Autograph letter signed : Sullivans Island, to John Cooper, 1826 April 19.

Apologizing for his misunderstanding in getting him his money and saying he will write immediately to Coutt's so that he will be promptly paid; adding "I am now recovering from my first fit of the Gout, & nothing but you cou'd have forced me to hold a pen. 3 things I must premise to you - 1st I am engaged - bona fide in America till the end of June in the year 1827 - 2ndly, that though the Covent Garden managers have three times made overtures to me, they never mention terms, & my terms - are now - known to the Theatrical world - just as well, as a twelve years old scholar knows A from Z - 3'dly Elliston has offered Me the terms fifty pounds a night for 24 nights, (securing it before my arrival in Coutts's bank - playing me off 4 or at least 3 nights a week, (for the security of my provincial engagements) & come when I will. I have not answered this & will evade it as long as I can - I shou'd prefer Covent Garden but it must be those terms - the managers of either Theatre, very well know that my appearance will ruin the other - this is the Ultimatum; I am now going to the Canada's - that is after New York & Baltimore - I shall not return to the United States till October. I shall answer no letters of business whatever till that time, - if Mr. C. Kemble accedes to these terms - I choose Covent Garden if not Drury Lane!!! Pray be kind to my very good friend Mr. Milk of Charleston, to whom I am indebted for a great deal of polite attention & who will deliver to you a letter of [introduc]tion - he is kind enough to [torn away], in conjunction with the arrangement of the Naumachia;" adding, in a postscript, "if C. Kemble wants me for 1828 he must be quick."