[‘I am persuaded you have talent for Farce writing’: ‘Henry Compton’ (Charles Mackenzie), actor noted for his Shakespearian comic roles.] Autograph Letter Signed to J. Hollingshead, giving his ‘honest opinion’ of the farce he has sent him.

See the two men’s entries in the Oxford DNB. An interesting letter, linking two significant figures in the London theatre. Around the time of writing Hollingshead had given up his career in the clothing business to write full time, early on for Dickens at ‘Household Words’, then later for Thackeray at the ‘Cornhill’. The farce that is the subject of the present letter is possibly ‘Birth Place of Podgers’, the only one known to have been published by Hollingshead, a New York edition of which appeared around 1858. 2pp, 16mo. On two leaves of grey paper, each laid down on a leaf from a biography of Compton: one the reverse of the half-title, the other the reverse of the frontispiece, which is an actual photographic print of a portrait of Compton by Elliott and Fry. The print is in good condition, as are the two leaves of the letter; the two leaves on which they are mounted are grubby and spotted. He begins by apologising for the delay in replying ‘on the matter of your farce. I had put your manuscript away so very carefully that till to-day I could not find it.’ He considers it ‘a well written funny affair’, but is ‘almost afraid there is not quite body or substance enough in the subject to make a decided go’. He is merely giving his ‘honest opinion hich may not eventually prove a correct one’. He suggests to Holligshead that he ‘try it at another Theatre rather than the Haymarket’, adding: ‘if my humble opinion is any encouragement to you I am persuaded you have a talent for Farce writing’. He ends with the option of his posting the manuscript, or receiving a visit from Hollingshead to ‘talk the matter over. I am generally in from 5 o’clock to 6 in the afternoon.’