Letter from Henry F. Chorley to Charlotte Cushman, Mar 7, 1850

Chorley gives Cushman some advice: "only don't stop in America till you get £30.000. – because, perhaps, by that time you will be used not to want England again." He is outraged over the negative critiques of his play "Duchess Eleanor": "On the Tuesday some of the big-wigs of the press had come & had poured tepid water on the play!"
He asks Cushman for her support: "Supposing that you still esteem "The Duchess" as highly as of old.— is it unfair to wish that you should make her your own thoroughly?"

Credit

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

[2933] My dear friend. Though my note to you had not reached you, when you wrote to me from N. Orleans on the 7th of last month (without your ++++— just as you were in Paris) I hope you have received it ere this: since it would remind you that "the reciprocity is not all one side" — but that I can remember you — as well as you, &[?] with all my heart do I rejoice in the account do you send me of your thrivings & successes – I heard as much from M^rs Hawkes whom I met one evening at M^rs. Gibson's & wh,. after many struggles, spoke to me, &, being not bitten, spoke again & c: & c: & c: & c: & c: & c: – but I am truly glad to see the thinly accredited in your own handsome handwriting. – only don't stop in America [last two words inserted] till you get £30.000. – because, perhaps, by that time you will be used not to want England[?] again. & that I should not like – since I shall not never see America & if you are very long of coming, you will hardly see me. I think, so worn to the very bones of my mind do I feel, without the possibility of slackening[?] in the exertion to keep on my legs. – You had small need to tell me how you found America. — I am convinced having read Evangeline I could read, on the subject [last three words inserted] &[?] seen +++ conversed +++ made friends with many from America [last two words inserted] that I have a true clear idea of what I should find there. — at all events 'tis just what you describe. I would enjoy the originals which such a newland must yield – but I shall never see them — [illegible crossed out] no, not if M^r. Barnum will give me £1000. to put "Duchess Eleanour[?]" upon the stage! — She getting "old and sore afraid" – very much like "the cottage maid" in the circulating library – "all in pieces" – & very to much thumbing[?]. – Well. I am enchanted at your prosperity — & will now tell you tale which I am vain enough on the other hand, to fancy that you will be +++ to hear. – My note to you, which I take it for granted that you got. — told you that Creswick had accepted for the Surrey Theatre. – "Sir Archibald" — which I now called "old love & new fortune". — The play was acted on the 18^th of last month, with entire success. – I had fitted it up with a new last act in two evenings — which now makes it much better: & had retouched it every where: — & they took every

[2933 reverse] pains that a theatre can take, to satisfy me: as to care in production. —rehearsal obligingness & good will. – I had a very hard & anxious winter in every respect & got so seriously ill & sleepless – +++ & coughy – that I broke off in the midst of the entire business, & went to Paris for a week, which set me on my legs again — came back on the 11^th & came out, as I tell you, on the 18^th – I never saw a piece better put on the stage of or more evenly acted. – The house was pretty well filled with just five & twenty people in it who know my name (twelve of whom must have paid) — since I totally declined all packing processes, as totally impossible to me. — The same evening "The Noble Heart" by M^r. Lewes came out [inserted] at the Olympic — So none of the press came to me – since he had been round, &c: &c: &c: &c: &c: &c: &c:  I had the neighbourina[?] in my box, &, strange to say, was not in the least frightened save a few minutes in the fourth act, owing to a [illegible crossed out] little noise in the pit When all was over & the succes sure, & I called for – by pit & galler — violently — then I did get nervous: — but still strong in the satisfaction that I had made people cry & laugh & like me – Who could have no prevention (as we say in France) in my favour – Well, you might have thought that one was over the bridge, then, but what think you? – absolutely the +++ had been forgotten!! & on the Wednesday, down comes a note "in a pucker" to stop the performance! – On the Tuesday some of the big-wigs of the press had come & had poured tepid water on the play! – They could not ignore its having pleased, but no one would say so for four days? — The Times "could +++ make out what it was about &c: &c:" – Well: I gave my poor self up for lost[?] & thought the management [illegible crossed out] (or rather half of it in the prison of Mr Shepherd) wished to +++ my play — However it got on its legs again for eleven nights in all – perhaps, more to come: — As it is subject to a nightly rent to me; & as they have let it stand alone during these far-advanced weeks of +++, of course, they groan about "loss" &c: &c: — but had I stood out for money at first — I am persuaded they would have +++, & established

[2934] it well. I have had kind words & praise on every side. save from one or two press people – Who have had their miserable reasons for neither being kindly nor praisely I wish you could have seen my play.— Meanwhile since I began this very epistle. Down has come cradle & baby & all! At the Olympic Theatre! – down has smashed M^r. Watts & his champagne suppers, which M^r. Oxenford[?] did eat (a crammed his "Ariadne" down the managers thoat in requital) — down has trembled[?] M^rs Mowatt & her blue satin dressing room, not to speak of her comedy called "Fashion" (which some found not comic in the least) – down has trembled[?] M^r Davenport &c: &c: &c: &c: — "and the place thereof knoweth threw no more." – Not M^r. Lewes' play. Nor Mr. Brooke's acting could avail – the theatre that on Wednesday We say, "What next?" – I am mainly sorry for the Wigans[?] — whom it flings loose from their moorings — for the rest I suspect. the play. world is will rid of such at unnatural, made-up. business: — but it will be hard for Mistress M[?]: – to "+++ brown" Now — & this she must do: — I am meditating now, — & very hard – A five act comedy – since I have proved that I can make "gentle & simple laugh" – Meanwhile I am very nearly driven to my wits' end how to hold out: — And though "I put my trust in God. for this is the sign of the Black Sow"!") I cannot hide from myself cracks, devices & chasms, which I know not how I shall get over. — With a feeling that health & spirits +++ hold out much – longer under the strain. — Under these circumstances, I write to you as you would to me. I believe were the matters reversal — & had you "the wooden ladle" & — "the silver spoon." — Supposing that you still esteem "The Duchess" as highly as of old.— is it unfair to wish that you should make her your own thoroughly?—

[2934] Tho' she will one day thrive – this will never happen till you have played the part so [illegible crossed out] entirely was it calculated for you— & as I believe that such transactions are habitual in one world — I feel that I can ask you to turn this in your mind, without any fear of one good understanding of old friendship being disturbed; or without shame in so doing. – I was +++  while you were here, —to follow the example of Lovell. Marston[?]. & +++  who had all. I knew, severally, thus recured plays of theirs — but I always said "No" — I was then untried[?], & you not in that Californian estate in which it was honourable & possible to me to tempt you the expenditure of a penny. Now, in both respects, is the case changed & I feel that without either exigence or vulgarity I have may at least put the matter before you — I have learned much of my trade while putting "old Love" on the stace — & should revise & retouch "the Duchess" throughout ere it is acted: Therefore, will you let me hear if this

[2933 vertical] reached you Wether you still mean to do it and I will at once sat to work & forward to you a final copy — Meanwhile God bless you Ever yrs

Henry F. Chorley