I write a hasty note to let you know that last night was perfectly
wonderful!!!
Such an audience! Such a brilliant success from first to last! The Queen
had taken it into her head in the morning to go to Chatham, and had
carried Phipps with her. He wrote to me asking if it were possible to
give him a quarter of an hour. I got through that time before the
overture, and he came without any dinner, so influenced by eager
curiosity. Lemon and I did every conceivable absurdity, I think, in the
farce; and they never left off laughing. At supper I proposed your
health, which was drunk with nine times nine, and three cheers over. We
then turned to at Scotch reels (having had no exercise), and danced in
the maddest way until five this morning.
It is as much as I can do to guide the pen.
With loves to Mrs. Stanfield and all,
Ever most affectionately yours.
[Sidenote: Mr. W. C. Macready.]