Reference
HG12/4/32
Title
to Jn. Higgins, Turvey Abbey from Jn. Genest
Date free text
31 Aug 1818
Production date
From: 1818 To: 1818
Scope and Content
Has finished business at Museum in London. Plans to go to Bath rather than visit Bedford as writer would be anxious about his brother at such a distance. "I did not explain to you the nature of my business at the Museum, as I was certain the subject could not be interesting to you, & I was rather of opinion that you might not approve of what I was about, but as you ask the question I can have no hesitation in telling you what most of my friends know - I have been for about 5 years employed in compiling an account of the English Stage - Dr. Burney who died in the latter part of the winter had a most valuable collection of play bills, which I was very desirous of purchasing, & his son was so obliging as to promise me the refusal of them in preference to any individual. I should have been glad to have given £100 for them - but to my infinite disappointment they were purchased by Parliament with the rest of Dr. B's library & deposited in the Museum. I had then no resource but to transcribe them where they were - this I have done - if I should live to
finish my account, I mean to publish it, but it is an almost endless undertaking, & will take me at least 2 years longer."
[D.N.B. GENEST, Jn. (1764 - 1839),dramatic historian; educated at Westminster; M.A. Trinity College, Camb.,1787; published at Bath "Account of the English Stage, 1660 - 1830" (1832)]
Level of description
item