YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
MEMORANDUM

To: ________________ Date: ________________

From: ________________

Re: ________________

Transcript, JB to Mickle, 19 Nov 1769, London
 letter mutilated)

Sir

It was very good in you to
let me know that you had bene
praeparatum pectus for Mr. Garrick's
Decision. I could not get to Hampton
with him. But I have seen him
a great deal, and He has at 1<ast>
told me that your Play will< not>
do for the Stage. I firmly bel<ieve>
him serious when he says <that>
there are very fine things in it<but>
added "I do not say but Mr. <Mickle>
may write a better Tragedy th<an>
any that we have had for m<any>
years." But he persists in <main:>
:taining that this is not a P<lay.>
For my own part, I fairly own
that (end of p.1)

that I am very ignorant of
the Drama; and therefore cannot
take upon me to judge in this
matter. But I can imagine admi:
:rable poetick scenes which yet
are not connected together in
such a manner, as to form what
<is> properly a Play. Perhaps you
<?migh>t by applying yourself more
<par>ticularly to dramatick Criticism,
<?make> what you have written into
<a Tr>agedy fit for the Theatre.
<You> must not be angry with
<Mr. Ga>rrick. I am pretty sure that
<?if pu>shed your performance might
p<ro>ught on. But it appeared
<to hi>m in such a light, that it

(end of p.2)

<coul>d not be brought on without
loss

From: ________________

Re: ________________

Transcript, JB to Mickle, 19 Nov 1769, London
(mutilated)

page 3:

loss to the Managers, or with
any advantage to the Authour. In
short there must be a certain art
which can be acquired only by much
acquaintance with the Theatre. Mr.
Garrick will write to you himself.
I again caution you against
indulging that kind of sensitive
resentment which you will find
rising in your mind.

I

(the lower half of the letter, with signature is missing).

P 94-A