Letter from Mary Howitt to Charlotte Cushman, Monday

Letter from Mary Howitt to Charlotte Cushman, Monday

Howitt has not been able to call due to a Miss Gillies being haunted by a man. She also wanted to see Cushman's Lady Macbeth performance but couldn't do so because of a thunderstorm. Howitt invites Cushman and her brother over. It's likely that this letter is written before Cushman's career soars as Howitt speaks about the world's "gratulation" that will "one day" be hers.

Credit

Library of Congress, Charlotte Cushman Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

Howitt, Mary, 1799-1888

LoC, CCP 11: 3393-3395

Reference

[3393]Monday morning 
My dear Miss Cushman.  +++ you for your +++. +++ right of your hand. writing was pleasant indeed.  I will tell you why I did not  call on Thursday – I arrived  at Miss [Gillies[?] rooms before  she did. poor thing she was  in a world of trouble & +++ ++ from the threats of that  horrible man. How important  is law to help her +++! If  you have half an hour 

 

[3393 reverse]
to spare go[?] & call on her[?] for it will do her good to see &  hear you. – I +++ with her quite to my own surprise  +++ til 3 o'clock & you had told me I must come before 4. Or you were going  to Mrs. Chorleys –  +++ did not +++ +++ while to  call for a few minutes when I might find you +++ besides which we meant  to have been in Town on Friday to have seen you in Lady 

 

[3394] Macbeth – which I wanted  +++ We set off but were caught in  this terrible thunder storm &  were obliged willy nilly to  +++ +++best of our way home again – I fancied all day yesterday you would come. Your  room was in order for you but your came not — Your are  +++ I see. you must  be invited. We have a bed  also for your brother now that  Mr. Müller is gone – to do not  scruple in coming  +++

 

[3394 reverse] Friday we will be right glad to see you - but come to stay then  all night - & tell us all your  adventures. I have [sat] down again to work hard at my translation - to that your +++ +++ & your pleasant talk will make a charming +++ +++ &  shall be my  +++ I am glad that +++ +++ ladies" all doing the polite to you. Lady +++ +++ bewitch[?] you. If you +++

 

[3395] You will be charmed with Miss Milford.. She is one of my husband's old flames –  My impression is that Miss  Milford will not let you return on Thursday – She will  have to drive all about her  sweet bowery lanes from Mr[?]  Houls[?] of one hearty country gentleman to another - If you are  tempted to stay over the night  do - & we will he with as glad  to see you on Saturday 

 

[3395 reverse] creature, do not  +++ yourself now, what will  you do in +++! I regain in this thought of  the whole world's gratulation +++ which will one  day be yours. –  May God bless you  I write in haste. & with[?]  +++ +++ Our dear Miss Cushman  yours ever  M Howitt 

Howitt, Mary, 1799-1888

Cushman, Charlotte Saunders, 1816-1876