To G. Mitford. Three Mile Cross April 3, 1823
April 3 1823
At last my dearest Father
Mr. Talfourd's answer is come--He says that we are he thinks
in his opinion bound in honor to not to take the Play
"The
Two
Foscari"
away from one house & give it to another--that we could not answer it to ourselves or the
Publick
Public
--unless some very outrageous conduct on the part of the Committee or Mr. Kemble
There is an "x" here, probably left by the pen annotator, indicating a note left somewhere in the letter with more information. However, no such note can be found that corresponds to this mark.(which certainly in spite of our vexations has not occurred & I hope will not occur) should afford a sufficient & valid season. This is final--I only wish it had arrived two days ago--I have also a letter from Mr. Hamilton, Mitford writes a letter to Samuel Hamilton, editor and publisher of the Lady's Magazine, on April 9, 1823 about her decision not to withdraw her play, Foscari, from Covent Garden. She also mentions that she will have a submission ready soon for the magazine, and also inquires about a harsh review of her play, Julian, that had appeared in the London Magazine. backing out of the message which he certainly delivered to me and talking of
of removing the Play to Drury Lane & talking not of the present but the next season--I have no doubt in spite of this letter, from the few words that passed between Mr. Elliston & Mr. Macready, that the Play would still be brought out at Drury Lane if we liked,--
but after what Mr. Talfourd has said it would be much better not to think of it--Indeed it is impossible to think of it, for I am sure he would feel himself offended & implicated if we did--
For my own part, I am heartily glad not to have again to encounter this terrible enmity & malignity of Magazines & newspapers--My next play--if ever I have courage & spirits to write another, shall have no name, no woman to attack. The next play that Mitford writes, Rienzi, is written not anonymously, but under her name in 1828. I am sure that
The London
Magazine
must be very bad indeed, for
Miss Andrews to whom I wrote requesting her to send it to me by the Postman this morning, has not sent it.
Here Mitford's premonitions are correct. In the particular edition of The London Magazine she speaks of, the critic eviscerates the performance of Mr. Macready, while admiring the work of Mitford's writing in it of itself. Can you at all guess who wrote it?--
Mr. Procter
used to
write the dramatic article in that Magazine--but we must not suspect him--even though I know how
Mr. Kemble's conversation suspecting him &
Mr. Macready that he has joined managerial faction.--Well we must endure it as we may. What you say of
Mr. Macready's indisposition grieves me very much--I hope if he be not quite recovered that he will not think of going through the terrible fatigue of acting
Julian to night. Have you given him my letter? I hope not--if you had any previous conversation with
Mr. Hamilton you would not--if you have not bring it back to me--if you have I shall write a note tomorrow--when I shall probably hear whether you have met.--
Mr. Talfourd advises that
Foscari be left for the present at
Convent Garden--& I agree that it shall--but not to be acted with
Mr. Macready for the Doge--never that--he will rely on my assurances on that point I know.--Pray ascertain whether the dedication copy has been sent to him & one equally good to
Mr. Talfourd's--& whether the copies have been sent to the Theatre, for all the Performers, the lady & gentleman who spoke the Prologue & Epilogue--the Committee &
Mr. Fawcett--all with the Author's compliments & thanks.--I beg you will also send one, through Longman's to
Miss Howell at
J. Shepperd's
This is possibly a untraced inn where Miss Howell may have been staying. Esq
re Hampstead Heath--one to
Mr. Burgess--& one to
Miss Booth & another to
Mrs. Rowden through
Mr. Jones if he will take charge of them to
Paris.--And pray try to find out who wrote the Article in the
London--
Mr.
Southern
, at the
Hofland
's, is likely to know--you will make my kindest
regards there of course just if you are in that neighborhood call & ask after dear
Miss Porden--I hope your cold is better--my cough is going fast & dear
mama is better too--& every thing else is well. I have just found out what killed my geraniums they had not been watered I am sure since I sent them away till they come back again & then the water ran through the cracked earth, as hard as a rock, & did no good--I have been working at them all morning poor things.--We have not been the
Crowthers
or any one but
Miss Brooke who is gone to
Odiham this morning. Pray do not forget to bring a pot of the white paint without smell
& another of black--I would really write another play to get this room made decent without offense to
Mama.--God bless you my own dearest
Father--
Ever most fondly
your's
yours
M.R. M
itford
To George Mitford Esqre
Old Betty's Chop House
According to Imperial London by Arthur Henry Beavan, Old Betty's Chop House was a tavern along the Strand. This tavern was close to the theatres at Covent Garden and Drury Lane.
No. 415 Strand
London
Miss Foote
Miss Foote was an actress who originated in the breeches role of Alfonso in Mitford's play, Julian
34 Keppell St
Russell
Sqr
--Miss Barnes says she wrote to me by return of post--so that the note must have been lost--or perhaps misoriented--for she is very absent. She talks of being back in a fortnight but not this way--& wants me to secure her a box for then.--As if I ever dared look forward in that way!--God bless you!