Fanny was Fanny Holcroft. Plura I do not identify.
The new tragedy in which Miss Kelly had to play was probably "The
Huguenot," produced December 11, 1822. "The Earl of Essex" was revived
December 30, 1822. Macready played in both.
"Cleverness is the bane." See Lamb's little article on "The New Acting" in Vol. I.
The Blue Girl seems to refer to the lady mentioned at the end of the first letter to Payne.
Angelica is in Congreve's "Love for Love"; Millamant in his "Way of the
World.">[
LETTER 305
CHARLES LAMB TO WILLIAM WORDSWORTH
[No date. January, 1823.]
Dear Wordsworth, I beg your acceptance of ELIA, detached from any of its old companions which might have been less agreeable to you. I hope your eyes are better, but if you must spare them, there is nothing in my pages which a Lady may not read aloud without indecorum, which is more than can be said of Shakspeare.
What a nut this last sentence would be for Blackwood!