Event Comment: PPublic Advertiser: Mr Vanneschi begs leave to inform the Nobility and Gentry, that a Licence being granted to him from the Lord Chamberlain's office, with his Majesty's most gracious Approbation, for exhibiting Italian operas at the King's Theatre in the Haymarket, Subscriptions for the ensuing Season will be taken in by Mess. Drummond and Co., Bankers at Charing Cross. He humbly desires his Protectors and Subscribers, to oblige him with an early Payment of their Subscription Money, in order that he may be able to give the necessary Securities to Sga Colomba Mattei, and to Sg Pasquale Potenza, as also to the Rest of his Singers and Dancers. It being given out that Mr Vanneschi hath not engaged the Use of the Opera House for the ensuing Season of Operas, it is hereby certified, that the Proprietor thereof hath agreed with Mr Vanneschi for the same. Sign'd by order of the Proprietor. Peter Crawford, Treasurer of said Theatre

Event Comment: Afterpiece: For the last time this Season. Paid Mr Dimon on acct per order #5 5s.; Mrs Slaughter's bill; #3 6s. Mr Davies draft to Peters #6 6s.; Chorus 2 nights (this incl.) #5 1s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #148 9s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; burl 2, by Charles Dibdin, based on The Loves of Mars and Venus, by Peter Anthony Motteux]: With New Scenes and Dresses. The Music chiefly composed by Dibdin. [Dr Arne and Dr Arnold each wrote one air.] Books of the Burletta to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 5 Feb. 1778: This Day at Noon is published Poor Vulcan! (1s.). [The playbill lists Reinhold in place of Mahon, but on the Kemble playbill his name is deleted and a MS annotation substitutes Mahon's.] Receipts: #232 5s. 6d. (230.2.6; 2.3.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years [not acted since 30 Oct. 1771]. Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by Edward Topham. Prologue by Miles Peter Andrews (Public Advertiser, 7 Dec.). Larpent MS 539; not published]. Receipts: #207 11s. 6d. (158.18.0; 48.12.6; 0.1.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Humane Society. [Prologue by Miles Peter Andrews (European Magazine, Dec. 1784, p. 467).]

Event Comment: [Mrs Wells was from the HAY.] Afterpiece: Never performed here. [Prologue by Miles Peter Andrews.] Receipts: #204 2s. (197/13; 6/9)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Mrs Wells, but she "was so ill last night that she could not perform the part of Jane Shore. It was undertaken by Mrs T. Kennedy" (Public Advertiser, 21 Dec.).] Afterpiece [1st time; P 2, by John O'Keeffe]: The Pantomime, and the whole of the Scenery, Machinery, Dresses, &c. designed and invented by Loutherbourg, and executed under his superintendance and direction by Richards, Carver, Hodgins, Catton Jun., Turner, assisted by two other celebrated artists [all subsequent playbills have "a celebrated artist"; he was the Rev. Matthew William Peters (Public Advertiser, 16 Dec.)]. The Music entirely new, composed by Shield. Books containing a short account of the Pantomime, as well as the Recitatives, Airs, Duets, Trios and Chorusses, and a Description of the Procession, to be had at the Theatre. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. [This was the last theatrical piece for which De Loutherbourg designed the scenery. For a detailed account of it see "De Loutherbourg and Captain Cook", by Ralph G. Allen, Theatre Research, IV, 195-211.] Account-Book, 17 Oct.: Paid De Loutherbourg on acct. #120; 20 Dec.: Paid Goodwin for copying Music #10 14s.; 14 Feb. 1786: Paid O'Keeffe in full for Omai #40. Receipts: #309 19s. (302/7; 7/12)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; T 5, by Frederick Reynolds. Larpent MS 750; not published; synopsis of plot in Universal Magazine, Dec. 1786, pp. 333-34. Prologue by the author (London Chronicle, 23 Dec.). Epilogue by Miles Peter Andrews (World, 4 Jan. 1787); and see Epilogue to Such Things Are, 10 Feb. 1787]. Receipts: #165 14s. (156.1; 9.13)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Thomas Holcroft. Prologue by the author (Public Advertiser, 19 Mar.). Epilogue by Miles Peter Andrews (Knapp, 81)]: With new Scenery, Dresses, &c. Public Advertiser, 31 Mar. 1787: This Day is published Seduction (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #187 15. (162.14.0; 24.1.6; 0.17.0; ticket not come in: 0.2.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; D 4, by Elizabeth Inchbald, adapted from Zelie; ou, L'Ingenue, by Stephanie Felicite Ducrest de Saint Aubin, Comtesse de Genlis. Beginning with 6 Dec. this was reduced to an afterpiece of 3 acts. Epilogue by Miles Peter Andrews (see text)]. Public Advertiser, 12 Dec. 1788: This Day is published The Child of Nature (price not listed). Afterpiece: Reduced [from 5] into 3 acts. Receipts: #150 15s 6d. (139.10.0; 11.5.6),

Event Comment: Benefit for Hull. [Mainpiece: Epilogue by Miles Peter Andrews.] Public Advertiser, 21 May: Tickets to be had of Hull, No. 31, Bow-street, Covent-garden. Receipts: #172 16s. 6d. (100.8.0; 9.0.6; tickets: 63.8.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Seven Orphan Children of Peter? Harris, late Ballet-Master of this Theatre, who a short time since [on 23 Mar.] was unfortunately killed. Receipts: #311 1s. (73.12; 11.5; tickets: 226.4)

Event Comment: [2nd piece: Epilogue by Miles Peter Andrews.] Receipts: #185 19s. 6d. (180.11.0; 5.8.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Hull. [Epilogue by Miles Peter Andrews. Monody by Robert Merry (European Magazine, May 1790, p. 390).] Gazetteer, 11 May: Tickets to be had of Hull, No. 31, Bow-street, Covent-Garden. Receipts: #168 6s. (87.8; 7.9; tickets: 73.9)

Event Comment: ["The Lord Ogleby of (The Clandestine Marriage) raised Mr King to the summit of comic excellence, which his more recent great character, Sir Peter Teazle in The School for Scandal, has established him in the unrivalled possession of" (Johnson, ed. Waldron, 169).] Receipts: #245 (211.9; 33.6; 0.5)

Event Comment: [2nd piece: Epilogue by Miles Peter Andrews.] Receipts: #152 2s. (142.2; 10.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Mattocks. [Epilogue by Miles Peter Andrews (Oracle, 5 May).] Public Advertiser, 28 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Mattocks, No. 7, King-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #272 18s. 6d. (170.11.6; 4.3.0; tickets: 98.4.0)

Event Comment: [Prologue by John Peter Roberdeau (European Magazine, Aug. 1791, p. 141).] "Of Palmer Sen.'s? acting the chief fault is...a manner by far too juvenile. He has very much the turn of countenance and mode of speech suitable to Falstaff, but his gait has no appearance of debility or infirmity, and is such as any man might use, incumbered by the same dress" (Gazetteer, 21 June)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Frederick Reynolds, based partly on Monsieur Thomas, by John Fletcher. Prologue by Robert Merry. Epilogue by Miles Peter Andrews (see text)]: With new Scenery, Dresses, &c. Public Advertiser, 24 Apr. 1793: This Day is published Notoriety (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #228 8s. (224.0; 4.8)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Mattocks. [1st piece: Epilogue by Miles Peter Andrews.] 3rd piece [1st time; F 2, by Eliza Parsons, based on Monsieur de Pourceaugnac, by Moliere]. Morning Herald, 27 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Mattocks, No. 8, Great Russel-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #269 11s. 6d. (174.14.0; 4.16.6; tickets: 90.1.0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Benefit for Wilson. Wilson's most violent and sudden Indisposition will prevent his having the honor of appearing before the Public and his Friends this Evening, and sincerely hopes the Pieces he is under the necessity of substituting will meet their approbation. [2nd piece in place of Hail Fellow Well Met; 3rd piece of The Rights of Woman, both advertised on playbill of 7 May. A 4th (and new) play, The Point of Honor, by John Peter Roberdeau, was also advertised on playbill of 7 May. It was never acted. Hail Fellows [sic] Well Met and The Rights of Women [sic] were 1st acted, for Wilson's benefit, at the hay, 9 Aug. 1792.] Morning Herald, 24 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Wilson at his house, Park-lane, Church-lane, Chelsea. Receipts: #285 5s. (93.17; 1.14; tickets: 189.14) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: 24th [recte 25th] time [i.e. in continuation of the reckoning for the previous season, when it had been acted 24 times. Epilogue by Miles Peter Andrews]. Receipts: #262 3s