[Stephen Kemble [George Stephen Kemble], Shakespearian actor-manager, uncle of Fanny Kemble.] Informative Autograph Letter Signed to solicitors ‘Messrs. Dowson, Capron and Rowley’, regarding whereabouts of actor William Shakespear Kendrick of Whitby.

An interesting letter, providing a mass of interesting incormation relating to the stage in Georgian England, while responding to a request from London solicitors for information about the whereabouts of a provincial actor. See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 3pp, 4to. Forty lines of text, on bifolium addressed on reverse of second leaf ‘For / Messrs. Dowson, Capron and Rowley / Savile Place / near / Burlington Street / London’, and signed ‘S. Kemble.’ In fair condition, on discoloured and worn paper with minor damage at head, but text clear and entire. Written in retirement: Kemble would die the following year. Begins: ‘Dear Sir / The only Persons within my knowledge likely to give any information respecting the Son of Wm. Shakespear Kendrick of Whitby, are a Mr. Stanfield, and a Mr. Grant, both old Actors in this part of the World about that Time; and Mr. Grant married the Widow of Strictland the Manager, a short time after Mr. W. S. Kendrick settled in Whitby.’ He is sure that Stanfields son, ‘(a scene Painter), either at Astley’s Theatre, or the Couberg, or The Savoy Theatre’, ‘would say where his Father may be found’. Also notes that Grant’s daughter ‘married a Coach Maker, in the vicinity of the Surry Theatre’. Also suggests trying ‘a Mr. Twaits a Painter now living at Whitby’, who ‘travelled at that time with Mr. Cawdell’s Company of Actors [of which Kendrick was part], as a scene Painter’. ‘Mr. Strickland was succeeded in the management of his Company by Mr. Grant, who as I have said before married his Widow[.] A Mr. Butler’s Company too frequented many of the Town’s where Strictland’s Company formerly acted, after his Death. The Widow of this Butler has now a Company at Harrowgate, of which she is the Manageress, and a Letter will be sure to find her there; he also has a Son now acting at the Haymarket Theatre.’