Letter from Vernon Blackburn, London, to W. E. Henley, 1890 November 4 : autograph manuscript signed.

Offering his lengthy and detailed review of "Beau Austin", a play co-authored by Henley and Robert Louis Stevenson; saying "There was much interest everywhere for many days before, when tickets had become almost an impossibility. I went with Mrs. Meynell, Meynell himself being too unwell to leave his house. The theatre was crammed. In the stalls were Sir Charles Russell & his wife, Oscar the One & Only, Kipling & Whibley (whom I only know by sight) & others whom others will name. Mrs. Craies looked like the embodied South in her box, with whom as you know, was your wife. The overture was 'The Magic Flute' overture, but was not easily heard, as conversation was mezzoforte & the music 'estremamente piano'. The first Act was well, but did not put the piece beyond the possibilities of failure - chiefly for Terry's abominable acting. Miss Leclercq as Miss Evelina saved him, and had really something approaching an 'air'. All her prattle over breakfast was delightful. Mrs. Tree was all too faint, too insipid, too lachrymose. The applause at the end was good, but better was wanted. Between the first two acts I sought out Hind who was in excitement and indignation over Mrs. Tree. 'She would damn any piece' says he. Which was true of most. The second Act brought on Tree. I daresay others will think differently, but I think you were fortunate in your Beau. His elocution was very noble, & he got nearer the 'bel air' than any could have anticipated. All his conversation with the unspeakable Cornet (of 'my time to which you refer') was admirable & 'took', as it deserved, with your audience. Terry again spoiled the appeal to Austin's honour over the affair with Dorothy, by abominable caricature. The man seemed to think that the more nearly the lines of his chest and back made for the apex of a parabola, the nearer he walked to courtliness & effect; & as he was entirely on the wrong tack, he naturally failed. But as a whole the 2nd Act put the fate of the play beyond doubt, & Tree, I think, deserved all his applause. It was in the last two acts that the literary work of the play achieved its greatest victories; especially bits of most restrained humour. 'It's my place to look after my sister's reputation - and 'my aunt's too, egad'. Austin's stately love-making was the point at which you had climbed, I think, to the top of your climax. And Tree's admirable elocution did it fair justice. 'Void of excuse, very proud, & most unused to supplication' - was by far his best moment. Mrs. Tree a little later was really successful in her appeal to her brother, by their childhood & their hopes of the 'shining future'. The end of that act, which from your point of view - I mean as a piece of work - should have been very effective, was a little dulled by Dorothy's over-wrought scream after 'Anthony'. But the writing of it all was most chosen, & the applause was loud. In the last act Tree again spoke extremely well; particularly in that account 'told with humour' of his defeat - refused by 'a girl from the North', & still more particularly in what I think a splendid bit of humour, 'you couldn't afford it.' The end was taken a little too slowly, & I think one felt that the Duke of York should have spoken; though what he could have said without being absurd, I could not suggest, though I have tried. The applause at the curtains fall was loud. It was a play - a play on no plane even near anything produced in this generation; the dialogue was always delightful to hear, & abounding in wit; it has got, I think, into literature, & it will stop there. On Sunday last I met the Only & Small Hope of your House. I cannot be said to have gone far into a serious friendship with her; but as she called upon me to carry her into her hansom & kissed her hand with most courtly unconcern when she drove away, she left me elate."