Autograph letter signed : Birmingham, to R. W. Elliston, 1814 October 9.

Concerning the cancellation of a performance by the Italian soprano Angelica Catalani; saying that all the posters and playbills for her appearance on Saturday were already printed when he heard reports of her illness; telling Elliston that he went immediately to her husband Paul Valabrègue, who confirmed that "his Wife was so extremely ill with a Cold and Ear-ache that her appearance the next Evening was impossible"; describing how he then halted the advertising and scrambled to find a replacement or to persuade Catalani to sing, "to any thing to have issued the Bills and to open the Theatre"; writing that "Miss Stephens" (probably Catherine Stephens) was not a possibility: "Mr Macready had sent over from Leicester to engage Miss S: for this very Saty. Evening, but her Father who accompanied her hither would not listen to any Overtures of the kind from any body, owing also to her very ill state of health"; saying that he decided it was not financially viable to open the theater on Saturday without a star; discussing negotiations over various benefits involving Mr. Braham, Mrs. Dobbs and other performers; saying that he had called a rehearsal of the play The Exile, "but none came except Jarman -- Mallinson -- & myself -- Bullock looked in but soon vanished"; describing the public interest in Braham and Catalani; listing the takings at the Music Meeting; describing how he dealt with bills submitted by Andrews and Lycett; adding "I shod. think Lycett & Nichols quite sufficient for day Work -- but for night there must be Men for the Wings as well as [word obscured] as well as the Fly Men for above -- I'll keep them as much under as possible but Pantomime require Men at Trap also"; asking Elliston how certain payments should be made; concluding "Keep me out of the Horse pieces if possible -- I can play in Farces, & see to the Doors too -- I have seen no Duke of Norfolk here as yet, but I have just heard that Astley's Master Carpenter has arrived in Birmingham. What will Dobbs say to this -- I say 'Pshaw Pish Phoo' -- Huzza for Horses."