Event Comment: Not acted in 5 years. [See 4 Feb. 1758.] The Drummer was revived at this period at both theatres...to take advantage of the reigning weakness of the people, who went in crowds many days and nights to an Haunted House, by what was called the Cock-Lane Ghost-a delusion set on foot, and very ingeniously carried on by a girl of 12 years of age, daughter of a clerk of St Sepulchre's Church, who resided in Cock Lane near Smithfield. [The Ghost was supposed to be that of one Fanny, a gentleman's mistress buried in the church. By knockings and scratchings she supposedly haunted the girl intimating foul practices concerning her death.] It would be incredible to relate the numbers of persons of distinction that attended this delusion! many of whom treated it as a serious and most important affair...at last the girl's father and three or four others were tried in the King's Bench, found guilty' Pillioried and imprisoned. This most effectively laid the Ghost; and is the best and properest cure for every ghost that may arise hereafter. (Victor, History of the Theatres, III, 18 ff). [The theme exploited again by Garrick in The Farmer's Return from London, dl 20 March.

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Baker. [Ralph's Ramble (Larpent MS 254) seems patterned on the Farmer's Return from London. Ralph returns to the Mill and gives impressions, not all complimentary, of his trip to London. A Monologue in Couplets with a song.

Event Comment: The new Farce of The Farmer [advertised on playbill of 25 Oct., and see 31 Oct.] is obliged to be deferred on Account of the sudden Indisposition of a Principal Performer. Receipts: #154 17s. 6d. (150.11.6; 4.6.0)

Event Comment: [As afterpiece the playbill announces The Farmer, but "on account of Edwin's illness [it] was changed to Hob in the Well" (World, 23 Nov.).] Receipts: #155 12s. (152.3; 3.9)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Altered from Beaumont and Fletcher. Not acted these 3 years. [The playbill assigns Abigail to Mrs Webb, but "an apology being made for Mrs Webb, who was indisposed, Mrs Platt undertook to read the part" (Public Advertiser, 26 Feb.). Afterpiece in place of The Farmer, advertised on playbill of 23 Feb.] Receipts: #162 15s. (155.17; 6.18)

Event Comment: The last Night of the Company's performing this Season. [As 2nd and 3rd pieces the playbill announces, respectively, The Maid of the Oaks and The Farmer, but they were not acted. Their substitutes are listed in the Account-Book, and both are reviewed in Morning Chronicle, 10 June.] Account-Book, 13 June: Received [stage] Forfeits #42; 20 June: Received from Their Majesties for the Box #60, from the Princess Royal for the Box #30; 10 July: Paid Lewis for Management from Lady Day 1785 to Midsummer 1788 #650. Receipts: #147 19s. 6d. (141.18.6; 6.1.0)

Event Comment: The Belle's Stratagem [advertised on playbill of 16 Oct.] is obliged to be deferr'd, on Account of the Indisposition of a Principal Performer. [Afterpiece in place of The Farmer, advertised as above.] Receipts: #162 19s. 6d. (161.4.0; 1.15.6)

Event Comment: The Dramatist [advertised on playbill of 27 Apr.] is obliged to be deferred, on account of the Insisposition of a principal Performer. [Afterpiece in place of The Farmer, advertised as above.] Receipts: #131 14s. 6d. (114.19.6; 16.15.0)

Event Comment: [Afterpiece in place of The Farmer, advertised on playbill of 3 Mar.] Receipts: #149 1s. 6d. (144.2.6; 4.19.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Lewis. Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by John O'Keeffe. Prologue by John Taylor. Epilogue by George Colman, ynger (see text)]. "No piece in the remembrance of this writer was ever better acted. No piece was ever better cast...The palm of acting, however, must be given to Blanchard. One short scene of rustic generoisity, in which he gives his purse to Farmer Banks, displayed finer efforts than we ever saw before" (Oracle, 18 Apr.). Public Advertiser, 15 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Lewis, Bow-street. Receipts: #315 (225.6.6; 3.15.6; tickets: 85.18.0)

Event Comment: [Afterpiece in place of The Farmer, advertised on playbill of 24 Mar.] Receipts: #245 15s. (239.17; 5.18)

Event Comment: [Afterpiece in place of The Farmer, advertised on playbill of 15 Dec.] Receipts: #79 12s. 6d. (74.18.6; 4.14.0)