Before proceeding to the MS. itself, it will be desirable to refer to Lamb's letter to Manning of February 15, 1802, in which he defends himself against Manning's animadversions on the changes found in the printed _John Woodvil_. This letter is addressed to "Mr. Thomas Manning, Maison Magnan, No. 342 Boulevard Italien, Paris." ....The italics are in the original:--"_Apropos_, I think you wrong about _my_ play. All the omissions are _right_. And the supplementary scene, in which Sandford _narrates_ the manner in which his master is affected, is the best in the book. It stands where a hodge-podge of German puerilities used to stand. I insist upon it that you like that scene." ... There is one thing more to add. Its excuse is the best in the world--it is quite new. In that precious letter of February 15, 1801, is a passage [printed in Canon Ainger's _édition de luxe_] which shows that Lamb (probably) tried George Colman the younger with "Pride's Cure." The potentate of the Haymarket was probably less sublimely courteous in his rejection than Kemble. "Now to my own affairs. I have not taken that thing to Colman, but I have proceeded one step in the business. I have inquired his address and am promised it in a few days." [The Manning copy of _John Woodvil_ is thus described by Mr. Dykes Campbell]:--It is composed of foolscap sheets stitched into a limp wrapper of marbled paper. The writing is chiefly Mary Lamb's; her brother's portion seems to have been done at various times, for the ink varies in shade, and the handwriting in style. On the inside of the first cover, as before noted, is written the letter quoted above. Then comes a page with:-- Begun August, 1798, finished May, 1799. This comes in beginng 2d act. (Letter) of Marg. to John [this being Margaret's "Letter" (page 160 of the present volume).] On the reverse, Mary has written out the "Characters in 'Pride's Cure,' a Tragedy." In this list Lovel and Gray are described as "two Court spies." On the next page the play opens, but on the top margin is written:-- "Turn a leaf back for _my_ Letter to Manning. "C. LAMB." The point of the underlining of "my" is to distinguish Lamb's letter from Margaret's, which chance to face one another in the MS. Then comes:-- Pride's Cure. A Tragedy. Act the First. Scene the First. A Servants' apartment in Wodvil [_sic_] Hall. Servants drinking. A Song by Daniel. "When the King enjoys his own again." _Peter_. A delicate song upon my verity. Where didst learn it, fellow? And so on for some leaves without material difference from print. After the speech [page 155] "_All_. Truly a sad consideration" comes this continuation of the dialogue:-- _Daniel_. You know what he said to you one day in confidence. _Peter_. I have reason to remember the words--"'Tis a pity (said he) a traitor should go unpunished."