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Summary
Writes about London plays; wishes CD had been of the party.
Transcription
My dear Mr. Charles
I find I have only just time to thank you for your entertaining letter, as if I take time to write what I intended I shall not be able to get it frankedf3 & I’m sure it will not be worth the postage, I should have liked to have seen the good Gentleman Grin that you mention there is no doubt but those that were out of the Scrape were much amused, I assure you I wish’d much you had been of our party on thursday night at the play, I think you would have been highly entertained both with the Coronation,f4 and the entertainment of Monsieur Tonson,f5 I never laugh’d so much at a play I think, I dare say you have been much amused with Mr. Alexanderf6 & I hope I shall hear some specimenes of his art from you when I return, as I dare say it is practiced in School Lane, so god bless you as I am obliged to conclude this ever believe me | Yours truly M Congreve
Saturday 27th Oct
I think you will not be able with all your Greek knowledge to read this precious Scrawl
Footnotes
- f1
- The writer is referred to in an obituary notice in the Salopian Journal, 5 February 1823, as `eldest sister to the late General Sir William Congreve, Bart and aunt to the present.’ See also the letter from E. A. Darwin, 5 [March 1823].
- f2
- The letter is dated from the reference to Mr Alexander (see n. 6, below).
- f3
- Peers, Members of Parliament, and Officers of State had the privilege of free mail. `Franks’ (covers addressed, dated, and signed by the holder of the privilege) were distributed freely among constituents and friends. In 1821 Miss Congreve’s nephew, Sir William Congreve, was M.P. for Plymouth.
- f4
- A pageant representation of the coronation of George IV, produced by Robert William Elliston at the Drury Lane Theatre (Genest 1832, 9: 96–7).
- f5
- A farce by William Thommas Moncrieff, based on a dramatic poem by John Taylor, that was read, but not performed, at Drury Lane on 20 September 1821 (DNB, Genest 1832, 9: 96).
- f6
- The Salopian Journal of 17 October 1821 records the performance of Monsieur Alexandre, a ventriloquist, at the Royal Free Grammar School of Shrewsbury on 12 October. School Lane, now called School Gardens, was immediately adjacent to the school.