‘My dear Rogers,—It is singular enough that just as your letter was
put into my hands, I had determined to write to you by this day’s post.
Now, and at all times, I feel flattered and happy to be associated in any
scheme of amusement or any arrangement of society with you, and I was, with
this object in view, preparing to communicate my autumnal movements and to
inquire into yours. I am desired, on the part of Lord and Lady Cowper, to
say that they will be most happy to receive you at Panshanger as soon as they
remove there, which will be very early in the next month. Our intended progress
in the meantime is as follows. From hence to town on Friday, on Monday next to
Woolbeding for four or five days, and thence to Petworth for two or three,
after which the Cowpers certainly return to Panshanger,
where they will remain for the rest of October. Now what I should like, if it
suits you, would be to meet you at the Deepdene on my return from Petworth,
and, having paid our visit there, return with you to London for a couple of
days. We might then start together for Panshanger. I hold myself in a manner
pledged to Hope, deeming it as ungracious
not to accept as not to
| HENRY LUTTRELL | 63 |
‘I hope you have not quite abandoned your intention of a trip to Tunbridge, before the possibility of fine weather is extinct, as I have a most longing desire to see the lions of the Pantiles under your auspices. This I would do either after or before Panshanger at your option. God bless you, and believe me, my dear Rogers,
‘Am I justified or no in considering the occasional address attempted to be spoken at the opening of C. G. Theatre1 as the very worst copy of verses in any language, and the following line—
Solid our building, heavy our expense— |
1 The new theatre was opened on Monday the 17th of September. The address was spoken by John Kemble in the midst of an uproar which made it entirely inaudible. It contained fifty lines. The last four were:
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| 64 | ROGERS AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES |
