358—to John Murray
November 27, 1813.
Dear Sir,—If you look over this carefully by the
last proof
with my corrections, it is probably right; this
you
can
do
as well or better;—I have not now time. The copies I mentioned to be sent to different friends last night, I should wish to be made up with the new Giaours, if it also is ready. If not, send
The Giaour
afterwards.
Morning Post
says
I
am the author of
Nourjahad[1]!!
This comes of lending the drawings for their dresses; but it is not worth a
formal contradiction
. Besides, the criticisms on the
supposition
will, some of them, be quite amusing and furious. The
Orientalism
—which I hear is very splendid—of the Melodrame (whosever it is, and I am sure I don't know) is as good as an Advertisement for your Eastern Stories, by filling their heads with glitter. Yours ever, B.
P. S.—You will of course
say
the truth, that I am
not
the Melo-dramatist—if any one charges me in your presence with the performance.
The same charge is made in the
Satirist
(vol. xiii. p. 508).
Illusion, or the Trances of Nourjahad
, was acted at Drury Lane, November 25, 1813. It is described by Genest (
The English Stage
, vol. viii. p. 403) as "a Melo-dramatic spectacle in three acts by an anonymous author." "Nourjahad" was acted by Elliston; "Mandane," his wife, by Mrs. Horn.