Here in a box above we
spied Mrs. Pierce; and going out they called us, and so we staid
for them; and Knipp took us all in, and brought to us Nelly,
[Nell Gwynne.] a most pretty woman, who acted the great part
Coelia to-day very fine, and did it pretty well: I kissed her,
and so did my wife; and a mighty pretty soul she is. We also saw
Mrs. Ball, which is my little Roman-nose black girl, that is
mighty pretty: she is usually called Betty. Knipp made us stay
in a box and see the dancing preparatory to to-morrow for "The
Goblins," a play of Suckling's [Sir John Suckling, the poet.],
not acted these twenty-five years; which was pretty. In our way
home we find the Guards of horse in the street, and hear the
occasion to be news that the seamen are in a mutiny; which put me
into a great fright.
24th. Company at home: amongst others, Captain Rolt. And anon
at about seven or eight o'clock comes Mr. Harris of the Duke's
playhouse, and brings Mrs. Pierce with him, and also one dressed
like a country-maid with a straw-hat, on, and at first I could
not tell who it was, though I expected Knipp: but it was she
coming off the stage just as she acted this day in "The Goblins;"
a merry jade.
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