Sir W. Elford
1
Three Mile Cross
Jany 13th 1823.
Have you forgiven me, my dear friend, for not writing to you at the time you fixed? And will you forgive me now for writing only to say that I will write again when I have more time, better spirits, & better news--if ever the two latter may come to me. I am worn out with mental
labour
labor
& hope deferred--& begin for the first time in my life to know what the
ladys
ladies' complaint called nervous means.--You must not for a moment blame Charles Kemble--He is true & kind & good as ever man that lived--blame nobody--blame only the anomalous & extraordinary state of the theatre in which the two great Actors do not even speak to each other. Charles Kemble means to bring out
Foscari in about six
weeks--& has no doubt of doing so--he looks upon it as the main prop of his theatre for the season--This I know--but I dread the time--for I know--at least I deeply fear that
Macready will not play the
Doge & that it will occasion another tremendous feud & end probably in the abandonment of the Tragedy. This proceeds from no ill will for me
(remember that this is in strict confidence & must not be
shewn
shown
to any human being.)--for
Macready has actually this last week looked over a new play of mine which is in the hands of a friend in
Town & which I never dreamt of his seeing--& admires & praises it to the skies & would give the world to substitute it for
Foscari--Now this play has no character for
Charles Kemble--so that between the two great Actors each my warm friend--each the ardent admirer of the two plays it seems likely that neither will come out--of
course I have my resource in
Drury Lane,
but where unless they be deeply pre-engaged & even if they be there is small doubt but
Julian
will be gladly accepted--but I dread the previous struggle at
Covent Garden--the being involved in these terrible quarrels--the being forced to abandon
Charles Kemble who has been so very kind to me--This may be averted by
Mr. Macready's relenting--I hope to God it will--I believe he would do
any thing
anything
to serve the Author of
Julian except play the
Doge to
C. Kemble's
Foscari--& yet the
Doge is really the better part of the two--but
Foscari would
shew
show
off
Charles.--Now is not this enough to put me past all hope & comfort? I have only been one morning into
Reading for these three months--& except on that one morning, have never been within the walls of any house but this--never seen a human being except
Mr. Crowther--& have so entirely lost my spirits that
except for the fulfilment of my Magazine & Newspaper engagements I really
cannot can do nothing but sit & sigh over my needle work. I am not ill--& I take great care of myself & walk five miles every day--it is over--exertion in finishing
Julian--anxiety & that most dreadful of feelings fear--pecuniary fear for those I love. But yet I will not fear--I thank God that my efforts are crowned if not with success with that which is the pledge of success improvement--my prose articles are read & praised by those whose praise is an honour--& in the drama I feel my progress--I feel that if God grant me health & life & intellect I shall one day write a great Tragedy. Forgive this long detail--I owed it to you to tell you why I no longer sent you the letters you were so good as to like. I cannot--
& once more let me caution you that this in strict confidence. Above all do not mention
it to what I wrote to
any one
anyone
with a view of making interest with Mr.
14 Jany 1823. Mr. Macready.
"Mr." appears as the last word on page four and also the first word on page five. His temper is such that if he thought I complained of him he would throw me off instantly--whilst on the other hand, he is of a noble & generous nature, & may perhaps
of his own accord give up his
own prejudices to forward the views of a young woman in whose character & works he takes an interest. Pray do not mention
the affair my theatrical affairs to any human being--No one can help me but
Macready, & with him I have the best possible interest both in his own feelings & in his bosom friend (
Mr. Talfourd) who is also mine & who knows exactly my situation & feelings. Do not mention it to a living being--I would not have
Macready think I complained of him for the world.
Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson & the
little heiress are spending their xmas in
Somersetshire at a fine old house
This is likely the family manor house at Queen Charlton. of his--which she has only visited once or twice since her marriage--they are all well--I had a delightful letter from her a day or two ago--so I had from
Mr. Haydon
There is a possibilty that a word or two are missing, as the paper has been torn under the seal. We speculate that the missing words could be "a letter" or "a note" that Mitford may have received from Mr. Haydon. on the birth of his son & heir.
Have you read
This is likely
The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini, written between 1558 and 1562
. This lively account of Cellini's life has been famed as one of the most colorful and delightful autobiographies ever written. Mitford may have read the version published in 1823 under the title of Memoirs of Benvenuto Cellini : a Florentine artist ; written by himself
. of
Benvenuto Cellini--If not, Do! It is a most delightful piece of hair brained auto-biography--I quite agree with you & the
Edinburgh Review as to
Washington
Irvine
Irving
's
Mitford probably means Washington Irving, whose episodic novel Bracebridge Hall was published in 1822 in two volumes. book--there are pretty things in it--but the sentiment is cloying--& altogether after having read one Vol. one has no great desire to take up the second.
Mr. Galt's new novel
The Entail has great power but is very disagreeable--& yet there is an idiot--& and old Scotchwoman both of which are as finely drawn as Scott could do them--these are nearly the only books I have read lately)--How is
Mr. Elford I noted down the other day from a Review the title of a book which I transcribe--perhaps he would like to see it--It was very highly spoken of--on second thoughts I enclose it in a separate slip of paper.--(Farewell my dear & kind
Friend--forgive the sadness & the egotism of this letter--it has been a relief to me--I am
sure of your sympathy & will write to you as soon as I know any thing certain & when I consider that
Macready is really a noble creature, that he thinks very highly of both plays & that he knows as exactly as you now do my situation & my feelings I have really
hopes
.--Write to me if you can--Present my best wishes to your dear daughter & to
Mr. Elford This could refer to either the brother or the son of William Elford, both named Jonathan. Since she is also mentioning the daughter here, this is likely the son. & to
Lady Elford if she will accept of them & believe me always most faithfully & affectionately your's. Kindest regards from
Papa & Mama.
M.R. Mitford
Miss Rowe is a very fine young woman--I am more acquainted with Mrs.
Valpy
--but Hannah Rowe is highly spoken of by all the family & especially by her who though her sister is a woman of great sense & admirable qualities to be believed on all subjects--