Lot Essay
The first letter by Charles Kean could be referring to his tour of America and the provinces in 1866.
Details
CHARLES KEAN (1811-1868)
A 2pp. a.l.s by Charles Kean discussing proposals for plays at the Walnut St. Theatre, stating that he would prefer the Merchant of Venice '...for the second night and Louis XI for the third', he goes on to say 'I do not wish to act Richard III unless it is actually necessary. I would prefer Macbeth or Hamlet to Richard'; together with another 3pp. a.l.s dated December 29th, 49 Queensborough Terrace, Kensigton Gardens, by Ellen Kean discussing his illness which would eventually lead to his death a few weeks later and a 4pp. a.l.s. by C.B. Phipps dated Windsor Castle, January 15th, 1851, to Kean discussing an article written by Charles Kean's brother-in-law published in the Sunday Times which had offended the Queen as it openly accused the Queen and the Prince of Wales of having Roman Catholic tendencies which he felt may do harm to the country, he states 'There is no subject upon which both H.M. and the Prince are so decided as against any tendency to Romanism....The Bishop of Oxford never was tutor to the Prince of Wales, never had anything more to do with him or his education then you have, never spoke to him alone, and has not been in the Palace for many many months'; together with other a.l.s including those by Henry Dickens, William Gladstone, R.B. Lane and C.H. Spurgeon.
A 2pp. a.l.s by Charles Kean discussing proposals for plays at the Walnut St. Theatre, stating that he would prefer the Merchant of Venice '...for the second night and Louis XI for the third', he goes on to say 'I do not wish to act Richard III unless it is actually necessary. I would prefer Macbeth or Hamlet to Richard'; together with another 3pp. a.l.s dated December 29th, 49 Queensborough Terrace, Kensigton Gardens, by Ellen Kean discussing his illness which would eventually lead to his death a few weeks later and a 4pp. a.l.s. by C.B. Phipps dated Windsor Castle, January 15th, 1851, to Kean discussing an article written by Charles Kean's brother-in-law published in the Sunday Times which had offended the Queen as it openly accused the Queen and the Prince of Wales of having Roman Catholic tendencies which he felt may do harm to the country, he states 'There is no subject upon which both H.M. and the Prince are so decided as against any tendency to Romanism....The Bishop of Oxford never was tutor to the Prince of Wales, never had anything more to do with him or his education then you have, never spoke to him alone, and has not been in the Palace for many many months'; together with other a.l.s including those by Henry Dickens, William Gladstone, R.B. Lane and C.H. Spurgeon.