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London Dec 27th /59
My dear Father & Brothers
I waited till
this morning for the arrival
of the mail from Boston
but no letter came, at least
none has been delivered as yet
and as they are quite punctual
in their distribution of mails I
presume we shall have to wait
the next arrival - After I had
sent the few lines of my last
letter I received your & Fathers letter, and
as Mr Warner, a friend of Capt
Hiler's, is to leave for Boston by the
next Saturday steamer & has proffered
to take a parcel for me I will
preface the preparation by answering
your last in reference to money
matters - In the first place I
will state that I have not thought
it necessary to give you the entire
particulars in regard to the amount
[received?] for my services &c &c - as
I presumed that you would
already be aware that a large
sum could not be realized at
once where there is such difficulty
in getting an opening - Most of the
actors from America have paid for
the opportunity and thereby given the
impression that we are all so anxious
to play in London that money is
no object in the matter. "Miss Heron"
of "Camille" noteriety paid one hundred
dollars for her opening night - and did
not appear a second time - Roberts
the Tragedian also bled freely for his
Six nights in London. -Barney Williams
was here a long time before he made
any money - Murdock made nothing -
and even Forrest, although he was
among the first from America, made
but little money - and less expectation
according to the manner in which
people now speak of him - However
that is neither "here nor there" in regard
my subject - I merely give these items
of reference to explain my position &
show how much more fortunate I
have been than others who have preceded
me - the manager has been more liberal
to me than I had a right to expect
under the circumstances, but I have
had to expend a large sum for
new dresses and other expenses which
were necessary for my position, and the
reputation I have had the good fortune
to establish - You will therefore perceive
that I need all my money for the
present although I hope to realize
something better in the future -
During the Pantomime season
I have of course to be idle and (as
I stated in my last brief & hasty letter)
it is our intention to go to Paris for
a few weeks, as we can live quïte as
cheap there and at the same time
improve our French - I have left
my engagements in the hands of my
agent Mr J. W. Anson, 35, Bow Street
W.C. to whose care I want you to
address all letters in future -
But to resume the money affair
I will say that I have not been
unmindful of the requirements for our
land speculation but supposed that Johns
Interest money had been applied to my
share - and if that is not sufficient
I wish you would call in the
amount due from Crisp and use
the same - and in the event of more
being needed, one of the mortgages
might be sold - I give you this
privilege - to provide against any
necessity which may obstruct your
own business advancement. The enclosed
receipt for Davenport I send with
its old date and you can present
it with what excuse you like for the
delay - and add that I sent it to
you with directions to place it in
his hands on receipt of the Ten
pounds as per explanation - when it
is paid you can apply it to Insurances,
Taxes &c - Dec. 30th - I have waited
till now to finish the letter at the last moment before the
mail closes but as Mr Warner has not called for it
I presume that something has happened to prevent his
going by this steamer - I have just rec'd an offer from
Liverpool after the run of the Pantomime which usually
goes some Eight or nine weeks - our stay in Paris will
be governed by the intimations on business matters
which I shall then [receive?] from my agent and
it may be for a shorter period than I now expect -
at all events I want you to write regularly and direct
as before mentioned and it will be forwarded to me wherever
we are - I hope this will find you all well at home
as we are abroad, for which blessing we are ever grateful -
You shall hear of my next engagement as soon as it
is effected - with both our love to all I remain -
Joseph
P.S.
Remember us to all friends and
tell George Darling if I had written as often as I have thought and
spoken of him, that he would have been flooded with letters -