Sponsored by:
First digital edition in TEI, date: February 21, 2017. P5.Edition made with help from photos taken by Digital Mitford editors. Digital Mitford photo files: 13Jan1823Sir WilliamElford1a.JPG, 13Jan1823Sir WilliamElford1b.JPG, 13Jan1823Sir WilliamElford1c.JPG, 13Jan1823Sir WilliamElford2a.JPG, 13Jan1823Sir WilliamElford2b.JPG, 13Jan1823Sir WilliamElford2c.JPG, 13Jan1823Sir WilliamElford3a.JPG, 13Jan1823Sir WilliamElford3b.JPG, 13Jan1823Sir WilliamElford3c.JPG, 13Jan1823Sir WilliamElford4a.JPG, 13Jan1823Sir WilliamElford4b.JPG, 13Jan1823Sir WilliamElford4c.JPG, 13Jan1823Sir WilliamElford5a.JPG, 13Jan1823Sir WilliamElford5b.JPG, 13Jan1823Sir WilliamElford5c.JPG, 13Jan1823Sir WilliamElford6.JPG , .
Digital Mitford Letters: The Mary Russell Mitford Archive
Repository: Reading Central Library. Shelf mark: qB/TU/MIT Vol. 4 Horizon No.: 1361550 ff. 463
This letter is comprised of two large leaves of paper. The first leaf is folded in half to make four writing surfaces that constitute the first four pages of the letter. Mitford did not treat the second leaf the same way, so that pages 5 and 6 are simply the front and back of the paper, making for two large writing surfaces. Page 6 contains the address, and on this address leaf, the writing is organized vertically and horizontally to surround the address. What appears to be a large 8 denoting the posting fee has been written in black ink by the postal service across the address leaf. Sheet (pages five and six) torn on right edge of page five where wax seal was removed. Red wax seal, adhered to page six in two places.Hands other than Mitford's noted on this manuscript:
authoress,and lists her as living at Three Mile Cross with Kerenhappuch Taylor (lady’s maid), Sarah Chernk (maid-of-all-work), and Samuel Swetman (gardener), after the death of her father. Mitford’s long life and prolific career ended after injuries from a carriage accident. She is buried in Swallowfield churchyard. The executor of her will and her literary executor was the Rev. William Harness and her lady’s maid, Kerenhappuch Taylor Sweetman, was residuary legatee of her estate. —lmw, ebb
Maintained by: Elisa E. Beshero-Bondar (eeb4 at psu.edu) Last modified: 2024-11-23T09:57:54.351646Z
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 labourlabor & 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 KembleCharles Kemble | Born: 1775-11-25 in Brecon, South Wales. Died: 1854-11-12 in England.
British actor, the younger brother of John Phillip Kemble and Sarah Siddons. Although he was considered by some to be as fine an actor as his sister and brother, he mostly appeared in secondary rather than leading roles. Father of Frances Kemble. One of the co-proprietors of Covent Garden Theatre . He served as Examiner of Plays in the early nineteenth-century, reviewing plays for licensing by the Lord Chamberlain.—lmw
—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 KembleCharles Kemble | Born: 1775-11-25 in Brecon, South Wales. Died: 1854-11-12 in England.
British actor, the younger brother of John Phillip Kemble and Sarah Siddons. Although he was considered by some to be as fine an actor as his sister and brother, he mostly appeared in secondary rather than leading roles. Father of Frances Kemble. One of the co-proprietors of Covent Garden Theatre . He served as Examiner of Plays in the early nineteenth-century, reviewing plays for licensing by the Lord Chamberlain.—lmw
means to bring out FoscariFoscari: A Tragedy.
London
:
G. B. Whittaker
. 1826. in about six page 2
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 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
will not play the DogeDoge Foscari
character in
Mitford’s play Foscari
See also historical counterpart: Doge
Foscari.—ebb & 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 shewnshown to any human being.)—for 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
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 FoscariFoscari: A Tragedy.
London
:
G. B. Whittaker
. 1826. —Now this play has no character for Charles KembleCharles Kemble | Born: 1775-11-25 in Brecon, South Wales. Died: 1854-11-12 in England.
British actor, the younger brother of John Phillip Kemble and Sarah Siddons. Although he was considered by some to be as fine an actor as his sister and brother, he mostly appeared in secondary rather than leading roles. Father of Frances Kemble. One of the co-proprietors of Covent Garden Theatre . He served as Examiner of Plays in the early nineteenth-century, reviewing plays for licensing by the Lord Chamberlain.—lmw
—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 page 3
course I have my resource in Drury LaneTheatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, England |
Drury Lane Theatre
| Covent Garden | Westminster | London | England |
51.5128536 -0.12037150000003294
A West End theater located in Covent Garden in the London
borough of Westminster. One of the royal patent theatres. Between 1674 and 1791, a building designed by Christopher Wren and commissioned by manager Thomas Killgrew. The Wren building was torn
down by R. B. Sheridan and
rebuilt. It reopened in 1791 and was destroyed by fire
in 1809. The theater reopened in 1812 and still stands today. —lmw, but where unless they be deeply pre-engaged & even if they be there is small doubt but JulianJulian; a Tragedy in Five Acts.
London
New York:
G. B. Whittaker
W. B. Gilley
. 1823.
will be gladly accepted—but I dread the previous struggle at Covent GardenTheatre Royal, Covent Garden, London, England |
Covent Garden Theatre
| Covent Garden | Westminster | London | England |
51.5129211 -0.12219759999993585
A West End theater located in Covent Garden in the London
borough of Westminster. One of the royal patent theaters. The first theater
on this site was opened in 1732 by John Rich, renovated by architect Henry Holland in 1792, and destroyed by fire on 20 Sept. 1808. The second theater,
designed by Robert Smirke, opened on 18 Sept. 1809 and was managed by John Phillip Kemble. Because of rent increases
by the Duke of Bedford, the landowner, J.P. Kemble increased ticket prices.
This led to the old price (or O.P.) riots and the eventual lowering of ticket
prices, although the proprietors proved they would lose money at those prices.
The second theater was destroyed by fire on 5 March 1856. The third theater,
designed by Edward Middleton Barry, opened in 1858 and remains at the center of
today’s theater complex. The theater became the Royal Opera House in 1892 and
the building was renovated and expanded in the 1980s and 1990s. —lmw—the being involved in these terrible quarrels—the being forced to abandon Charles KembleCharles Kemble | Born: 1775-11-25 in Brecon, South Wales. Died: 1854-11-12 in England.
British actor, the younger brother of John Phillip Kemble and Sarah Siddons. Although he was considered by some to be as fine an actor as his sister and brother, he mostly appeared in secondary rather than leading roles. Father of Frances Kemble. One of the co-proprietors of Covent Garden Theatre . He served as Examiner of Plays in the early nineteenth-century, reviewing plays for licensing by the Lord Chamberlain.—lmw
who has been so very kind to me—This may be averted by 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
's relenting—I hope to God it will—I believe he would do any thinganything to serve the Author of JulianJulian; a Tragedy in Five Acts.
London
New York:
G. B. Whittaker
W. B. Gilley
. 1823. except play the DogeDoge Foscari
character in
Mitford’s play Foscari
See also historical counterpart: Doge
Foscari.—ebb to C. KembleCharles Kemble | Born: 1775-11-25 in Brecon, South Wales. Died: 1854-11-12 in England.
British actor, the younger brother of John Phillip Kemble and Sarah Siddons. Although he was considered by some to be as fine an actor as his sister and brother, he mostly appeared in secondary rather than leading roles. Father of Frances Kemble. One of the co-proprietors of Covent Garden Theatre . He served as Examiner of Plays in the early nineteenth-century, reviewing plays for licensing by the Lord Chamberlain.—lmw
's FoscariFoscari: A Tragedy.
London
:
G. B. Whittaker
. 1826. —& yet the DogeDoge Foscari
character in
Mitford’s play Foscari
See also historical counterpart: Doge
Foscari.—ebb is really the better part of the two—but FoscariFoscari: A Tragedy.
London
:
G. B. Whittaker
. 1826. would shewshow off CharlesCharles Kemble | Born: 1775-11-25 in Brecon, South Wales. Died: 1854-11-12 in England.
British actor, the younger brother of John Phillip Kemble and Sarah Siddons. Although he was considered by some to be as fine an actor as his sister and brother, he mostly appeared in secondary rather than leading roles. Father of Frances Kemble. One of the co-proprietors of Covent Garden Theatre . He served as Examiner of Plays in the early nineteenth-century, reviewing plays for licensing by the Lord Chamberlain.—lmw
.—Now is not this enough to put me past all hope & comfort? I have only been one morning into 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 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. CrowtherMr. Crowther
Crowther
Mr.
The dandy
Mitford pokes fun at in her letters of
9 and 10 January, 1819
. Possibly husband to Isabelle Crowther. According to Coles, his forename may be Phillip; Coles is not completely confident that the dandy Mr. Crowther and Mr. Phillip Crowther are the same person. The second Mr. Crowther is a correspondent of Mitford's, whom she writes to at Whitley cottage, near Reading. He may also have resided at Westbury on Trim near Bristol. William Coles is uncertain of whether Crowtheris the same Phillip Crowthermentioned in Mitford's Journal. Source: William Coles, Letter to Needham, 10 November 1957, NeedhamPapers, Reading Central Library.
—lmw, scw—& have so entirely lost my spirits that page 4
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 JulianJulian; a Tragedy in Five Acts.
London
New York:
G. B. Whittaker
W. B. Gilley
. 1823. —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 oneanyone with a view of making interest with Mr. page 5
14 Jany 1823. 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
. [1] "Mr." appears as the last word on page four and also the first word on page five.—bas 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 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
, & with him I have the best possible interest both in his own feelings & in his bosom friend (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
) who is also mine & who knows exactly my situation & feelings. Do not mention it to a living being—I would not have 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
think I complained of him for the world. 〰 Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson & the little heiressFrances Vikris Geils Elliott | Born: 1820-03-07 in Farley Hill, near Swallowfield, Berkshire, England. Died: 1898-10-26 in Siena, Toscana, Italy.
Frances Dickinson was the only child of Charles Dickinson and Catherine Allingham. Her father Charles died when she was seven years old, and she inherited the considerable wealth that had descended to him from his extended family's West Indian ventures. She is buried in Rome. She was married to and divorced from her first husband, John Edward Geils (1813-1894) and later married the Rev. Gilbert Elliott (1800-1891).—ajc, lmw are spending their xmas in SomersetshireSomersetshire, England |
Somerset
| Somersetshire | England |
51.105097 -2.926230700000019
County in southwest England, now known as Somerset. County town is Taunton.—lmw at a fine old house [2] This is likely the family manor house at Queen Charlton.—bas, lmw 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. HaydonBenjamin Robert Haydon | Born: 1786-01-26 in Plymouth, England. Died: 1846-06-22 in London.
Benjamin Robert Haydon was a painter educated at the
Royal Academy, who was famous for contemporary,
historical, classical, biblical, and mythological scenes, though tormented by
financial difficulties and incarceration. He painted William Wordsworth's portrait in 1842 and
painted a cameo of Keats in his epic canvas
Christ's Entry into Jerusalem(1814-20). MRM was introduced to him at his London studio in the spring of
1817, and Sir William Elford was a
mutual friend, and Haydon’s own acquaintances included several prominent
British Romantic literary figures. He completed
The Raising of Lazarus in
1823
. He wrote a diary and an autobiography, both of
which were published only posthumously, and he committed suicide in 1846.
George Paston's
Little Memoirs of the Nineteenth
Century (1893) contends that Mitford was
asked to edit Haydon's memoir, but
declined.—rnes, ebb [gap: 1 word, reason: torn.][3] 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.—bas, ebb on the birth of his son & heir. 〰Have you read [del: .] [4] 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.—bas 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 IrvineIrvingWashington Irving, or: Geoffrey Crayon | Born: 1783-04-03 in New York City, New York, USA. Died: 1859-11-28 in Sunnyside, Tarrytown, New York, USA.
American author and early adopter of the linked story collection mode of publication in book form. Mitford admired the first volume of the Sketchbook, although she thought less of subsequent volumes.—lmw
's [5] Mitford probably means Washington Irving, whose episodic novel Bracebridge Hall was published in 1822 in two volumes.—bas, lmw 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 & kindpage 6
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 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
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 [6] 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.—bas, ebb & to Lady ElfordElizabeth Walrond Hall, or: Mrs. Elford | Born: 1780 in Manadon, Devon, England. Died: 1839 in Totnes, Devon, England.
Elizabeth Walrond was the second wife of Sir William Elford; they married on July 5, 1821
, fourteen years after the death of Mary Davies Elford in 1807
. Elizabeth was the daughter and co-heiress of Humphrey Hall of Mandon, Devon, England and his wife, the Hon. Jane St. John, daughter of John St. John, 11th Baron St. John of Bletsoe. She was previously married to Maine Swete Waldron, an officer in the Coldstream Guards, in 1803 and they had two children, only one of whom survived to adulthood. Her first husband died
around 1817 and she married Sir William Elford four years later. Following her death, her will was probated on 10 December 1839. Some secondary sources erroneously give the spelling of her first married name as Waldron
; however, she is not to be confused with the American Elizabeth Waldron (1780 to 21 July 1853). Her birthdate is not given in any standard nineteenth-century reference sources, but is likely to be before 1780.—ebb, ajc, lmw if she will accept of them & believe me always most faithfully & affectionately your's. Kindest regards from Papa & MamaGeorge and Mary Mitford
Mary Russell Mitford's parents, George and Mary.—ebb.
authoress,and lists her as living at Three Mile Cross with Kerenhappuch Taylor (lady’s maid), Sarah Chernk (maid-of-all-work), and Samuel Swetman (gardener), after the death of her father. Mitford’s long life and prolific career ended after injuries from a carriage accident. She is buried in Swallowfield churchyard. The executor of her will and her literary executor was the Rev. William Harness and her lady’s maid, Kerenhappuch Taylor Sweetman, was residuary legatee of her estate. —lmw, ebb
Miss Rowe is a very fine young woman—I am more acquainted with Mrs. [Valpy]
Dr. Richard Valpy and his family,
including his first and second wife, his daughters, including Penelope and Catherine one or more of whom were friends with with Mary Russell Mitford, and his sons, including
John Valpy.—ebb—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—