1719

6 October 1719 Dearest Emily,

I wish that you had not been assigned to Belfast with your husband Edward, however I know that you of all people are willing to settle wherever you must, for the love of your husband is so great that you would even follow him to the Indies! Since you will be gone for two years— and I know that you will miss the London theatre— I have taken upon myself to write to you not only about myself and the events here in London, but also of the plays being acted this season of the Year of our Lord 1719. I do not know as much as you do; so pray do keep patience for me in your heart. I have found a newly published newspaper named the //Daily Post//. Their first publication had an introduction quite amusing to me— they state that they know there are many other newspapers in London, but that they are not frightened about taking on the challenge of being yet another newspaper; on the contrary, they are excited to undertake the vast news, gossip, and plays of our dear city of London. They state that they are not of any one party (you know that that is a lie, for everyone is biased) and they are excited to begin, hoping that people will trust in their paper as much as any other. Their first publication was on the 6th of October, and there is no news of theatre openings; I assume that the Grand Prior of Frances’ Dispensation from Rome to marry was more important than speaking of anything else, for there was nothing else written (though I do no agree). Update: Since I did not see any listings of any plays being held on the 6th, I waited until the 10th (pausing sending you this letter! I hope you forgive me), waiting to see what might be listed. And certainly I was right that they may wait but a few days to post plays, for I found that your favorite, Oroonoko, was performed on the 8th of Thursday in Duruy Lane. I know that I saw this play with you when it first opened years ago— practically dragging me there, for I did not want to see a play about a African Prince falling in love with a well established woman, and she, being sold into slavery for her and her male counterparts’ lust after her and her virginity that sends the audience into fits of rage and sadness— I do not want to be apart of a second time— and I still heartily detest such slavery and mixing of such races upon a stage, and no doubt Imoinda’s agreement to be defiled before being decapitated by Oroonoko is the greatest madness to be seen! What sickness— no, what defilement and abuse does Aphra Behn have of her past childhood, to think that this work was acceptable to write and publish in the first place? I am sorry to disappoint you, but I, in good conscience, cannot give money to see such a play again, and nor my husband George. I will certainly write to you about more //worthwhile// plays that I see after The Prince Of Wales’ upcoming Celebration, for I know that everyone is busy for it—and I look forward to your reply, my loving friend!

Yours truly, Lady Abigail

29 October 1719

The Prince of Wales ordered an altered version of The Bondman; or Love and Liberty, written by Mr. Phillip Massinger to be played for him in DL on the 29th of October. I did not go to see the play, but the Prince was present! If I had known before— I surely would have gone for both of our sakes. I would think you would be interested in this play, for you are interested in tragic-comedies. Betterton played the main role; do you know of him? The play is supposed to reflect the Jacobean era of Scotland (and why it was rewritten). The play tells the story of a man named Timolen and his defense of Syracuse against Carthage in 338 B.C. It was revised, you might question, because of Phillip’s surprising praise for the assassination of Timoleon’s older brother (a good man and ruler). Surely, this was in reflection of his biases of the Jacobeans of the time of James I of England, God rest his soul. I’m afraid I do not know much history of Phillip Massinger’s views— or if he was Jacobean himself— but our Prince of Wales surely did not like parts of it, and therefore it was adapted into something less… pro assignation? Whatever the case may be, it was not in its original format, but seeing that I did not see original or adapted, I can’t say without a doubt why; these were just my musings, as were many others, I have heard. For the Prince of Wales’ Birthday, the festivities are being planned to celebrate the Prince’s Family for His Royal Highnesses Birthday, which is to be celebrated to Morrow. There are to be many masques and balls to be had, and I am quite excited to say that George and I were invited to Prince George’s ball! This was no surprise because of our rank as Lord and Lady of Norwich, however my husband does not know how to keep silent on matters of controversial foreign affairs, and just //had// to start an argument with The Royal Highness himself over affairs of Scotland and the Highlanders, four months before last. I thought we were to be casted away, and poor me, stuck in our estate in Norwich during the Festivities; I just could not have it! So I urged my George to apologize for his brashness and unfiltered talk to Our Majesty— luckily, my husband is better at speech and manners when he is sober, and we are now back in Favor. Since I write to you on the 31st of this same month, as you well know the 30th of October is our Holyday, where festivities are abound. Happily, we were invited to the Royal Ball for the celebration of The Prince’s birthday celebration; however, it was not quite as extravagant as last years’ celebration—which was highly disappointing and quite surprising. Boring for me as I do not gamble or drink excessively (it seemed to be to the taste of men and the women were left to come together to amuse ourselves), and no dramatic entrances by His Majesty The King’s mistress or any other disreputable persons, for no one disreputable was invited! I told my husband to be careful before I left with my Sister Anne and his Mother and Sister (who happily followed my carriage back to my London house before parting), for I was not interested in staying past midnight— as late night drinking and Gambling with Prince George leads to wasteful habits and sinful ways— I can only thank the Prince of Wales for showing great love for my husband; for surely he put in a good word with His Father after my husband apologized (but that is merely speculation).

Love from your friend, Abigail of Norwich

11 November 1719

I am so very excited to read the news of your third pregnancy! I am sure little Thomas and Amelia will be thrilled to have another sibling. Do you think it will be another boy? I say He will, and therefore call Him and He unless proven otherwise! It was announced in the Daily Post that His Majesty George I was to journey to England, from Hanover this day, and will land either at Harwich or Margate soon. I hope to be called to visit Our King, but my husband has been visiting Our Prince of Wales twice a week, so I am not concerned that we are out of favour anymore (at least not with Our Future King of England). Our Prince invited my husband to join him on His journey to Hanover next summer, but having many affairs in Norwich, he told me that he told Our Prince that though he was incredibly grateful, he must wait and give him his answer in the springtime. There was nothing of importance theatre-wise so far, though there have been many reruns of //Hamlet, Prince of Denmark//, and of //King Henry The Fourth Of France//. Why run those two plays over and over again (for they were both played during October as well) and not let other plays in? And in the same theatre (LIF) no doubt! I find that there seems to be a biased and grand opinion of these two plays on account of how many times it has been on stage by whoever runs that theatre. Send me frequent updates on your growing babe! Do you have an estimate on when he might be borne? Morning sickness? Whether small or big, I must know!

Your Dearest Friend, Lady Abigail

30 November 1719 My Handsome Friend,

I am dearly sorry to have such a big delay in writing, but there was a fire in our stables; one of our stable boy’s and two horses perished in the fire… I am guilt-ridden and melancholy, and I am thankful to see you in such a positive and radiate mood (yes, I can tell from your writing that you are!) and I am excited to hear that you are having very little sickness and cravings (but if you are worried, do not fret, for surely they will come to you later into the pregnancy; that was what I had with all of mine). As you wrote to me last, urging me to read the novel //Robinson Crusoe// by Daniel Defoe, I at least was able to get ahold of the novel from my dear Sister. However—already bad news— for she told me that she believes I would not like it on account of the slavery, thievery, and cannibals in this work of literature! (Do you find it assuming to give me faint of heart with such novels and plays?) But my Sister assured me that it is not as bad as Oroonoko, and for that, I am grateful. I might not be able to get to read it in December… For myself, George, and our four little ones will be visiting you for two weeks on and before Christmas! I believe that if I am there with you, you reading the novel to me and answering my (many) questions, that I would enjoy the novel more than reading it alone. Since I am starting to pack, I did not read the Daily Post (nor anything else because of the tragedy), so I do not know what plays are being had, however, the knowledge that your husband’s dear friend, Sir John Norris, with the British fleet under his command, came safely into the Downs from Yarmouth Road. I knew that you wrote briefly that your husband was worried about his friends on sea, and I hope that this news pleases him.

Your friend, Lady Abigail of Norwich

4 December 1719 Loving Friend,

This will be our second to last letter that I will send to you before joining you in Belfast, Ireland for the Christmas Holiday! I am still surprised that you have no morning sickness! You are a lucky woman, indeed. And good news for Our Country: on Sunday last, the King of Sardinia’s Envoy arrived to London, where he had a private Audience with his Majesty at St James. From what of? I do not yet know (as doesn’t the Daily Post and no other newspaper as well; not even my husband knows, but surely, the news will come out soon and I hope that it is interesting news, for withholding boring news is trickery). Are there any theatres in Belfast that are of reputable status? I hope so; if not, then surely you must be dying for more news of the theatre than I have been giving you! I hope that, if there is a reputable theatre, which our company might go to see a play that you find acceptable. And in news of the plays playing here, only two played on this day, and a play named //The Pretenders// seemed to be popular, for it was put on twice in less than 3 days. I know not of this play, and have heard nothing about if it is fare, poor, or good. Maybe that is a sign that it is not?

From your Friend, Lady Abigail

11 December 1719

//News from Whitehall!// Letters came Yesterday from France, dated the 18th infant. N.S which tells us that their Regent had received some advice that the King and Queen of Spain had finally taken the Resolution to remove Cardinal Aberoni from the ministry, and to cut him away from Spain, and has forbidden the Cardinal to meddle in any more affairs of their persons! What an incredibly bold and surprising action from the Catholic Royalty of Spain—cutting away and ruining a Cardinals reputation in such a keen way! I am lucky that I have had time to write to you an hour before our departure for your new home, Belfast. And though //The Pretender// was once again played, so too was your favourite comedy, //The Country Wife// on the 9th of December. You know that I prefer Operas— however— I decided to go with George to see the play (since you could not go with me the last time it was playing in the Spring) and I must say, I enjoyed many parts of it (though as a whole, it was too immoral and sexual for me). My favourite character was Alithea, for she was innocent of any wrongdoings (unlike Margery) and was a thoroughly smart, yet virtuous woman. But oh, how did I despise Margery for setting her up to have an affair with that retched Horner! A rake, a libertine, and simply not what a gentleman is (or how he acts, and I learned from George that it the play and his character was criticized for such a reason, among many other reasons, but surely, you know them as overly too sexual and demeaning to us gentry!). Nay! would such women such as lady Fidget ever want to do such things with Horner; who would? And that disgusting Mr. Pinchwife; who threatens a woman not of prostitution to be carved upon her face like one? Lastly, I did not understand what the satire of the paly was about, but my husband George told me that it is satirizing our society and why we have laws and rank! No wonder it was highly criticized… But surely, I must say that I am surprised at your tastes in literature and plays… but I do not judge you for them… Just please, take me to a play in Belfast (if you can) that is opposite of your tastes? I cannot wait to hear of your Sons’ growth and progress in your womb, and to watch our children play with one another, as they did when you were still in London. I am excited for Christmastide!

Your Loving and Dearest Friend, Lady Abigail of Norwich

Works Cited Behn, Aphra. //Oroonoko//. London, 1688. Print. Defoe, Daniel. //Robinson Crusoe//. London, 1719. Print. "11 December 1719." //Daily Post// [London] 11 Dec. 1719: n. pag. Print. "11 November 1719." //Daily Post// [London] 11 Nov. 1719: n. pag. Print. "4 December 1719." //Daily Post// [London] 4 Dec. 1719: n. pag. Print. "Introduction." //Daily Post// [London] 6 Oct. 1719: n. pag. Print. "London 29 October 1719." //Daily Post// 29 Oct. 1719: n. pag. Print. "1719." //The London Stage, 1660-1800: a Calendar of Plays, Entertainments &// //Afterpieces, Together With Casts, Box-receipts And Contemporary Comment//. Ed. Southern Illinois University Press. N. pag. Print. "30 November 1719." //Daily Post// [London] 30 Nov. 1719: n. pag. Print. Wycherley, William. //The Country Wife//. London. Performance.