Dapation of the King; The Moral and Retribution; the Death of his own Son, Induced from the very Person Inhumanly Persecuted. There is a Poetic License In the Catastrope I think not Material, as It alters no Important Fact of History. I should Esteem myself much obliged by being Favored by any Intimation or Directions; and tho' Addicted to Letters and 40 years of age this is the first thing that ever Escaped my Closet, therefore am in no ways Conversant In these Matters-Should I be Favored with your Sanction to Submit to You Sir this Play I shall Forward It to You, if It is Specified where, by a safe Person, and as I have no Copy, Pray, it may be taken Care of-I was intended for the Church, have been in the Army, and of decent Independence, Not being Author yet at all, or ever So by Profession, I Trust will not depreciate this Effort. I cou'd wish Miss O'Neil and Mr. Kemble to Peruse It. My Name Possibly Never will be Mentioned. Sir, Your Obed Hble Servant So much for an author who “"was intended for the church, and has been in the army;" and whose work was not only calculated to "breathe an expansion,-nay crown with a sublimity even new, some of the first-rate paintings and sculpture;" but of which even "the essence would be ample for representation." Turn we now to a contrast-a less violent one, however, than it may at first seem to unthinking readers. To MR. HARRIS. Walworth, Nov. 1, 1815. Sir.-I Have Just Finished A New Pantimine and Can Havet Well Recomended By Sum Hundreds of the Metropeless, Butt Do Wish to Know wat Incuragement You will alow Mee For My Truble. For Referance Apley to Mr. Key, N101 London Road, Mr. Deynes Cheane Warehouse, Walworth, Roger Smith, Esq. Maner House Do. Richard Roffey, Esq. Do. Mr. Hughes, Butcher, D. &c. &c. Direct To J▬▬ D▬▬ Market Gardner, West Lane, Walworth, Surrey. Yours &c., M- D This young person seems to be of opinion that, in order to prove one's qualifications for producing a good pantomime, it is only necessary to be able to command a good character from one's last place! Let us now take a step higher in the scale of dramatic authors. The young gentleman to whom we are indebted for the following is evidently, from his hand-writing and address, "Some clerk foredoom'd his father's soul to cross, Who pens a drama when he should engross." It is equally evident, however, that he will not break his father's heart by persisting too pertinaciously in his attempts on the Muse of Tragedy. He has wooed her for her supposed wealth alone; and when he finds that any favours she may have granted him will not sell for sufficient to remunerate him for his time and trouble in obtaining them, he will bid her a very brief adieu, and try some more promising speculation. He has not been articled to an attorney for nothing. CHARLES KEMBLE, ESQ. Sir. Having composed a Tragedy, I now offer it for your Inspection.The Work I own is plain, but I trust not defective. My Study has been entirely devoted to it, and trusting therefore my Exertions will not prove unavailing. I am a New Author, which my name will convince you, and as such I hope and trust that this Work will, when produced before an Audience, receive that patronage that is so highly gratifying to an Author, which encourages them and gives them a spirit to write more. -If this deserves your approbation, I hope that you will early as possible bring it forth and try it to see if it will be upheld or condemned. The terms on which I stand are of a reasonable nature, namely, what is usual for an Author to have in such Cases. I speak candidly that I feel reluctant to give it for nothing, which I cannot do without receiving a Compensation for this arduous task. You must be aware that a Work of such a Nature is not composed without taking up a good deal of Time and likewise Study, and I think I address you in Terms that are truly honorable and fair. -You as a Gentleman that is highly Esteemed for your great Talents induces me to submit this Work for your inspection, thinking within myself that as a Gentleman you will act with honor and uprightness. I send you a fair Copy, which when inspected by you I beg that you will return me an Answer as early as possible, and if it meets your Approbation so that you produce it on the Stage, you will oblige me by giving your Terms. The Prologue and Epilogue are not composed yet. I Remain, Sir, Your most obt. and Humble Servt. One more specimen of this class, and we will look about for something different; though any thing more curious than these are in their way, we despair of finding. The drama of a youth who expresses himself after the following fashion, must have been a rarity in its kind. That it was a unique, is not improbable; but that it preserved the unities, the style of its author affords good reason to doubt. To Mr. SMITH, New Surrey Theatre. Sir,-While submitting my work to the ordeal of your criticism, permit me boldly, Sir, to hope that you will not pass over this as unworthy of attention, as one whose cause is on the dawn of infancy. Young, though not a stranger to those obstacles which Patronage may plant in my course-yet fearless of them all. Though not decked with the laurelled wreath of high-born Patronage-though obscured from its resplendent beam-yet alike undaunted press not my Essay for unmerited approbation, nor for vain flattery. Though this in a youth may look presumptuous, yet believe me, Sir, the plainest word is the best. Ever confident that you are too generous and too just for to weigh my youth as ought against me in the scale of your opinion -and if possessed of true generosity you surely will not deny my MS. that due attention which it may perchance merit. I remain yours, Sir, V. W. P. S. As soon as circunstances will adınit an answer will oblige. The following letter is, perhaps, the most extraordinary that we have yet had occasion to present to the reader. It is from a servant who has robbed her mistress, and who, fancying herself at the point of death, is conscience-stricken, and would fain make her peace with Heaven by a well-timed confession on earth. Let the reader observe the "horrible imaginings" that haunt her-the "religious musings" that are mixed up with them -and above all, the cunning way in which she provides for the best as well as the worst, by declining to sign her name, lest she should lay herself open to the law in case of her recovering! Honored Madam,-I thout larst night I was going hout ov the warld, and then I felt that I culd not di in Pease hif my conscunce was trubbletthese fritfool looks lade huppon mi mind loike a lode ov led-and so I preyed to God omitee to spear mi sinfool soale ontill soach tim too day.-I got hup a litel beter and crawled to yowre hows, when Mister Richard got me the dirikshun-has i hope for a redeemin hart ov grase to pooryfye the soales of soache sinfool wreatches loike me, I ave now givun hup all as his left ov what I ronged you on.-I ope now I mai bee let di in quiete and not bee torminted a nites with develish grines and oulings ov blak sperritus conshunsif yow moy deer missus wold pray for furgifnuss apon all as I tuke and pleged, I think it mite be ov sarvis to me at godgmint da.-So no moor for the presunt frum yow no hoo as lived withe yow when you was at Britun, A repintfool sennur. We may venture to guess that, in all the four tragedies referred to in the letters which precede the above, there is nothing so well calculated as this to effect the alleged purpose of tragedy-namely, "to instruct the human mind through the medium of terror and pity." All the blood, the bell-tolling, and the black cloth of George Barnwell are nothing, to the "frightful looks," and "the devilish grins and howlings," which haunt the dreams of this " repentful sinner." Let us forget her remorse, in more light and ludicrous matter. The following is in reply to an advertisement from a lady requiring "board and lodging." The writer evidently understands something of the female character, and knows that widow ladies are not always to be taken au pied de la lettre. Dear Madam,-Seeing an advertisement in Trewman's paper, that you was in want of board and lodgings, should have no objections to taking you as a boarder and lodger if we can come to proper terms. I am a widower with a family, one daughter twenty-one years of age-myself about fortyfive years of age-strong and healthy as any man. My residence is in the town of Tiverton, in a comfortable house, &c. with a good business and a comfortable house in the country if I choose to live in it-with about £180 a year landed property. Should this meet your approbation I should like to have an interview with you then we can explain matters more fully. I am, Dear Madam, Your most humble servant, Tiverton, 1822. A. B. At this stage of our search we again find ourselves among numerous applications to hard-hearted managers, from youthful aspirants after dramatic fame. We cannot do better than extract one or two, in addition to those we have already given of a similar nature. The young person who indites the following seems to rest his claims to attention on "the advantage of his want of experience;" and offers, as a specimen of his powers as an actor, "the draught scean in Julet."-This is something like another applicant whose letter is lying before us, but is rather too long for insertion. He says, as a description of my person may be necessary, I will say nothing in praise of myself farther than that I am twenty-four years of age, six feet high, and weighing from one hundred and sixty to seventy pounds." 66 To Mr. TROTTER, Theatre Royal, Worthing. Sir-If you are in want of a Theatrical servant, and would take a beginner, and you find him stage-worthy, which I offer myself up to, free of any engage, ment, you will, I trust Sir, find me a most desirous member of the stage, to get into the public voice. This pursute I wish for very much, and therfor would enter into an engagement that would allow my employer the advantage of my want of exsperance, although I flatter myself (I possess) the ma terals of theatrecal performents in its principal parts. I am very confidant that my present situation of life is much against my views, but the beautys of Nature are not known untill they are shown. Therfor for trial sake I ask it as a favor of you to give me an oppertunity to present myself to your servis and notice. Allow me to say, if you will make your appointment, you will find me faithfull to my engagement, and shall trust to futer events to subscribe myself Your very humble Servant, J. T. P. S. If you will allow me to ask the opportunity of seeing you as soon as an opportunity offers, as I wish to offer myself, if it would be of any use or novelty to you, the part of Julet in the draught scean, and Richard in the Dream-which will correspond in following each other, any night that you please to name. Worthing, Sussex, The following is " from the same to the same,"-written a few weeks before. Sir.-I offer myself to your servis and notice, seeking to get into the Elements of my soul's desire, which is to become a theatrecal member, and one in the public voice, and to obtain that organ will best prove the servis I render to myself and to them that I may have the honour to serve. And as, Sir, my pretentions are not beyond a beginer, acknowledging myself unacquainted with the theatre or any of its members, yet 1 flatter myself I have the stamp, &c. for the stage, and as such, Sir, you will find if you should be in want of a Don Felix, or any thing that you shall think best. I am, Your very humble servant, J. T. P. S. The present situation of life that I move in, makes me dought of suc cess-but I will trust to fortune and your good opinion, as but few things pass without a polish. One more only, in connexion with theatrical matters, and then we must finally take leave of them for "metal," if not "more attractive," at least more refined. We shall entertain a less high opinion than we have hitherto been accustomed to do, of the taste and judgment of that class of readers for whom it is our lot to cater, if they turn away with contempt from the following effusion, as trifling or vulgar. Many a farce, not to say a comedy, has owed much of its success to a less natural incident, less naturally and simply told. Mr., to whom the following is addressed, has evidently been what the writer of the letter would call "a gay deceiver;" and we are sadly afraid that, like all such, he was ashamed to keep a promise, being a great man in London, which was made when he was but a little man in the country. Dear Sir. I wright to ask you whether you intend to preform your promeece cunscurning my going to see opry-if you do, pray let me know as soon as posible you can-if i am to go i will weight againest the opry door til i see you. pray excuse my boldenes, but if you remember you sade i should go if ever i cam to London-so now preform your promes-if you can i should like it very much as i shall be blidge to leave London soon-pray let me know whether i can or not-if i can not i must stop away-but i should like very much to go-so no more from me at present.-i am your very humble Servant, E. M. i am weighting againest the oppry door for your answer-pray be quick for i am in a hurry-pray wright your answer, for i shall be ashamed to see you after sutch boldeness. We shall now close our extracts for this month, with perhaps the most accomplished instance on record of foreign English. But this is far from being the only merit of the following epistle. Surely the writer must have been the most romantic of clerks; aud moreover infinitely unacquainted with the nature of an Englishman, to suppose that he would do all that is required in this epistle, for an utter stranger, never before heard of, and living a thousand miles off. We shall for once depart from our plan of omitting names, as, in this instance, it can do no harm, and may by possibility assist in this romantic search after a lost father-if he still remains such. Mr. JOHN BELL, London. Trieste, (in Germany), 10th March, 1815. Sir, I take myself the freedom to write you this present Letter, which shall only serve as to beg you, my dear Sir, a great favor, and this is; It is abbout past Tene Years that I have not received any news of my Father, Mr. Gasparo Anth. Jordan, who is, I believe, still in London for the Course of Tweenty and more Years, I find me in a great ansiety, and continue perplessity, to donn't known if this my Father is a live, or not, or perhaps thead; I am for this reason so free to advance and disturbe you with this few linens, with the Kindness prayer to enquire by some Brokers of the Exchange, or elisewere of him, and otherwise to leted putting in Printing in the News Paper as a Note, if any Person Know if this Subject is here at London, and possitively his Living place, Number of the House and by hum he is to be found; Assured you my dear Sir, that for this favor I shall never pay, and I find it no words to express you my anticipate gratitude for this uman kindness, which I do nothing doubt you shall do for me. All and every Expenses that you may do for this information, I beg to send me word with Account, anthen I shall ready send you the amount of the valuing with one short Bill of Exchange payable oppon a good House or Bankers of this Citty, that you shall encashed and supplied. If you will be so good allso by this occasion to do me the favor, and send me only one part of the Printing News Paper withe the expression of said my father of this requiring, and this doo by way of Post, and pray to Debit my account for the Postage, for this as allso for any others that you may send me. This part is only to inform you, that I am a Clerck of one Tradingshouse o Trieste, and hoppe you shall be kind enough to writing me some linen and excuse me for taking this liberty. Ready I allso at any yours Command in this our part, and in wanting of one yours agreable answer as soon as you can, I remain with regard Sir, Your most humble Servant * A gentleman, to whom one of the letters printed in a previous number was addressed, has received a remonstrative epistle (which he has, no doubt, added to his collection of "characteristic" ones, and which we were of two minds whether we should not add to ours) insisting, in not the most delicate terms, on the "indelicacy" of publishing "real" letters. If they had been fictitious ones he would not have minded. But he does not seem to be aware that the kind of" indelicacy," to which he alludes, can only exist in connexion with a name. If we had avowedly invented the letters, he would not have seen any "indelicacy" in such a proceeding. And yet, so far as regards any real person, they might have been invented; for we have not, with the above exception, made auy one, living or dead, answerable for a single word contained in them. |