I beg a thousand pardons my dear SirThomas Noon Talfourd | Born: 1795-05-26 in Reading, Berkshire, England. Died: 1854-03-13 in Stafford, Staffordshire, England.
Close friend, literary mentor, and frequent correspondent of Mary Russell Mitford. A native of Reading, Talfourd was educated at the Reading’s newly-established Mill Hill school, a dissenting academy, from 1808 to 1810. He attended Dr. Richard Valpy’s Reading School from 1810 to 1812. His career in law began with a legal apprenticeship with Joseph Christy, special pleader, in 1817. He was called to the bar in London in 1821 and ultimately earned a D.C.L. (Doctor of Civil Laws) from Oxford on June 20, 1844. While establishing his practice as a barrister and special pleader, he worked as legal correspondent for The Times, reporting on the Oxford Circuit, and also continued his literary interests. After 1833, he was appointed Serjeant at Law, as well as a King’s and Queen’s Counsel. He was elected and served as Member of Parliament for Reading from 1835 to 1841 and from 1847 to 1849 ; he served with Charles Fyshe Palmer, Charles Russell, and Francis Piggott. Highlights of his political and legal career included introducing the first copyright bill into Parliament in 1837 (for which action Charles Dickens dedicated Pickwick Papers to him) and defending Edward Moxon’s publication of Percy Shelley’s Queen Mab in 1841 . He was appointed Queen’s Serjeant in 1846 and Judge of Common Pleas in 1849 , at which post he served until his death in 1854. He was knighted in 1850 .
Talfourd’s literary works include his plays Ion (1835), The Athenian Captive (1837) and Glencoe, or the Fate of the MacDonalds(1839).
—lmw, cmm, ebb
for trespassing again on your valuable time—but I am so anxious to do the best that my feeble power can do for this poor playFoscari: A Tragedy. Mary Russell Mitford. London : G. B. Whittaker . 1826. & so certain of improvement from your suggestions that I cannot resist the temptation of sending you the rough draft of the poisoning Catastrophe. Is it at all do you think what Mr. MacreadyWilliam Charles Macready | Born: 1793-03-03 in London, England. Died: 1873-04-27 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.
English actor, one of the most prominent tragedians of his era. He appeared at Covent Garden and Drury Lane Theatres in London and also toured the United States. He appeared in Sheridan Knowles's William Tell, Byron's Sardanapolus, and Bulwer-Lytton's Money (1840), as well as in many Shakespearean roles. He also managed both Covent Garden and Drury Lane Theatres. In his role as actor-manager, Macready was a correspondent and collaborator with Mary Russell Mitford. The first play on which they worked was Mitford's Julian. Mitford dedicated to Macready the print edition of Julian: To William Charles Macready, Esq., with high esteem for those endowments which have cast new lustre on his art; with warm admiration for those powers which have inspired, and that taste which has fostered the tragic dramatists of his age; with heartfelt gratitude for the zeal with which he befriended the production of a stranger, for the judicious alterations which he suggested, and for the energy, the pathos, and the skill with which he more than emhodied its principal character; this tragedy is most respectfully dedicated by the author. Macready retired from the stage in 1851. —lmw
intended? I am afraid not. And what shall I do to make it better? Is it too long? Too short? Should ErizzoErizzo
Count Erizzo, character in Mitford’s play Foscari —ebb be brought in? Should there be [del: .] more rejoicing at first amongst the other characters & should FoscariFrancesco Foscari
character in Foscari —ebb
See also historical counterpart: son of Doge Foscari.—ebb himself forget in the first moments of joy that he carried death in his bosom? Should his end be quieter—with less of delirium & more of penitence? And is there the smallest chance that I may make it such as Mr. MacreadyWilliam Charles Macready | Born: 1793-03-03 in London, England. Died: 1873-04-27 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.
English actor, one of the most prominent tragedians of his era. He appeared at Covent Garden and Drury Lane Theatres in London and also toured the United States. He appeared in Sheridan Knowles's William Tell, Byron's Sardanapolus, and Bulwer-Lytton's Money (1840), as well as in many Shakespearean roles. He also managed both Covent Garden and Drury Lane Theatres. In his role as actor-manager, Macready was a correspondent and collaborator with Mary Russell Mitford. The first play on which they worked was Mitford's Julian. Mitford dedicated to Macready the print edition of Julian: To William Charles Macready, Esq., with high esteem for those endowments which have cast new lustre on his art; with warm admiration for those powers which have inspired, and that taste which has fostered the tragic dramatists of his age; with heartfelt gratitude for the zeal with which he befriended the production of a stranger, for the judicious alterations which he suggested, and for the energy, the pathos, and the skill with which he more than emhodied its principal character; this tragedy is most respectfully dedicated by the author. Macready retired from the stage in 1851. —lmw
would approve? Pray tell me frankly—You have no notion how much I desire to write such a death as may please him—the more so a thousand times for the fine gentlemanly spirit with which ^he left the alteration so completely at my option. The more I think of his kindness & of your's the more I feel that I never can deserve it. Do you think he would like the death by joy for FoscariFrancesco Foscari
character in Foscari —ebb
See also historical counterpart: son of Doge Foscari.—ebb? It would not be so good as the Doge'sDoge Foscari
character in Mitford’s play Foscari See also historical counterpart: Doge Foscari.—ebb—but newer than this certainly—& perhaps in better keeping with the character—Shall I try it? At all events I shall make this Catastrophe as good as I possibly can [with your powerful aid] & write over the whole act with the necessary alterations so as to be sent to you early in next week forMr. MacreadysWilliam Charles Macready | Born: 1793-03-03 in London, England. Died: 1873-04-27 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.
English actor, one of the most prominent tragedians of his era. He appeared at Covent Garden and Drury Lane Theatres in London and also toured the United States. He appeared in Sheridan Knowles's William Tell, Byron's Sardanapolus, and Bulwer-Lytton's Money (1840), as well as in many Shakespearean roles. He also managed both Covent Garden and Drury Lane Theatres. In his role as actor-manager, Macready was a correspondent and collaborator with Mary Russell Mitford. The first play on which they worked was Mitford's Julian. Mitford dedicated to Macready the print edition of Julian: To William Charles Macready, Esq., with high esteem for those endowments which have cast new lustre on his art; with warm admiration for those powers which have inspired, and that taste which has fostered the tragic dramatists of his age; with heartfelt gratitude for the zeal with which he befriended the production of a stranger, for the judicious alterations which he suggested, and for the energy, the pathos, and the skill with which he more than emhodied its principal character; this tragedy is most respectfully dedicated by the author. Macready retired from the stage in 1851. —lmw
& your decision. I do not think the early part of the act page 1
will require so much altering—I think it may still open in the same way, only making CosmoCosmo Donato
son of Senator Donato in Foscari —ebb enquire of the JailerJailer
character in Foscari reply that a servant had been [del: .]with him twice, that he had just been with him twice, that he had just drank some wine & fallen asleep after a sleepless & delirious night &c—Will this do, do you think? The other alterations are obvious enough even for me. Or should the audience know of the poison?—Be so good as to send back my rough draft with your remarks enclosed to ColeyColey Park, Berkshire, England | Coley | Coley Park | Berkshire | England | 51.4432268 -0.9902848000000404 An estate just south west of Reading. The Moncks owned Coley Park from 1810 and Mitford occasionally posted franked letters from there when J. B Monck was a Member of Parliament. Also referred to as Coley, although this name also refers to a nearby district of Reading proper.—lmw —I will send there for it.—There is no end to the trouble I give you or to your goodness—& really Mr. MacreadyWilliam Charles Macready | Born: 1793-03-03 in London, England. Died: 1873-04-27 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.
English actor, one of the most prominent tragedians of his era. He appeared at Covent Garden and Drury Lane Theatres in London and also toured the United States. He appeared in Sheridan Knowles's William Tell, Byron's Sardanapolus, and Bulwer-Lytton's Money (1840), as well as in many Shakespearean roles. He also managed both Covent Garden and Drury Lane Theatres. In his role as actor-manager, Macready was a correspondent and collaborator with Mary Russell Mitford. The first play on which they worked was Mitford's Julian. Mitford dedicated to Macready the print edition of Julian: To William Charles Macready, Esq., with high esteem for those endowments which have cast new lustre on his art; with warm admiration for those powers which have inspired, and that taste which has fostered the tragic dramatists of his age; with heartfelt gratitude for the zeal with which he befriended the production of a stranger, for the judicious alterations which he suggested, and for the energy, the pathos, and the skill with which he more than emhodied its principal character; this tragedy is most respectfully dedicated by the author. Macready retired from the stage in 1851. —lmw
seems cast in the same mold—to be only two days in TownLondon, England | London | England | 51.5073509 -0.12775829999998223 Capital city of England and the United Kingdom; one the oldest cities in Western Europe. Major seaport and global trading center at the mouth of the Thames. From 1831 to 1925, the largest city in the world.—lmw and to take the trouble of reading the Play!—but your kindness is catching my dear Mr. TalfourdThomas Noon Talfourd | Born: 1795-05-26 in Reading, Berkshire, England. Died: 1854-03-13 in Stafford, Staffordshire, England.
Close friend, literary mentor, and frequent correspondent of Mary Russell Mitford. A native of Reading, Talfourd was educated at the Reading’s newly-established Mill Hill school, a dissenting academy, from 1808 to 1810. He attended Dr. Richard Valpy’s Reading School from 1810 to 1812. His career in law began with a legal apprenticeship with Joseph Christy, special pleader, in 1817. He was called to the bar in London in 1821 and ultimately earned a D.C.L. (Doctor of Civil Laws) from Oxford on June 20, 1844. While establishing his practice as a barrister and special pleader, he worked as legal correspondent for The Times, reporting on the Oxford Circuit, and also continued his literary interests. After 1833, he was appointed Serjeant at Law, as well as a King’s and Queen’s Counsel. He was elected and served as Member of Parliament for Reading from 1835 to 1841 and from 1847 to 1849 ; he served with Charles Fyshe Palmer, Charles Russell, and Francis Piggott. Highlights of his political and legal career included introducing the first copyright bill into Parliament in 1837 (for which action Charles Dickens dedicated Pickwick Papers to him) and defending Edward Moxon’s publication of Percy Shelley’s Queen Mab in 1841 . He was appointed Queen’s Serjeant in 1846 and Judge of Common Pleas in 1849 , at which post he served until his death in 1854. He was knighted in 1850 .
Talfourd’s literary works include his plays Ion (1835), The Athenian Captive (1837) and Glencoe, or the Fate of the MacDonalds(1839).
—lmw, cmm, ebb
—&people who keep you company become kind they don't [del: .]know how. God bless you. I shall finish in the morning.

Pray shall you think me a thief if I keep Mr. Macready'sWilliam Charles Macready | Born: 1793-03-03 in London, England. Died: 1873-04-27 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.
English actor, one of the most prominent tragedians of his era. He appeared at Covent Garden and Drury Lane Theatres in London and also toured the United States. He appeared in Sheridan Knowles's William Tell, Byron's Sardanapolus, and Bulwer-Lytton's Money (1840), as well as in many Shakespearean roles. He also managed both Covent Garden and Drury Lane Theatres. In his role as actor-manager, Macready was a correspondent and collaborator with Mary Russell Mitford. The first play on which they worked was Mitford's Julian. Mitford dedicated to Macready the print edition of Julian: To William Charles Macready, Esq., with high esteem for those endowments which have cast new lustre on his art; with warm admiration for those powers which have inspired, and that taste which has fostered the tragic dramatists of his age; with heartfelt gratitude for the zeal with which he befriended the production of a stranger, for the judicious alterations which he suggested, and for the energy, the pathos, and the skill with which he more than emhodied its principal character; this tragedy is most respectfully dedicated by the author. Macready retired from the stage in 1851. —lmw
letter? I hope not for I certainly shall keep it nevertheless—it is so exceedingly comforting—which is worth all the flattery in the world. I am afraid to look at my Catastrophe by daylight farther than to see that the writing as if in emulation is really far worse than his—for which I very humbly beg pardon. Is it not terribly disjointed that dying scene—far too full of transition? Be a severe critic for once in your life.

You would see by the ReadingReading, Berkshire, England | Reading | Berkshire | England | 51.4542645 -0.9781302999999753 County town in Berkshire, in the Thames valley at the confluence of the Thames and the River Kennet. The town developed as a river port and in Mitford’s time served as a staging point on the Bath Road and was developing into a center of manufacturing. Mitford lived here with her parents from 1791 to 1795, on Coley Avenue in the parish of St. Mary’s and attended the Abbey School. The family returned to Reading from 1797 to about 1804, after which they relocated to Bertram House. They frequently visited Reading thereafter from their homes at nearby Bertram House, Three Mile Cross and Swallowfield. Mitford later used scenes from Reading as the basis for Belford Regis; or Sketches of a Country Town.—lmw paper that the Purity of Election dinner is fixed for the Thursday after the January Sessions—they had an extra meeting to fix the day [del: .]& chose the Tenth that they might be sure of you. Of course you have had an official notice of this page 2
They talk of very great company — "an audience worth speaking to" as the dear DoctorRichard Valpy, Doctor of Divinity, or: Dr. Valpy | Born: 1754-12-07 in St. John’s, Jersey, Channel Islands. Died: 1836-03-28 in Reading, Berkshire, England.
Richard Valpy (the fourth of that name) was the eldest son of Richard Valpy [III] and Catherine Chevalier. He was a friend and literary mentor to Mary Russell Mitford. He matriculated at Pembroke College, Oxford University on April 1, 1773, aged eighteen, as a Morley scholar. He received from Oxford a B.A. (1776), M.A. (1784), B.D. & D.D. (1792). He took orders in the Church of England in 1777. Richard Valpy served as Second Master at Bury School, Bury, Huntindonshire from 1771 to 1781, and was also collated to the rectory of Stradishall, Suffolk, in 1787. He became the Headmaster at Reading School, Reading, Berkshire, in 1781 and served until 1830, at which time he turned the Headmastership over to his youngest son Francis E. J. Valpy and continued in semi-retirement until his death in 1836. During his tenure as Headmaster of Reading Grammar School for boys over the course of fifty years, he expanded the boarding school and added new buildings. He is the author of numerous published works, including Greek and Latin textbooks, sermons, volumes of poetry, and adaptations of plays such as Shakespeare’s King John and Sheridan’s The Critic. His Elements of Greek Grammar, Elements of Latin Grammar,,Greek Delectus and Latin Delectus, printed and published by his son A. J. Valpy, were all much used as school texts throughout the nineteenth century. Valpy’s students performed his own adaptations of Greek, Latin, and English plays for the triennial visitations and the play receipts went to charitable organizations. Valpy enlisted Mitford to write reviews of the productions for the Reading Mercury. In 1803, his adaptation of Shakespeare’s King John was performed at Covent Garden Theatre.
Richard Valpy was married twice and had twelve children, eleven of whom lived to adulthood. His first wife was Martha Cornelia de Cartaret; Richard and Martha were married about 1778 and they had one daughter, Martha Cartaretta Cornelia. His first wife Martha died about 1780 and he married Mary Benwell of Caversham, Oxfordshire on May 30, 1782. Together they had six sons and five daughters and ten of their eleven children survived to adulthood. Richard Valpy and Mary Benwell’s sons were Richard Valpy (the fifth of that name), Abraham John Valpy, called John; Gabriel Valpy, Anthony Blagrove Valpy; and Francis Edward Jackson Valpy. His daughters were Mary Ann Catherine Valpy; Sarah Frances Valpy, called Frances or Fanny; Catherine Elizabeth Blanch Valpy; Penelope Arabella Valpy; and Elizabeth Charlotte Valpy, who died as an infant.
Richard Valpy died on March 28, 1836 in Reading, Berkshire, and is buried in All Souls cemetery, Kensal Green, London. Dr. Valpy’s students placed a marble bust of him in St. Lawrence’s church, Reading, Berkshire, after his death. John Opie painted Dr. Valpy’s portrait. See .—ebb, lmw
once said — Sir F. Burdett, Sir R. Wilson,Mr. Grey BennettHenry Grey Bennet, Honourable, or: Grey Bennet | Born: 1777-12-02. Died: 1836-05-29 in Lake Como, Italy.
Known as Grey Bennett, the brother of Charles Augustus Bennet (1776-1854) who shared his Whig politics and like him belonged to the Whig Brook's Club. Member of Parliament for Shrewsbury after 1806 and into the 1820s, Advocate of Catholic emancipation and parliamentary reform. On 16 May 1816, he married Gertrude Frances, daughter of Lord William Russell. Bennet gave up his parliamentary seat in 1826 amid a cloud of scandal after a threat of prosecution for importuning a young male servant at Spa in August 1825 Source: ODNB. He had been travelling in Italy after the deaths of a son and daughter from consumption in 1824, and remained in exile with his wife until his death in 1836.—ebb, lmw


, Mr. HumeJoseph Hume | Born: 1777-01-22 in Montrose, Scotland. Died: 1855-02-20 in Burnley Hall, Norfolk, England.
Known as the Apothecary, a radical M.P. who represented Aberdeen in the House of Commons from 1818 as part of a network of radical leadership over the next thirty years. Criticized the government's role in the Peterloo massacre, the Cato Street conspiracy, and the Queen CarolineQueen Caroline affair, and worked to repeal the Combination Acts (1824-1825). Defender of the Chartists. Source: ODNB.—ebb


& others whose names I have forgotten. Oh I hope they will come! It will be quite delightful that they should hear you in your own ReadingReading, Berkshire, England | Reading | Berkshire | England | 51.4542645 -0.9781302999999753 County town in Berkshire, in the Thames valley at the confluence of the Thames and the River Kennet. The town developed as a river port and in Mitford’s time served as a staging point on the Bath Road and was developing into a center of manufacturing. Mitford lived here with her parents from 1791 to 1795, on Coley Avenue in the parish of St. Mary’s and attended the Abbey School. The family returned to Reading from 1797 to about 1804, after which they relocated to Bertram House. They frequently visited Reading thereafter from their homes at nearby Bertram House, Three Mile Cross and Swallowfield. Mitford later used scenes from Reading as the basis for Belford Regis; or Sketches of a Country Town.—lmw on subjects worthy of your powers & with an audience so zealous to admire—I hope they will come.

I have now gotten "the real Simon Pure" [1] Not a quote but a colloquial reference to anything that is genuine, authentic. From Centlivre'sA Bold Stroke for a Wife (1717), in which the character Simon Pure appears, impersonated during part of the play by another character.—lmw the true Theatre des GrecsThéâtre des Grecs. Pierre Brumoy. Pierre Brumoy Brumoy Pierre Father . recommended by Mr. BurgessMr. Burgess Burgess Mr.
Forename unknown. The person who recommended to Mitford a particular volume ofSophocles plays, mentioned in her letter to Talfourd of November 12 and 13, 1821 . Dates unknown.—lmw, for before by some odd confusion I had only a volume of extracts & remarks — & really it is a better way of getting at SophoclesSophocles | Born: -0496 in Colonus, Attica. Died: -0406 in Athens.
As an Athenian citizen, Sophocles held many roles, such as serving on the treasury, leading the paean (choral chant), and serving as a strategoi (armed forces official); he was a younger colleague of Pericles. Best known for his cycle of Theban plays, and particularly the tragedy Oedipus Tyrranus (otherwise known in Latin or English forms as Oedipus Rex, or Oedipus the King). Believed to have written 120 plays, seven of which have survived. —lmw, cmm
than in an English version which affects to be poetical—one is sure of the sense here—which is the great thing & not confused & teased by a clatter of[gap: reason: torn.] . Your comparison of the statues is perfect. I have [gap: reason: torn.] only read the Oedipus TyrranusOedipus Tyrranus, Oedipus Rex, Oedipus the King. Sophocles.
Mitford tends to refer to this play by its Greek title, Oedipus Tyrranus.—lmw & PhiloctetesPhiloctetes. Sophocles. — Is not the last much the finest? You don't quite say so in your remarks, but I think you [del: .]think so. I never read any thing so fine as the Philoctetes—& surely the other is overpraised—that plot, or that riddle seems to me to engross far too much of the play—the passions are lost in the story—& that story how intolerably & visibly artificial it is — there is none of the looseness & freedom of nature. Things do not happen in such a circle. I remember many years ago feeling exactly this objection to that other cried up story Tom Jones. But I suppose I am wrong. I must thank you once again for the loan of the EncyclopediaEncyclopedia Metropolitana; or, Universal Dictionary of Knowledge (30 vols., 1817-1845). [2] Talfourd contributed to the Encyclopedia Metropolitana, started by Coleridge, a volume on the Greek poets.—lmw — I have three times the delight in SophoclesSophocles | Born: -0496 in Colonus, Attica. Died: -0406 in Athens.
As an Athenian citizen, Sophocles held many roles, such as serving on the treasury, leading the paean (choral chant), and serving as a strategoi (armed forces official); he was a younger colleague of Pericles. Best known for his cycle of Theban plays, and particularly the tragedy Oedipus Tyrranus (otherwise known in Latin or English forms as Oedipus Rex, or Oedipus the King). Believed to have written 120 plays, seven of which have survived. —lmw, cmm
& in reading him with your admirable remarks — Those on EuripidesEuripides | Born: -0480 in Salamís. Died: -0406 in Macedonia.
Ancient world playwright, considered together with Aeschylus and Sophocles as establishing the classical foundation of Western tragedy. Author of Ion , on which Thomas Noon Talfourd later based his own play of the same title, as well as Orestes , and Cyclops , the only known complete example of a burlesque satyr play, translated into a satiric poem in 1819 by Percy Shelley . —ebb, lmw
are exquisite. page 3
But it is great presumption in me even to say so.