Letter from Henry F. Chorley to Charlotte Cushman, Apr 24, 1847

Chorley critiques Fanny Kemble Butler's performance as Juliet, and confides that "there are very few persons to whom I would write thus much. therefore, pray destroy this letter." Chorley tells Cushman of a Maddox offer for Butler to perform with Macready which Butler declined. He also presents Jenny Lind as naïve and mentions that George Vandenhoff is coming to England from the US.


Credit

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

[2956] Dear friend. The neighbourina[?] has set forth on a pilgrimage to enquire after you today. I have not many moments. yet I somehow feel, as if I must write – having thought very much about you during the last week. Therefore pray accept this as a friendly call[?] — You are essentially better, by this time. I hope & trust in any event. You will not be worse for a little news a talk about matters of mutual interest. It was not till Friday. absolutely the last night of her engagement that I was able to get to see M^s Butler – as Juliet I cannot remember ever to have felt more strangely with regard to any performance - or [inserted] to have had more difficulty [illegible crossed out] in ascertaining what my feelings were! It must be some fifteen years since I saw her play the part – & she & I. therefore (I hope you admire the wondrous ingenuity[?] of the discovery) are some fifteen years older! Every effect was there which I expected: the very looks, tones, attitudes, repeated. It was like something which had been laid in a box & taken out again, without any thing being done in the way of +++ or alteration  — and capital as were some passages. – I felt myself cold

[2956 reverse] and surprised. & sorrowful. When all was over. – What is worse, on reconsidering the thing itself & my own impressions – I do not think the fault was altogether mine. I think she has returned on to the stage trusting to recollection, habit. etc etc: rather than thinking over the part again or questioning herself whether there was any thing to be done or undone with regard to it. — & hence something unnatural not belonging to her present self or present state of mind & powers which, those even must feel. Who do not recollect the time, when the personification [last two words inserted] was more spontaneous. Now, there are very few persons to whom I would write thus much. therefore, pray destroy this letter. You will not respect[?] me, of wishing to please or propitiate you [inserted] by faintly praising other persons. because. I am too essentially contemptuous a person, (did I not know you) either to try the trick or to carry it through – but I don't expect as much justice or fair construction from any third party. — Therefore I hope the wisest of +++ will tear up my criticism for +++ papers. I fancy you will like to know all I thought on the occasion, & I am as sure of yourself as of myself, in saying that we wish it had been different – Has any one told you that Maddox [illegible crossed out] wanted [inserted] to engage M^s. B.— to  go through twelve nights with Macready & that she declined. She is now gone to Bath. —

[2957] You would understand my experience of being misunderstood. & my reluctance to give fresh occasion to the misunderstanders. Could you dream of the state in which my [illegible crossed out] world is about myself[?] a. Jenny Lind: a sort of "Love me, Love +++" +++, which would be comical, were it not also, mortifying among people of sense[?] & when it comes to plough up old friendships. & have had many narrow passages to walk through, since I have known the press. but none so narrow as this. & if I had not nerves if[sic] iron, I should end, in being absolutely unfair to a talent crutched up so oddly a connected with so many disagreeable accessoires. — I have not seen much of Mlle Lind off the stage – What I have seen, I do not like. She is so terribly humble & innocent & modest! "Never was so amazed in her life as at her success here! – Believes she is to have some very large sum for singing in London! but does not know – having never read her contract." etc: etc: — & as somehow I cannot but [inserted] fancy that as +++ speaks to +++, +++ would [illegible crossed out] prefer to [last two words inserted] keep +++ company – the Lind does not find me sympathatic [sic] to her, & (though of course. she must be civil & play at being frank) would rather have as little to do with me as she can! – when we do get our talk – I have an odd budget at your service as ever King of Israel had! Meanwhile, ears & eyes are open +++ widest — It appears to me from what I can make out. — that +++ +++ 

[2957 reverse] is feeling his way in sundry[?] worlds to ascertain what amount of[?] cooperation he may count upon in case of a management be laid at his feet! Do you see that M^r. G. Vandenhoff is coming over from America? would not that he [inserted] be the Duke? — There will be alltogether many new odd combinations before next winter — or I am strangely mistaken.
Meanwhile, keep yourself tranquilly & hopefully in +++ — both mind & body: & get as much +++ health, & strength as you can. When you come again to London. you are right in thinking that you must come well. A more impropitious reason than this could not have been: & it is just as well, that the play was not tried[?] — though I begin to think I shall never have the agreeable[?] misery of seeing anything of mine acted beyond some sort of a namby-pamby opera translation — It is charming to get old because one has no longer highly. raised expectations. – Well. I must bid you good morning – having a good deal to do in +++  to. day – ending in a visit to Babel — namely, a party at Lady  Morgan's. Ever yours
H.F. Chorley
Kindest regards to M^s. Meriman