BIB_ID
126782
Accession number
MA 9559
Creator
West, William, 1796-1888.
Display Date
1820 March 30.
Credit line
Purchased, 1891.
Description
1 item (2 pages) ; 23.1 x 18.3 cm
Notes
Written from Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.
The copy was made by R. W. Elliston, who has described it on the verso as "Copy of Letter sent to Mr. Munden by Mr. West Thursday March 30th 1820." Elliston has added his signature below this description. Munden was a leading comedian who had performed at the Drury Lane Theatre starting in 1813. A biography of Munden records that he signed an agreement with Elliston on October 27, 1820, pledging that he would appear at Drury Lane for the next season; see Memoirs of Joseph Shepherd Munden, Comedian, by Thomas Shepherd Munden (London: Richard Bentley, 1844), page 282. West may have been the actor and composer William West.
This copy may have been sent to Samuel Thomas Russell, who had worked as a stage manager for Elliston and whose name appears near Elliston's signature. There is also a note on the verso that reads "Copy to Mr. Munday 30 March 1820."
Removed from an extra-illustrated volume from the series Dramatic Memoirs (PML 9505-9528).
The copy was made by R. W. Elliston, who has described it on the verso as "Copy of Letter sent to Mr. Munden by Mr. West Thursday March 30th 1820." Elliston has added his signature below this description. Munden was a leading comedian who had performed at the Drury Lane Theatre starting in 1813. A biography of Munden records that he signed an agreement with Elliston on October 27, 1820, pledging that he would appear at Drury Lane for the next season; see Memoirs of Joseph Shepherd Munden, Comedian, by Thomas Shepherd Munden (London: Richard Bentley, 1844), page 282. West may have been the actor and composer William West.
This copy may have been sent to Samuel Thomas Russell, who had worked as a stage manager for Elliston and whose name appears near Elliston's signature. There is also a note on the verso that reads "Copy to Mr. Munday 30 March 1820."
Removed from an extra-illustrated volume from the series Dramatic Memoirs (PML 9505-9528).
Provenance
Purchased from Henry Sotheran & Co., London, 1891.
Summary
Saying that Munden's silence regarding the "part & Songs in the forthcoming drama founded on Garricks celebrated Piece" has led them to believe that he does not intend to play the part on Monday; adding that the piece has therefore been postponed; asking Munden to state his "candid intentions as to the mode in which you mean to conduct yourself towards this establishment for the remainder of the Season"; asking him further to fix on a date for announcing his retirement from the stage; adding that, on receipt of the answers to these questions, R. W. Elliston will arrange to hear any complaints from Munden "in the presence, & by the opinion of any friends of your own selection in that manner which upright Men, & persons of business will ever adopt."
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