Item Info

Accession Number: 87-228
Physical Description: [1] page
Transcription:

Furnivals Inn

Friday Morning

My dear Mrs. Cruikshank.

As one of the principal Actresses in my piece is ill, and her place supplied by a very inefficient and imperfect substitute; and as I should wish you to see The Strange Gentleman with all due advantages, I have ventured to take on myself the responsibility of disappointing you to-night. I think there is no doubt that the young lady in question will be at the Theatre again, on Wednesday next. If I should not hear from you that you are engaged on that night I will forward you tickets for that evening in the course of Tuesday. If you should be engaged, you will perhaps do me the favor to name your own night.

Mrs. Dickens begs her kindest regards.

I am

Very faithfully Yours

Charles Dickens

Mrs. Cruikshank

MssDate: Friday Morning [28 October 1836]
Media Type: Letters
Source: Rare Book Department
Notes:

Kitty Smith's name was omitted from the play-bills 31 Oct to Wed 2 Nov; presumably she had been out of the cast some days before the 31st and the fact not advertised.

This Mrs. Cruikshank was George Cruikshank's first wife, whose maiden name has not been discovered.

The "imperfect substitute" mentioned by Dickens was Miss F. Stanley, who had appeared in one of the other burlettas on the opening night of The Strange Gentleman.

(all notes Pilgrim Vol. 1, p. 186; 186n)

Recipient: Cruikshank, George, Mrs.
Provenance: Benoliel, Mrs. D. Jacques 12/56

Bibliography:

The Pilgrim Edition: The Letters of Charles Dickens, Volume One, 1820-1839. Madeline House and Graham Storey, eds. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1965, p. 219.

Country: Creation Place Note:Furnival's Inn
Country:England
City/Town/Township:Holborn, London

Creation Year: 1836
Call Number: DL C888g2 1836-10-28
Creator Name: Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870 - Author