I received your very friendly letter, and take the first post from hence to answer it. I found it unnecessary to make the intimation you desired to the _husband_, since he requires only to be employed in any manner you shall think proper; and as he is much more tolerable than I thought him at first, it may be no very difficult matter to station him so as to satisfy the man, without burdening the property. I saw him the other evening in Young Marlow in Goldsmith’s Comedy, and then he was far from despicable; neither his figure nor face contemptible. A jealousy prevailing through the theatre, upon a suspicion of their leaving them, the acting manager seems determined that I shall not see her again in any character wherein she might give me a second display of her theatrical powers. I am resolved, however, to continue the siege till they give her something capital, knowing _that_ must speedily be the case, or the garrison must fall by famine. She has already gone _six months_, so that pretty early in December she will be fit for service; as you certainly mean to open the ensuing campaign, by charging in person at the head of your lines, I conceive she will come at a very favourable crisis to take a second command, when the retreat from the field may be politically necessary. I am strongly for her first appearance in _Rosalind_; but you may judge better, perhaps, after a perusal of the list on the other side; the characters marked under [in _italics_] are those which she prefers to others:— Jane Shore. _Alicia._ Roxana. _Grecian Daughter._ Matilda. _Belvidera._ Calista. Monimia. Juliet. Cordelia. Horatia. Imogen. Marianne. _Lady Townley._ _Portia._ Mrs. Belville. Violante. _Rosalind._ Mrs. Strickland. Clarinda. Miss Aubrey. Charlotte. _Widow Brady._ You are certainly right respecting a memorandum between you; the moment, therefore, I receive one from you, it shall be conveyed to them at Cheltenham, where they return next week, and they have promised to return me an answer immediately at Birmingham, for which place I shall set off the instant I have received your letter in any way to town, in order to conclude this business finally, and to the satisfaction of all parties. I am desired to request your answer to the three following particulars:— 1st. As they are ready to attend your summons at any time, Whether they are not to be allowed something to subsist upon when they come to town previous to her appearance? 2nd. Whether you have any objection to employ him in any situation in which you may think him likely “to be useful”? 3rd. When you chuse they should attend you?