LETTER160

letter160

charleslambtosarahstoddart

december11[1806].

don'tmindthisbeingaqueerletter.iaminhaste,andtakenupbyvisitors,condolers,&c.godblessyou!

dearsarah,—maryisalittlecutattheillessof"mr.h.,"whichcameoutlastnightandfailed.iknowyou'llbesorry,butnevermind.wearedeterminednottobecastdown.iamgoingtoleaveoffo,andthenwemustthrive.asmokingmanmustwritesmokyfarces.

maryisprettywell,butipersuadedhertoletmewrite.wedidnotappriseyouofthecomingoutof"mr.h."forfearofill-luck.youweremuchbetteroutofthehouse.ifithadtaken,yourpartakingofourgoodluckwouldhavebeenoneofourgreatestjoys.asitis,weshallexpectyouatthetimeyoumentioned.butwheneveryoucomeyoushallbemostwelcome.

godblessyou,dearsarah,

yoursmosttruly,c.l.

maryisbynomeansunwell,butimadeherletmewrite.

[followingthisshouldcomealetterfrommarylambtomrs.thomasclarkson,dateddecember23,1806.itagaindescribestheillessof"mr.h.""theblamerestedchieflywithcharlesandyetitshouldnotbecalledblameforitwasmereignoranceofstageeffect…heseemsperfectlyawarewhyandforwhatcauseitfailed.heintendstowriteonemorewithallhisdearlyboughtexperienceinhishead,andshouldthatsharesamefatehewillthenturnhismindtosomeotherpursuit."lambdidnotwriteanotherfarceformanyyears.whenhedid—"thepawnbroker'sdaughter"(seevol.iv.)—itdeservedlywasnotacted.]