[‘She is not so really great as we hoped’: Charles Manby, civil engineer, involved in managing Adelphi and Haymarket theatres, London.] Copy Letter to Frederick Hodgson, criticising Fanny Kemble and discussing arrangement with Frederick Henry Yates.

Manby’s entry in the Oxford DNB states that ‘His interests ranged beyond the engineering world, and for many years he was involved in the management of the Adelphi and Haymarket theatres.’ Manuscript copy letter. 2pp, 4to. Thirty-three lines of neat text. Addressed to ‘Frederick Hodgson Esqre. M.P.’ Ends: ‘I am Dear Sir / Your very faithfully / Charles Manby’.On first leaf of bifolium. Reverse of second leaf docketted: ‘Copy C Manby to F Hodgson Esqr / Scarbro - Novr 8. 1841’ (the letter does not contain any reference to Scarborough). In fair condition, creased and lightly aged. Folded once. He has had Hodgson’s ‘Kind Letter to Yates’ in his possession for five days, and has ‘gone through all the proposed arrangement [sic] with Yates [i.e. the actor Frederick Henry Yates (1797-1842), manager of the Adelphi] and he clearly understand [sic] it’. He discusses the arrangement with regard to the paying of insurance, asking Hodgson to ‘point out to me the mode which will give you the least trouble’ and asking if a ‘formal instrument expressive of your kind intentions’ is necessary. He continues (with regard to the Adelphi and Haymarket theatres), ‘You will be pleased to hear that the Houses are vey good in spite of the bad weather, and that the “Maid of Honour” [by Massinger, performing at the Adelphi with Yates and his wife in the leading roles] appears to increase in its power of attraction’. The letter ends: ‘We are all fervently hoping that Miss Kemble may prove as attractive as the Press asserts, because the overflow (when there is any) comes to the Adelphi, but there is reason to fear that, she is not so really great as we hoped - Her Voice is not naturally a fine one, but is more the result of very good tuition -’.