Event Comment: New dance damn'd. Aged 4y 2m My dear Fann dy'd poor Girl (Cross). [The extra chorus singers in Chaplet this season received 5s. per night each. Three seem customarily to have been used. Payments during the run to Mr Norton (in charge of music) "3 Chorus 15s." (Treasurer's Book).] Paid salary List #305 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #120 (Cross); #112 4s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Johnstone. 1st piece: The Music by Hook; the rest compiled from the most eminent Masters. Public Advertiser, 30 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Johnstone, No. 12, Norton-street, Portland Chapel. Receipts: #313 17s. (166.16.6; 12.2.6; tickets: 134.18.0)

Event Comment: Paid Lane for 22 1!4 yds. of Brocade #20; Youngest Shawford's dancing 5s.; Ditto Young Cross 5s.; Norton 2 Chorus last night 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #50 (Cross); #72 2s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With Proper Decorations. Dance by Desire. Paid Mr Donell for a Brown velvet coat & Breeches and a blue velvet flower'd waistcoat #4 4s.; to Mr Hughes for a blue velvet suit embroider'd, a Gray cloth coat lac'd with gold, a scarlet velvet waistcoat, an uncut velvet suit & cold straps #55; Paid Blandford (Tallow Chandler) #17 18s. 11d.; Paid Mr Havers five eights share Rent 100 nights #7 5s. 10d.; Paid Mrs Stanhope's 2 shares ditto #28 6s. 8d.; Norton 3 chorus 15s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #200 (Cross); #170 8s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Play never acted. 'Tis hoped no gentleman will take it ill that he cannot possibly be admitted behind scenes this night (General Advertiser). This play was wrote by Mr Whitehead Tutor to my Lord Jersey,--it was receiv'd with Extravagant applause--& it was Agreed Mr-(Cross). Paid Mr Ackman for writing voice parts in Don Severio #1 1s.; Salary list #305 6d. Norton 6 chorus #1 10s. (Treasurer's Book). [Of some interest is the fact that a ship plying between London and Dublin was named the Roman Father, perhaps in response to the popularity of this play. See note of its safe arrival in Crookhaven in General Advertiser 25 Oct. 1750.] Receipts: #190 (Cross); #191 7s. 6d. [Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Account-Book: Tickets delivered by W. Wilde, Curteen, Jackson, Gillet, Goostree, Mrs Masters, Miss Hill, Mrs Norton, Finley, Ashwin, Standen, Burton, Goodwin, Coates will be admitted. Receipts: #394 19s. (43.11.6; 4.12.6; tickets: 346.15.0)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. Pepys, Diary: I to the Cockpitt, with much crowding and waiting, where I saw The Valiant Cidd acted, a play I have read with great delight, but is a most dull thing acted, which I never understood before, there being no pleasure in it, though done by Betterton and by Ianthe [Mrs Saunderson], and another fine wench [Mrs Norton] that is come in the room of Roxalana [Mrs Davenport]; nor did the King or Queen once smile all the whole play, nor any of the company seem to take anyPleasure but what was in the greatness and gallantry of the company

Event Comment: By the late Mr Addison. Benefit Capt Norton, late Commander of the Crawley Pink, who was taken the 18th of Sept. last, after a Gallant Engagement of Five Hours with Twelve Spanish privateers

Event Comment: Paid Lane (Tailor) #105 17s.; Norton for 3 Chorus 15s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #170 (Cross); #154 12s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: MMrs Elmy ill--Pritchard did Indiana (Cross). Paid salary list #305 5s. 6d.; Norton 3 chorus 15s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #150 (Cross); #175 7s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mr Spencer writing Music for Chaplet #6 8s. 6d.; Salary list #254 7s. 11d.; Norton 4 chorus singers #1; Mrs Hobson a bill 10s. 5d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #100 (Cross); #105 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Particular Desire. We Hear that at Drury Lane is now in rehearsal and will shortly be perform'd a New Musical Entertainment call'd Don Saverio. The Music composed by Mr Arne (General Advertiser). Author of Merope [Aaron Hill] confin'd to his bed (Winston MS 7). Paid Cross for playing Young Worthy #1 1s. [See 26 Jan.]; Paid Salary list #254 3s. 9d.; Norton 4 chorus #1 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #200 (Cross); #142 17s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Liviez (Ballet Master) and Taswell. Paid young Cross for dancing 5s., and same to young Shawford. Allowed Leviez for tickets as per agreement #15; Norton 3 chorus last night 6 this #2 5s. (Treasurer's Book). Afterpiece: By Desire. Tickets deliver'd out by Taswell will be taken. Receipts: #150 (Cross). [Income missing from Treasurer's Book.

Event Comment: [Account-Book: Tickets delivered by Brandon, Hill, Mrs Masters, Gillet, Mrs Norton, Finley, Ashwin, Simmons will be admitted.] Receipts: #447 4s. (55.7.6; 6.16.0; tickets: 385.0.6)

Event Comment: Account-Book: Tickets delivered by Roberts, Norton, Loyd, Atkins, Mrs Pitt, Little, Ince, West, Dyke, Bagley, Berecloth, Young, Noble, Thompson, Coombs, Bonsor will be admitted. Receipts: #307 17s. (30.0.6; 5.5.6; tickets: 272.11.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Gibbs. 1st piece: The Musick composed by Storace

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; MD 3, by Samuel Birch, adapted from Camille; ou, Le Souterrain, by Benoit Joseph Marsollier des Vivetieres, and from Les Victimes Cloitrees, by Jacques Marie Boutet de Monvel; the songs written by Thomas John Dibdin. Larpent MS 1236; not published. The playbill states that this was "Taken from the German," but London Chronicle, 12 Dec., says that its source is the same as that of The Captive of Spilburg (see dl, 14 Nov.). An examination of the MSS of these two pieces (Larpent 1230 and 1236) proves that such is unmistakably the case]: With entire new Scenes, Machinery, Dresses & Decorations. The Music composed and selected by Steibelt and Attwood. The Action of the Chorusaes, Finales, &c. under the Direction of Farley, and the Action of the Overture by Bologna Jun. A new Descriptive Overture, composed by Steibelt, on a Plan never before introduced on the English Stage, accompanied by Action. "The overture is...nothing more than music adapted to pantomime; and, in the present instance, the dumb shew is an unnecessary anticipation of the procession with which the piece opens" (Monthly Mirror, Dec. 1798, p. 369). The Scenery painted by Richards, Phillips, Lupino, Hollogan, Blackmore, &c. The Dresses by Dick and Mrs Egan. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #338 17s. 6d. (325.14.6; 13.3.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; MD 5, by Richard Cumberland. Author of Prologue unknown]: A Romance of the Fourteenth Century, Formed upon the Plan of an unpublished Drama [Johanna von Montfaucon], written and transmitted by Augustus von Kotzebue, The Overture, Songs, Chorusses, Marches and Finale, with appropriate Symphonies between the Acts, by Busby. The Scenery, Dresses, Machinery & Decorations entirely New. The Scenery by Richards, Phillips, Lupino, Hollogan, &c. The arrangement of the Marches, Chorusses & Military Movements incidental to the Piece, under the direction of Farley. The Dresses by Dick and Mrs Egan. The Words of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. "The appropriate beauty of the scenery, in which the rules of perspective are critically observed, the splendour of the decorations and the richness of the dresses, have been rarely equalled" (Universal Magazine, Jan. 1800, p. 75). Receipts: #318 6d. (316.2; 2.4)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: 32nd Night [i.e. in continuation, erroneously, of the reckoning for the preceding season, when it was acted 28 times]. With new Music, Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. The Music (with a few Exceptions) composed entirely new by Shield. And new Scenery designed and chiefly executed by Richards. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. "Covent-garden is the National Theatre. I was there on 10th Dec. and saw an opera called The Woodman. It was the very day on which the life story of Madam Billington, both from the good as well as from the bad sides was announced [i.e. Memoirs of Mrs Billington, and An Answer to the Memoirs of Mrs Billington, both anonymous, both predated 1792]...She sang rather timidly this evening, but very well all the same. The first tenor [Incledon] has a good voice and quite a good style, but he uses the falsetto to excess. He sang a trill on high C and ran up to G. The 2nd tenor [Johnstone] tries to imitate him, but could not make the change from the falsetto to the natural voice, and apart from that is most unmusical...But the cast is entirely used to him. The leader is Herr Baumgartner [sic], a German who, however, has almost forgotten his mother-tongue. The Theatre is very dark and dirty, and is almost as large as the Vienna Court Theatre. The common people in the galleries of all the theatres are very impertinent; they set the fashion with all their unrestrained impetuosity, and whether something is repeated or not is determined by their yells. The parterre and all the boxes sometimes have to applaud a great deal to have something good repeated. That was just what happened this evening, with the Duet in the 3rd Act, which was very beautiful; and the pro's and contra's went on for nearly a quarter of an hour, till finally the parterre and the boxes won, and they repeated the Duet. Both the performers stood on the stage quite terrified, first retiring, then again coming forward. The orchestra is sleepy" (Haydn, 273-74). Receipts: #194 11s. (191.8; 3.3)

Event Comment: [Miss Arne, who is identified by MS annotation on Kemble playbill, had previously appeared as a chorus singer; see 27 Oct. 1794. In mainpiece the playbill assigns Mrs Peachum to Mrs Hopkins, Suky Tawdry to Mrs Maddocks, Mrs Coaxer to Miss Stageldoir, but "Mrs Hopkins being ill, Mrs Maddocks play'd Mrs Peachum; Mrs Hedges Suky Tawdry for Mrs Maddocks; Miss Stageldoir Ill, Mrs Jones play'd Mrs Coaxer. [In afterpiece] Jones Ill, Lyons Snuffle; Evans 4th Mob for Lyons [both these characters omitted from playbill]" (Powell).] Powell: Mayor of Garratt rehearsed at 12; New Ballet at 12. Receipts: #174 10s. (121.14; 51.2; 1.14)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 4, by George Colman elder. Prologue by the author (Morning Chronicle, 13 Oct.). Scenery by Rooker (ibid. 1 Sept.). Larpent MS 490; not published; synopsis of plot in London Magazine, Sept. 1779, pp. 405-7]. "The first three acts want business, and the denouement is rather suddenly brought about...The greatness of the task of performing a character of which Mrs Abington had been announced as the intended representative seemed to inspire [Miss Farren] with additional zeal, and helped her to gain additional credit" (Morning Chronicle, 1 Sept.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Hannah Cowley.] Miss Younge had a song [Wake, thou son of dullness] composed by Michael Arne. Authors of Prologue and Epilogue unknown]: New Scenes and Dresses. Account-Book, 16 June: Paid Mrs Cowley for suspending the publication of the Belle's Stratagem #100. Public Advertiser, 1 Apr. 1782: In a few Days will be published The Belle's Stratagem. A spurious Copy having been published in Ireland [in 1781] make[s] it necessary to observe that the above is the genuine Comedy, as performed at Covent Garden Theatre. Ibid., 9 Apr. 1782: This Day is published The Belle's Stratagem (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #213 19s. (212.15.6; 1.3.6)