Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the Prologue to Bonduca refers to She Ventures and He Wins. As Bonduca was advertised in the London Gazette, No. 3126, 24-28 Oct. 1695, the play was certainly not acted later than early October 1695, probably not later than September 1695. The Edition of 1696 includes on the titlepage: With A New Entertainment of Musick, Vocal and Instrumental. [The music was composed by Henry Purcell. See Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XVI, vii-xiii.] Those songs for which a performer is named are as follows: O lead me to some peaceful gloom, sung by Miss Cross, and Sing ye Druids, all your voices raise, sung by Mrs Ayliff, both in Songs in the Tragedy of Bonduca, ca. 1696. To arms, sung by Freeman and Edwards, is in Thesaurus Musicus, The Fifth Book, 1696

Event Comment: [By Mary de la Riviere Manley.] Never Acted before. And by Reason of the Extraordinary Charge for Habits, Boxes 5s., Pit 3s., First Gallery 2s., Upper Gallery 1s. Preface: Almyna was admirably Acted, and advantagiously dress'd: The first was owing to Mr Betterton's unwearied care...the second to Mr Swiny...for venturing...to make so great an Expence...both justly condemn'd for playing it at so ill-fated a Time, viz. The immediate Week before Christmas between Devotion and Camilla

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Robinson. Admission as 8 Dec. 1716

Event Comment: Written by the late Mr Otway. Receipts: #26 3s. 6d. Weekly Journal or Saturday's Post, 13 Jan.: Mr C. Bullock having a considerable Part in the Play; and being sick in his Bed, chose to rise and perform his Part; rather than disappoint the Audience, but was not able to finish it; therefore his Part in the last Act was read by another

Event Comment: For the Entertainment of their Excellencies Jousef Coja and Sidi Mohammed, Envoys from Tunis. Mainpiece: Written by Mr Farquhar. Afterpiece: Set to Musick by Mr T. Arne Jr

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Eminent Merchants and Citizens. Afterpiece: Written by Mr Carey. London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 9 Oct.: Yesterday, between One and Two o'Clock, died of a Haemorrage . . . Mr Charles Hulett, belonging to [GF], whose natural Qualifications to the Stage, had he the Application of many of less Merit, would have render'd him one of the most considerable Performers now alive

Event Comment: Benefit Haughton. Tickets at Haughton's, at the Wheatsheaf in Little Russel Street, cg. Daily Advertiser, 24 March: An Order having been sent to Mr Giffard, forbidding all Performances on Wednesdays and Fridays in Lent, Mr Haughton was oblig'd to defer his Benefit to this Day

Event Comment: Benefit A Gentleman who has wrote for the stage, Mr Searle, Mr Walker (Numberer), and several others. Tickets deliver'd for the Gamester will be taken this night. The Daily Advertiser listed The Gamester: Benefit of the Author of a New Comedy intended for the stage, and wrote to expose some of the greatest Grievances the Nation Labours under in Time of Peace. [Includes a note begging encouragement.

Event Comment: Both ye Houses play'd on ye same day, Romeo & Juliet, Mr Barry & Mrs Cibber at Covent Garden against Mr Garrick & Miss Bellamy at Drury Lane--Miss Bellamy never appear'd upon this stage before, & was greatly receiv'd--both houses too added a Scene of Juliet's funeral (Cross). Receipts: #150 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Tickets deliver'd out by Mr Oswald will be taken (General Advertiser). Mr Oswald ye Music had some Tickets (Cross). [Queen Mab played thirty-two times consecutively at full prices.] A. Betson, Miscellaneous Dissertations: Historical, Critical, and Moral, on the Origin and Antiquity of Masquerades, Plays, Poetry, and several other heathenish customs. Printed. (Register of Books, Gentleman's Magazine, Feb. 1751, p. 95). Receipts: #140 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for a Tradesman under Confinement. [This benefit had first been advertised on Monday 11 Nov. Tickets were to be had at seven Coffee Houses, at Mr Watkins' Optician, at Charing Cross, Mrs Crokett's, Harberdasher at the Seven Stars, Ludgate St., and at the stage door. On the day of the benefit one Philantropos contributed a letter in support of it which was printed in the first column of the General Advertiser. The Tradesman was a bookseller who was "the immediate instrument of ushering into the world some of the most valuable books that have been publish'd for these 30 years." But he had paid more attention to the advancement of letters than "to the lucrative views that attend the trade in general," so, in the eyes of Philantropos deserved the support of the town at this benefit.] The death of Mr Cooke mentioned in the Papers is a mistake, he being in a fair way of recovery (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: Receipts: #151 18s. Paid Mr Dallon on acct of salary omitted 15th inst. #1 10s. and salary for 22 inst. #1 10s.; Paid Mr Whitefield (assistant in the wardrobe) 3 months salary due 24th inst. #7 10s.; J. Rich on acct #21; Paid Stephen Gom at Uxbridge in full #38 5s

Event Comment: LLusignan by Mr Powell (first time) (Hopkins). Mr Powell played Lusignan with great Feeling, but spoke much too low, and cryed too much (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). Full Prices. Receipts: #241 7s. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Young. Afterpiece: Not acted in 20 years. Music by Dr Arne. [See John Lockman's Reflections concerning Operas, &c." in his introduction to his edition of Rosalinda (London, 1760), p. iv: 'A gentleman, well known for his musical compositions, is of opinion, that the reason why the Opera Rosamond tho' adorned with all the graces of lyric poetry, does not please from the stage, so much as might be expected, is owing to a circumstance that forms a beauty in the drama itself; I mean the suppos'd poisoning of Rosamond at the end of the second act, and her appearing no more upon the stage. Whilst this sheet was at press, I was told that Mr Arne has reduc'd this opera into one act, and set the whole anew; and so managed matters, that Rosamond appears throughout the whole drama. Tis said that the music of this new Rosamond is as delightful as that of another performance of Mr Arne's which now affords the town so agreeable an Entertainment."

Event Comment: Benefit for Shuter. Tickets to be had of Shuter at Number 2, in Martlet Court, Bow St. Covent Garden; and of Mr Sarjant, Book-Keeper. Charges: #65 2s. [Profits to Shuter #150 6d., plus #70 11s. from tickets (Box 233; Pit 82).] Paid Miss Elliott the balance of her two nights Jan. 13 and Feb. 18, #90 13s. 6d. and gave her as a present from the managers by deducting the charge of the Farce for her 2nd night, Feb. 18th, #21 (Account Book). Receipts: #215 2s. 6d. (Account Book). About 5 with great difficulty got into the Pit at Covent Garden to see...the benefit for Mr Shuter. Stood all night at the bottom of the Pit in a most disagreeable situation, though I saw very well and heard too, unless when prevented by the noise on occasion of which Shuter very smartly applied the Passage, But if we all speak together, how shall we hear one another," and again when a great noise was made about someone in the Gallery, he cried 'Give him a knock o' the head and make him quiet,' and another bawling Silence," he cried Silence, Silence why don't you be quiet.'At the end of Act II, the Cries of London', with additions by Shuter. In going off he shook his head on hearing it encored, but was oblig'd to comply by repeating the greater part. End of Opera Shuter entertained us with his Serious, Comic Post-Haste Observations in his Journey to Paris, to hear which was a principal reason of my not dining at Holliss's. The Barber in the Upholsterer inimitably played by Woodward (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: Benefit for Shuter. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Afterpiece: By Particular Desire of several persons of Distinction, to be added for that night only. Neville MS Diary: Covent Garden Theatre after being shut up for the season was open'd tonight as a high favour to Shuter...Before [the farce] the Gods having call'd for the Music to play Roast Beef, would not suffer the play to begin till their request was complied with. They pelted Davies and Hull, who appeared first, with orange skins, crying Off, Off'...Glad Shuter had a good house. He is an excellent comedian and is said to have a good heart. [The income for this night not listed in the Account Books. On 10 June however, the treasurer received from Shuter #10 'for the renters for the night of his benefit," and #1 13s. 9d. for oyl that night. On 20 July the treasurer received from Shuter #43 15s. for tickets for his first benefit, and #1 4s. 1 1!2d. in money, along with #20 for his second benefit." On July 22, the treasurer paid "to sundry Creditors of Mr Shuter as per Receipt Books #245 4s. 1 1!2d., and to Mr Wilford by order of Shuter #60, and to Beard #26 16s." N.B. On Wednesday 1 July The sum of #60,000 was this day paid down for the purchase of the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden, pursuant to agreement. The patentees are Messieurs Colman, Harris, Rutherford and Powell"--Gentleman's Magazine, p. 379.

Event Comment: Doors opened at 6 o'clock. To Begin (By Particular Desire) exactly at Seven. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. King of Denmark. Lusignan-Mr Garrick (Cross Diary). For the King of Denmark.--At a Quarter after seven, an Apology was made by Mr Holland--viz.--"The King, being detained longer than he expected, sent word to desire the play might begin as he would not by any means make the publick wait, and he would come as soon as he possibly could,--and he [Holland] desired to know the audience's pleasure whether it should begin before he came."--A great clap and cry'd "No,"--not begin till he comes"--At thirty-five minutes after seven he came, and the play began (Hopkins Diary)