Letter from Henry F. Chorley to Charlotte Cushman, May 8, 1847

Chorley advises Charlotte Cushman to rest and be patient with her recovery. He mentions performances by Fanny Kemble Butler and Jenny Lind.

Credit

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

[2954] Dear friend I must just write a line in answer to y^r. note: to beg of you to take matters easily — I think you are disposed so to do. for the present. but just keep this by you for use three weeks hence ^or when you may begin to feel rest wearying To me being laid up for a while seems very like perfect happiness. but to you, it must be plaguing, with all your +++

[2954 reverse] activity: & don't spoil a perfect recovery, by moving hand, or foot, or eyelash, ere[?] you have the  fullest warrant from y^r. doctor & yourself. — Meanwhile, in other respects you will be all the better [illegible crossed out] for a pause: — You will have time to gather, to read, to imagine, which is hardly possible to one who lives on the railroad: as you have done of late. As regards

[2955] London, & its season. the loss, is pofessionally, nothing. — What money there is, what audiences there are, go to the operas, or have been to Mendelsohn's "Elijah". – I have not yet had an evening for M^s. Butler Whose reappearance has shared the faith of all things at this busy time: My sister saw her two nights since – playing to but a meagre audience but she is well. I hear. & cheerful: & I hope to go for myself next week

[2955 reverse] as to y^r. very kind expressions about me — I only wish they were as true as you mean them: However, to be so thought of by one or two persons keeps me alive & upright in the midst of vexation & anxiety. to sink many a stronger person: Perhaps good days may come for Even me, — I shall be rejoiced to  se you: but let me come to you as there are many things I want

[2954 vertical] & wait to say — The Lind is a true artist: but neither +++, nor Persiani[?] are +++: & there never was so much money in Covent Garden as on the night of

[2954 reverse, vertical] her appearance at the Opera House I paid 8: +++^s:  for my stall — The Times had 3 or 4 boxes. etc: etc: — the entire opera detestable: the worst performance

[2955 vertical] to be so pretentious  I ever saw. The neighbours would send love if they knew I was writing. faithfully y^rs
Henry F. Chorley