"May 14. 1821.
"A Milan paper states that the play has been represented and
universally condemned. As remonstrance has been vain, complaint
would be useless. I presume, however, for your own sake (if not for
mine), that you and my other friends will have at least published
my different protests against its being brought upon the stage at
all; and have shown that Elliston (in spite of the writer) _forced_
it upon the theatre. It would be nonsense to say that this has not
vexed me a good deal, but I am not dejected, and I shall not take
the usual resource of blaming the public (which was in the right),
or my friends for not preventing--what they could not help, nor I
neither--a _forced_ representation by a speculating manager. It is
a pity that you did not show them its _unfitness_ for the stage
before the play was _published_, and exact a promise from the
managers not to act it. In case of their refusal, we would not have
published it at all. But this is too late.
"Yours.
"P.S. I enclose Mr. Bowles's letters: thank him in my name for
their candour and kindness.--Also a letter for Hodgson, which pray
forward. The Milan paper states that I '_brought forward the
play!!!_' This is pleasanter still. But don't let yourself be
worried about it; and if (as is likely) the folly of Elliston
checks the sale, I am ready to make any deduction, or the entire
cancel of your agreement.
"You will of course _not_ publish my defence of Gilchrist, as,
after Bowles's good humour upon the subject, it would be too
savage.
"Let me hear from you the particulars; for, as yet, I have only the
simple fact.
"If you knew what I have had to go through here, on account of the
failure of these rascally Neapolitans, you would be amused; but it
is now apparently over. They seemed disposed to throw the whole
project and plans of these parts upon me chiefly."
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