Event Comment: Benfit for Berry. Afterpiece: By Desire. Tickets at stage door, and of Berry at Mr Pope's, a Peruke Maker in Russel St., Covent Garden. Berry's figure was well adapted to Sciolto, Acasto and characters of that cast; No man had more feeling than he, and it generally had its proper effect, but by being too fond of aiming at tenderness, he grated upon the ear of an auditor (Genest, IV, p. 363, from State of the Stage). Receipts: #220 (Cross)

Event Comment: This day publish'd at 3s. Printed on Five sheets of superfine paper, Five Principal Scenes in Romeo and Juliet, designed, drawn, and engraved by Mr Ant. Walker. Printed and sold by John Tinney, at the Golden Lion in Fleet St. The drawing and Engraving of the three following Plays of Shakespeare are in great forwardness, and the scenes of each play will be sold at a time: 1 Henry IV, 2 Henry IV, Merry Wives. These plates will serve for Mr Pope's edition of Shakespeare in quarto, Sir Thomas Hanmer's edn. 6 Vol. quarto, or for any of the Folio editions. And may be framed and glazed for furniture. There will be a few sets neatly coloured for Gentlemen and Ladies who chuse them so (Public Advertiser). [A set of these prints is available in the Folger Shakespeare Library. The Five Principal Scenes were: The scene in Capulet's Housev where Romeo kisses Juliet 's hand; the Balcony Scenev ; the scene in which Friar Lawrence hurries the young couple off to be married; the Apothecary scenev ; and the death scenev . If, as may be, these scenes were taken from--as they were certainly stimulated by--the Barry-Nossiter production, they may present a good likness of Maria Isabella Nossiter, who so captivated London that season. If, also, they were taken from the theatre production, they give evidence that Barry used a balcony, not only a window.

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr Berry (Cross). Tickets at Pope's, a Peruke-Maker, in Russel Street, Covent Garden; of Benoni Sedgley, at the Ship and Anchor, Temple Bar, and at the Stage Door. Receipts: #230 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr Berry. Tickets of Berry at Mr Pope's, Peruke Maker, in Russel St., Covent Garden, and at Stage Door. Receipts: #130 (Cross)

Event Comment: This night the Riot was very Great, the Gentlemen came with Sticks, & tho' the play went on quiet 'till the last Act, we had there a great Stop, notwithstanding we ended it, & then the rout went on, ye Boxes drove many out of the Pit, & broken heads were plenty on both Sides; the dance began,--was Stop'd--& so again & again--while this was doing numbers were assembl'd in the Passages of the pit, broke down & were getting into the Cellar, but were repuls'd by our Scene men &c.--heavy blows on both sides--Justice Fielding--& Welch came with Constables & a Guard; but without effect, tho' the Justices stood upon ye Stage--I thought ye proclamation must have been read--after ye battle in the Passages numbers went & broke Garrick's Windows in Southhampton Street, --part of ye Guard went to protect it-Garrick was oblig'd to give up the Dancers-& ye Audience disperc'd (Cross). This day publish'd at 1s. The Country Coquet; or, Miss in her Breeches, a Ballad Opera, as it may be acted at Drury Lane. @Men, some to business, some to pleasure take@But every woman is at heart a Rake.@ Pope By a Young Lady. Printed for and sold for J. Major, in Three-Tun Court, leading from the Ship in Ivy Lane into Newgate Market. Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: Wrote by Mr Pope. Mr Barbauld's First Subscription Oratioro,...and set to Musick by Mr Charles Barbault, in Two Parts. One ticket for all three oratorios--one Guinea; for one performance half a guinea; gallery 3s. 7 p.m

Event Comment: MMr Barbandt's Third and Last Subscription Oratorio. [Pope's poem set by Charles Barbandt in two parts, with solos interspersed: violin, flute, Lute, Frenchhorn, hautboy, and Organ.] Books of the Oratorio stitch'd in blue paper at 1s. each sold at Mrs Browne's in the Haymarket

Event Comment: MMrs Cibber continuing ill, Miss Bellamy from Covent Garden Did Sigismunda for Mr Berry (Cross). Benefit for Berry. Tickets at Mr Pope's, Peruke Maker, in Russel St., Covent Garden, and at stage Door. Part of pit laid into Boxes. N.B. As Mrs Cibber's illness prevents her from performing the part of Sigismunda for Mr Berry's Benefit, he apply'd to Mr Rich, who very readily consented to let Mrs Bellamy play that part for him, which she as obligingly comply'd with. Receipts: #210 (Cross)

Event Comment: This day is publish'd at 1s. Amphitryon; or, The Two Sosias, a Comedy altered from Mr Dryden, as it is now perform'd at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. With a New Interlude of Music, an Occasional Prologue, and some account of the Alterations. Printed for J. Payne, at Pope's Head in Paternoster Row. Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Berry. Tickets of Berry at Mr Pope's Peruke Maker in Russel St., Covent Garden; of Mr Hyde, Engraver, in Cutter Lane, Cheapside; and at the Stage Door. Receipts: #147 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr Berry. Tickets of Berry at Mr Pope's Peruke Maker, Russel St., Covent Garden, and of Varney at the Stage Door, where, Places may be taken. Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Berry, who having been confined for some time past by a severe Illness, humbly hopes those Gentlemen and Ladies, who intend to favor him at his Benefit, will send for Tickets to his Lodgings at Mr Pope's, a Peruke Maker in Russel St., Covent Garden; the Star Tavern, in Coleman St.; or to Mr Varney at the Stage door where Places for the Boxes may be taken. Receipts: #130 (Cross); #104 8s. 6d. (Winston MS8)

Event Comment: MMiss Pope in Corrinna (fine) Mr Wilkinson, Mrs Amlet (sad) (Cross). Mainpiece: Not acted in 8 years [but see 3 Jan. 1753]. My mother and I were at Drury Lane to see The Confederacy and Harlequin Ranger, Mrs King, Watson and Miss Pitt sat in our Box, a new actress did Corrinne to perfection, see Schutz Jr, Mr Schutz, Dives and Pigot there (Hailey, 'The Brietzcke Diary," p. 360). Receipts: #100 (Cross)

Event Comment: A Sacred Oratorio by Pope, set by Charles Barbandt. Benefit for the Composer. Box 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. To begin at Seven O'clock

Event Comment: MMr Foote's Night. Miss Haughton play'd Elvira, Miss Pope being very ill (Hopkins). Receipts; #64 4s. (MacMillan). [Charges.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Beard's Night. Charges. #64 5s., Balance to Beard #198 12s. (Account Book). Got but a bad place in the 2s. Gallery at Covent Garden where I saw Love in a Village with the Citizen...At the end of Act 2, we had the dance of the Female Archer, by Mad LaRiviere, Miss Wilford, &c. with Miss Pope of the other House. Ought to be particularly encouraged because she is virtuous. Mr Elliot has sold her to Cumberland (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #262 17s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never acted there. Neville MS Diary: Both theatres opened again with The English Merchant. Went into the Pit of cg. Shuter did Freeport pretty well, but had not that appearance of blunt honesty which Yates has in that character....I like Miss Pope better in Molly than Mrs Mattocks. Mrs Goodman by Mrs Ward, who is a very different figure now from what she was some years ago. Her daughter did Amelia pretty well, but has a stiffiness and an indifferent voice. End Act III, The Irish Lilt-The celebrated dancer Aldridge, Sga Manesiere. Entertainment Harlequin Dr Faustus. I hope this emulation between the 2 Houses will cause exertion. Receipts: #146 8s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: [The Young Gentleman who played Zaphna was Wroughton. "His real name was Rottan, but altered euphonia gratia. He was designed for a surgeon and served his apprenticeship at Bath. The following playbills show that he met with approbation on the stage. He remained with Covent Garden from this time till the end of the season 1785-86. He then played in Ireland one Winter, and was engag'd at Drury Lane Theatre in the beginning of the season 1787-88. This was the occasion of Mr Wroughton's leaving Covent Garden, I mean it was thus conjectured. Mr Lewis had been appointed manager of that theatre for Mr Harris. Mr Lewis and Mr Wroughton lived next door neighbors in Broad Court at the top of Bow Street, and were sworn friends:--they laughed together, lived together--In the season 1784-85 two new performers Mr Holman and Mr Pope, appeared on the Covent Garden Stage--these young men were great favorites with Mr Harris; Mr Holman, attracting at this time very crowded audiences, stood so particularly high in his regard, that his partiality made him guilty of some injustice to older and abler actors in the theatre. Mr Henderson had really cause to complain of neglect; and Mr Wroughton thought himself equally oppressed. At this time we had a Club and met every Wednesday fortnight during Lent at the Long Room in Hamstead at dinner. Our Club consisted of a certain number of us belonging indifferently to either theatre, and two or three other gentlemen who were not actors. Mr King, Mr Quick, Mr Farren, Mr Mattocks, myself, etc., etc. When the bottle had a little warmed Mr Wroughton he threw out some sarcasms on his Friend Mr Lewis's management; Mr Lewis retorted; Their tempers grew hot, their words grew aggravating; Mr Wroughton struck Mr Lewis; Mr Lewis returned the blow. They were parted; all the pleasures of the day were over, and the Club broke up in confusion. I was not present this day, but have related what Mr Siddons told me of this Quarrel, and I imagine that Mr Wroughton's attack on Mr Lewis sprang from a suspicion that he was too willing to execute Mr Harris's designs in favour of Mr Holman. Be this as it may, Mr Wroughton was discharged from cg at the expiration of his Articles with Mr Harris."--Hopkins MS Notes.] Receipts: #186 3s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Yates. Pit and Boxes laid together where servants will be allowed to keep places. Those Ladies and Gentlemen who have taken places in the Pit, are humbly desired to come as early as posible, for their own conveniency, and to prevent trouble in getting to their seats. Charges #66 5s. Balance to Mrs Yates #39 18s., plus income from 713 Box & Pit seats (laid together for price purposes) #178 5s. Paid Miss Atkinson and Miss Pope for walking 12 nights in Man & Wife; 26 Nights in Harlequin's Jubilee; 12 Nights in Timanthes #6 5s. each. Paid Mrs Warwell for walking 12 nights in Man & Wife #1 10s.; Paid Miss Lawrence and Mrs Bates 5s. each for walking 2 nights in Harlequin's Jubilee (Account Book). Receipts: #106 3s

Event Comment: Eleventh and Last time of performing Mainpiece this season. Afterpiece: By Particular Desire. Othello and The Irish Widow, to have been performed this evening for Mr Barry's Benefit, oblig'd to be deferr'd till further notice (playbill). Mr Barry being Ill his Benefit which was to have been this Night is oblig'd to be deferr'd (Hopkins Diary). [So, according to Hopkins, the profits went to the house.] Receipts: #171 19s. 6d. To the Public Advertiser: Sir, I spent an agreeable evening lately with a Country Friend at the Primitive Puppet Show, and was not displeased at the ridicule pointed at the dull, spiritless stuff, which composes modern Sentimental Comedy. I was entertained too with the manner in which some of the Actors were taken off; But I cannot think mimicry worthy to furnish an Evening Entertainment for a Polite British Audience, or suited to the happy ridicule and pointed wit of Aristophanes. The old Roman comedy, as it was called, was designed for nobler purposes: it was directed to improve the head and mend the heart. The keen manly satire of that Comedy was pointed at Upstart, Braggart, Vice, and to expose the dangerous unfeeling craft of innocent Villainy, or to use the words of Mr Pope--Brand the bold front of shameless, guilty man. Such was, and such ought to be, the salutary Direction of Wit, and Satire by exhibiting characters in their genuine colours, when the mask, which disguises and conceals them from the eyes of the Weak the Credulous, and the Ignorant, is drawn off. The words of Horace are--Detrabere et pellam, mitidus qua quisque per ora Cederet, introrsum turpis. Yours, Dramaticus. Poetry for the Public Advertiser. Epigram on the New Tragedy Alonzo. @No wonder that each female voice@Resounds Alonzo's praise;@A sure foundation of Applause,@The crafty Author lays.@ @Against the Virtue of his Wife@A Husband, if he's wise@According to the Gallant HOME,@Should not believe his eyes.

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs West. Tickets to be had of West, at the Ship, near the Seven Houses, Rotherhithe. Mainpiece: In Act II the triumphal entry of Alexander into Babylonv; In Act IV the grand Banquet where Alexander kills his faithful soldier, old Clytus. [The playbill contains a lengthy synopsis of the plot of the mainpiece; it concludes by noting that "the many flowery passages with which this tragedy abounds does honour to the pen of its author, N. Lee, Esqr., and we may justly say with Mr Pope, 'Such plays alone shou'd please a British ear, as Cato's self had not disdain'd to hear.'"]