675. William Charles Macready to RB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 111.
13. Cumberland Terrace.
Dec. 10. [1838] [1]
My dear Browning
On Sunday next I am going to test the effect of a play, as far as I can, by reading it to a select auditory: [2] —it has high pretensions, but particular circumstances interfere to perplex us in arriving at a clear judgement, and therefore I wish to pass it though another ordeal.– Will you come to us at three o’clock, and undergo it—and afterwards at half past six, give us the pleasure of your company at dinner:—of course you will make your whole day with us, if you are good enough to come.– Write per C.G.T. [3]
Always and ever sincerely
yours’
W. C. Macready.
R. Browning Esqr
Docket, at top of first page, in RB’s hand: Bulwer’s “Richelieu”.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Southwark Central Reference Library.
1. Year provided by the entry in Macready’s diary.
2. Macready’s diary entry for 10 December 1838 reads: “Wrote notes of invitation to Browning, Fox, Rintoul, Wallace, H. Smith, Blanchard, asking them to dine and hear Bulwer’s play on Sunday.” The entry of 16 December recorded that “Henry Smith and Serle called first, then Browning, Fox, Blanchard, and Lane to hear the reading of the play.” (Macready, I, 481, 482.) As RB’s docket indicates, it was Richelieu, and Macready’s diary entry goes on to say that the opinions of all were favourable, and that he wrote an account of the results to Bulwer.
3. Covent Garden Theatre.
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