Letter from Richard Cumberland, London, to James Bland Burges, 1806 March 1 : autograph manuscript signed.

Praising Burges and advising him on playwriting: "Dramatic composition is so captivating to the Writer, that it hurries him on without waiting for his correcting judgement, and this I shoud [sic] have no objection to, because it is a mental luxury that has no vice in it, provided it is put aside till the fervour of imagination is gone off, and the coolness of revision can take place;" saying that he believes the Lackington edition of his Memoirs is out of print and discussing his plans for future editions and volumes; saying that rehearsals of his new comedy are underway and he is pessimistic about its chances; commenting on the difficulty of mounting a play: "No man, who has not tried it, can guess at the slavery and vexation of it. It puts a man out of humour with human Nature, such are the instruments we have to deal with;" mentioning a friend or family member who has received assurances from Lord Dorchester about a position; saying that his daughter Marianne has been in "extreme danger for some days," but she is recovering; passing along gossip about Lady Boyne, Miss Walker, and certain betrayed letters; mentioning that he dined yesterday at Mr. Roger's (possibly Samuel Rogers) with Walter Scott, who set off for Edinburgh this morning; discussing the election of Scott and one other to a club; concluding "Your prologue is gone to the Licencer ; I shall know tomorrow who is to speak it. I wish I was as sure of the play being heard through as I am of that, but jacta est alea - I must stand ye cast;" sending his regards to Lady Burges.