religion, will be there canvass'd nor anything that can give Occasion to Indecency, or unmannerly reflection on any Undertaking or Party.-In this attempt all Men of Taste are interested, as they will have an opportunity not only of being pleased, but giving pleasure by considering every subject with candour, and reasoning upon it, with Eloquence and propriety. To this entertainment, the Ladies are likewise invited, who have an unexceptionable right to be present at all Attempts, calculated for the promotion of knowledge, and as their appearance will naturally secure polite behavior, so they may reap some advantage from the Circulation of ideas, which is such an Assembly must necessarily take place. The price of entrance-half a crown each. To begin precisely at seven. The room which is very commodious, will be elegantly illuminated. The SUBJECT for the first Night's Debate will be, "If the Custom of Portioning Daughters was entirely suppress'd, would it not be a good Expedient towards the promotion of Matrimony and the felicity of that state." It continued on four Wednesday nights. Then seems to have died.

Event Comment: Publish'd at 3s. The Actor, in One Pocket Volume. A treatise on the art of playing, interspersed with Observations on the performances of Garrick, Quin, Barry, Berry, Macklin, Ryan, Havard, Woodward, Foote, &c; Mrs Cibber, Mrs Pritchard, Mrs Woffington, Mrs Ward, Mrs Elmy, Mrs Green, Mrs Clive, Miss Bellamy, &c. Also some anecdotes of Betterton, Booth and Wilkes and other celebrated performers; together with occasional remarks upon managers and audiences, and upon the principal Tragedies, Comedies, Masques and Farces. Printed for R. Griffiths in Paul's Church-yard. Receipts: #130 (Cross)

Event Comment: [N+New Wells, Lemon St. Goodman's Fields.] As Church wardens and Overseers of the Parish of Whitechapel did lately receive Information, that several young Persons have exhibited Plays at Goodman's Fields Wells...that the said young Persons have actually met and rehearsed Plays on the Lord's Day, in Defiance of all Laws, Divine and Human; the said Churchwardens and Overseers, assisted by proper Authorities, went last Night to Goodman's Fields Wells, which they found vastly crowded, and having severly reprimanded the Performers, dismissed the Audience (Daily Advertiser, 2 March)

Event Comment: Music composed by Dr Arne. Pit and Boxes will be laid together at Half a Guinea, and no person to be admitted without Tickets, which may be had at Dr Arne's in the Piazza next the Church, Covent Garden, and of Varney at the Stage Door of the Theatre. First Gallery 5s. Upper Gallery 3s. 6d. [Information concerning this Oratorio appeared in the Public Advertiser, 23 Feb.. "on Saturday last the New Oratorio called Judith, composed by Dr Arne, to be at Drury Lane on Friday, was rehearsed at the House of a Lady of Quality, where was present a numerous Assembly of the First Distinction, who honoured it with the highest approbation. We are assured that in the Sacred Oratorio, Sg Tenducci has obtained Permission from his Plaintiff, to sing the part which Signora Eberhardi was so obliged as to understudy for him, in Case he could not obtain such Indulgence."

Event Comment: Both pieces under the Direction of Dr Arne. Mainpiece: Written by Dryden. Set to Music by Handel. Afterpiece: A Serenata of one Act set to Music by Dr Arne. N.B. Though the nightly expenses attending these performances during the Lent, will be at least equal to any on the like occasion, the Prices will be only Boxes 7s. Pit 5s. First Gallery 3s. and the Upper Gallery 2s. To begin as usual. Subscriptions will continue through the Lent to be taken at Three Guineas, for which the Subscribers shall receive Twelve Box tickets to be used at pleasure, till all are come in, which tickets may be had at Dr Arne's in the Piazza, next the Church, Covent Garden

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Brent. Opera for the last time this season. Pit and Boxes to be laid together at 5s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Tickets sold at the doors will not be admitted. Tickets to be had of Miss Brent, at the China Shop in the Piazza, next the Church, Covent Garden

Event Comment: Paid half year's land tax for theatre due Mich. last #37 10s. Paid ditto for House in Bow Passage #2 1s. 8d., also 1!2 years tax for window light in theatre #4 18s. 3d. and for same in House in Bow Passage 15s. Paid half years scavenger's rate for theatre, #2 1s. 8d., and for Bow Passage House, 2s. 1d. Paid half year's Church rate for theatre #4 3s. 4d. and for Bow Passage House 4s. 2d. (Account Book). Receipts: #125 7s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Paid land tax, Window, Church &c. rates #4 10s. 2d. Paid for licensing Country Girl #1 1s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #94 5s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Dodd. Afterpiece: Not acted these 9 years. [See 26 March 1763.] Married at Marylebone Church-W. Lacy, Esq one of managers of Drury Lane to Miss Orpen, daughter of an eminent hatter (Winston MS 10). Married: Willoughby Lacy, Esq to Miss Orpen of St Mary-le-bon (Gentleman's Magazine, 1744, p. 141). Receipts: #166 16s. Charges: #64 12s. Profits to Dodd: #102 4s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. Paid one-half Year's Land Tax #52 10s.Paid Church and Militia Rate for Theatre, 1779, #17 10s. Receipts: #292 13s. (291.17; 0.16)

Event Comment: Benefit for Hurst and Burton. Public Advertiser, 26 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Hurst at More's, pastry cook, the East End of the New Church, Strand; of Burton, No. 149, Fleet-street. Receipts: #111 18s. (27.0.0; 20.19.6; 0.13.6; tickets: 63 .5.0) (charge: #64 11s. 6d.

Event Comment: Benefit for Barrymore. Public Advertiser, 17 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Barrymore, No. 22, Church-street, St. Ann's. Receipts: #301 0s. 6d. (82.5.0; 18.1.0; 0.7.6; tickets. 200.7.0) (charge: #114 7s. 6d.)