Autograph letter signed : London, to William Woodfall, 1780 October 11.

Saying that he hopes that, in the future, "your Paper [i.e. The Morning Chronicle, of which Woodfall was the publisher]" will not be used to circulate "undeserved Censure on my Conduct"; giving an example: "There was yesterday a well written Paragraph in the Chronicle not only blaming me for having appointed Mr. Whitfield to the Part of Aurelius in Arthur and Emmeline, but prophetically blasting all the Expectations I conceive of pleasing the Town and advantaging the Theatre by casting our Plays to the general Strength of our excellent Company"; describing the bind he is in: "If the Plays are weakly appointed, the Prints very justly abound in Censure; yet the moment I attempt the remedying of this Evil, some private friend of some Actor starts up, and opposes his vanity against the Prosperity of the Stage, and the publick Entertainment"; laying out his intentions as manager: "I am resolved to exert every Sinew in producing our Representations with due Decorations, and to the Power of the Actors; and I call upon you, my dear Woodfall, in your Character of a Critick to repel all invidious Attacks that may be made upon me on this Score, and to give your active Help to my laudable Efforts"; recalling past generations of actors: "Turn your Eye to the Drama in the Times of the Triumvirate, and find [Colley] Cibber, [Barton] Booth, and [Robert] Wilks performing Parts in Plays together, which very inferior Actors to them now hold beneath their notice"; writing that he hopes Woodfall will see on Tuesday the effects of his efforts to "strengthen Pieces -- Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations -- Pit, Box, and Gallery"; exclaiming "egad! If I can but represent Richard equally with my Ideas of him, I trust you will like the Play"; giving the cast list and describing the innovations he is adding to the production of Richard III.