Event Comment: [Ryder was from the Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin.] "He has the merit of being very articulate-a merit valuable from its rarity" (Gazetteer, 26 Oct.). Receipts: #246 10. (243.15.6; 2.14.6)

Event Comment: [Hollingsworth was from the Liverpool theatre.] Receipts: #89 19s. 6d. (57.13.0; 31.7.0; 0.2.0; tickets not come in. 0.17.6)

Event Comment: A new Serious Opera (1st time [in London; 1st performed at Venice, 1781]); the music by Sarti, under the direction of Mazzinghi. "At length in the spring arrived the celebrated Marchesi, whose fame had long reached this country, and who had been extolled to such a degree that impatience and expectation were raised to the highest pitch; and on the first night of his appearance the theatre was not only crowed to the utmost in every part, but on the rising of the curtain, the stage was so full of spectators that it was some time before order and silence could be obtained, and with some difficulty that Marchesi, who was to open the opera, could make his way before the audience. Marchesi was at this time a very well-looking young man, of good figure, and graceful deportment. His acting was spirited and expressive: his vocal powers were very great, his voice of extensive compass, but a little inclined to be thick (Mount-Edgcumbe, 66-67). Receipts: #437 15s. 6d., i.e. 560 tickets delivered to Prendergrass [see 8 Dec. 1787], who sold 558; 110 to Toosey, who sold 86; 400 to Butler, who sold 285; 236 to Snelson, who sold 204. Total non-subscription tickets sold: 1133

Event Comment: Afterpiece: With entire new Dresses and Decorations. The Music by the celebrated Gretry. The Paintings by Greenwood. Kemble Mem.: This day I undertook the Management of dl Theatre. Receipts: #232 15s. 6d. (175.18.0; 56.13.6; 0.4.0)

Event Comment: An accurate Edition of [King Henry the Fifth] to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #165 17s. 6d. (132.8.0; 30.18.0; 2.11.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mme Theodore D'Auberval. Tickets to be had of Mme Theodore D'Auberval, No. 52, Poland-street, Oxford-road. 2nd ballet: With new Decorations painted by Munich [recte Moench], late painter to the Theatre in the Haymarket, and new Machinery by Bernard. The Dresses entirely new, invented and executed by Lupino

Event Comment: Afterpiece [in place of THREE WEEKS AFTER MARRIAGE, advertised on playbill of 18 Nov.]: Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. [Occasional Address by Miles Peter Andrews (see 23 Mar. 1793).] THE SIEGE OF BERWICK [advertised on playbill of 18 Nov.] is unavoidably postponed till Thursday next on account of Mrs Pope's sudden Indisposition. Receipts: #233 2s. (216/19/6; 16/2/6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With new Scenery, Dresses and Decorations. The Words of the Dirge and the Elegy to be delivered Gratis, at the Doors of the Theatre. Receipts: #299 13s. (294.17; 4.16)

Event Comment: [Denman was from the Margate theatre.] Receipts: #218 0s. 6d. (149.10.6; 65.12.6; 2.17.6)

Event Comment: [Longley is identified in European Magazine, Dec. 1797, p. 410, but Monthly Visitor, Jan. 1798, p. 64, says that he was Clarke, "from the Shakesperian Theatre at Tottenham Court Road." Afterpiece in place of The Shipwreck, advertised on playbill of 24 Nov.] "[Longley] is not inferior to some Falstaffs we have seen upon the London stage, and he possesses all the traditionary shrugs, winks and bye-play usual in the representation of the part" (True Briton, 27 Nov.). Receipts: #140 18s. (101.15; 38.3; 1.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; MD 2, by Prince Hoare, adapted from Camille; ou, Le Souterrain, by Benoit Joseph Marsollier des Vivetieres]: The Musick entirely new by Dussek [and Kelly]. With new Scenery [by Marinari (Monthly Mirror, Nov. 1798, p. 309)], Dresses, and Decorations. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Morning Chronicle, 7 May 1799: On May 9 will be published The Captive of Spilburg (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #209 6s. 6d. (108.10.6; 99.19.6; 0.16.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never [previously] performed at this Theatre; By permission of the Proprietor of the Theatre Royal, Hay-Market. Receipts: #115 17s. 6d. (65.2.0; 47.17.0; 2.18.6)

Event Comment: [This Pastoral Serenata first appeared 21 March 1744 at the Crown and Anchor in the Strand, qv. At that time Beard, Savage, Mrs Clive and Miss Edwards sang in it.] By Subscription for three nights will be performed an English Pastoral Serenata, set to Music by Mr DeFesch. Pit and Boxes laid together at 5s. First Gallery 2s. 6d. Upper Gallery 1s. 6d. On the 20th of March and 3rd of April will be performed a New Oratorio call'd Joseph, also set to Music by Mr DeFesch. For the encouragement of such persons as shall please to favour Mr Defesch by subscribing one Guinea, they shall be entitled to six tickets, each of which will admit one into the boxes, or Two into the Gallery. Nobody to be admitted into the boxes without printed tickets, which will be deliver'd at the theatre. Subscriptions to be taken till the 5th of March, at Mr DeFesch's at the sign of the Angel and Trumpet, in St. Martin's Lane, at the Bedford Coffee House, Covent Garden; and at Mr Page's Stage Door-keeper. To begin at half an hour after six. This day is publish'd Papal Tyranny in the Reign of King John. [No price given, but the 1st edition lists it as 1s. 6d. Watts would have had to sell about two thousand copies to cover his investment in copyright and printing costs.

Event Comment: Les Comediens Francais representeront aujourdhui...par Suscription. [To begin at six o'clock.Prices: 5s., 3s., 2s. Mainpiece]: Comedie du Nouveau Theatre Italien. [Afterpiece]: Opera comique. On Tuesday night there was a great Disturbance...at the French Play, it being the Night of Opening; the first Act was very much disturbed and some Persons were wounded (Daily Advertiser, 16 Nov.). [Same paper carries advertisement offering reward for identification of five or six men who had assaulted a person in the gallery; "they seemed to come from the upper Side-Boxes on the right Hand of the Stage; they were of the first Party that came into the Gallery with Swords."] Whereas it has been maliciously reported...that I [Lord Trentham] was active in the Disturbance...last Tuesday Night: I do declare...that I was neither in the Pit nor Gallery where the Disturbance happened during the Time of Performance...nor was I present at the first and chief Disturbance (Daily Advertiser, 20 Nov.). [Lord Trentham was at the time running against Sir George Vandeput for parliament. The latter led by 100-150 votes until the very last moment when Trentham won by 175. A recount was called for.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: 8th time [i.e. in continuation of the reckoning for the previous season. Prologue by George Colman elder. Epilogue by David Garrick (see 30 Aug. 1777)]. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre

Event Comment: Afterpiece: An Original, Whimsical, Operatical, Pantomimical, Farcical, Electrical, Naval, Military, Temporary, Local Extravaganza. 12th time [i.e. in continuation of the reckoning for the previous season]. The views of the Temple of Health, and the Camp in St. James's Park designed and executed by Rooker. [Prologue by George Colman elder (Colman, Prose, III, 229). Miss Lyon is identified in playbill of 11 June. Delpini was from dl.] The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 [same throughout season]. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Rice at the Theatre

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Books of the Songs, with Miss Harper's Additional Airs, to be had at the Theatre

Event Comment: It having been discovered that many Persons going in upon Subscription Tickets, have returned and taken Money from the Receivers, No Money will in future be returned at the doors of this Theatre

Event Comment: Books of the new Dance to be had at the Theatre. "Nothing could equal the manner in which the whole was conducted: the wrestling, the gladiators; the defeat of the Sabines; the besieging of Rome by the latter; their reconciliation with the Romans, &c." (Morning Herald, 13 Dec)