Autograph Letter Signed ('Harriette Waylett') from the actress and singer Harriet Waylett to J. M. Donnell of the Theatre Royal, Cork.

Author: 
Harriet Waylett [née Cooke; other married name Harriet Lee] (1800-1851), English actress and singer [J. M'Donnell, proprietor, Theatre Royal, Cork]
Publication details: 
'Dublin Saturday [18 April 1829]'. Postmarked 20 April 1829.
£90.00
SKU: 13005

2pp., 4to. Bifolium. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed by Waylett on reverse of second leaf 'To/ | J. M. Donnell Esq | Theatre Royal | Cork', with oval postmark in red, in two parts: 'MIDDAY MAIL | 20 AP | 1829'. According to Waylett's entry in the Oxford DNB, 'On 12 May 1825 she made, as Zephyrina in The Lady and the Devil, her first appearance at the Haymarket, under D. E. Morris. It was a successful début, but she was not encouraged by the managers, and after playing many different parts, some original, she went to Dublin. Here she took, at the Hawkins Street Theatre, the part of Phoebe, written especially for her by John Poole in his Paul Pry. She also stood in high favour in Dublin and Cork as a singer. After her return from Dublin, Waylett went again to King's Lynn, where local families bestowed gifts upon her.' The letter begins: 'My Dear Sir | I beg to express my sincere thanks for your very kind Letter. I regret that circumstances will not admit of my visiting Cork at present. I leave Dublin to morrow or Monday for England.' She sends her regards 'to Mrs M.D. and all friends', and in a postscript tells him that he will 'write the verse for my next visit'.