[ Watkins Burroughs, actor/ theatre manager; List of Manuscripts ] Three Autograph Letters Signed to unnamed correspondent. WITH [MS.] "List of his Manuscripts" and "[ List of ] Musical Plays Farces & Dramas without Books of the Pieces".

Letters, total 5pp., 12mo; Lists, total 6pp., 12mo (List of Musical PLays concluded by Autograph Note Signed by Burroughs (dated 29 July 1858). One has spike-hole with loss of , one sl. grubby, all legible, closely-written in a small neat hand. LETTER ONE (25 July 1858): "I have a great number of M.S.S. of the Surrey & late Coburg, as well as of other original Dramas & Farces never acted which I have purchased from time to time but have never produced. I possess also orchestra parts for some of them - together with PianoForte scorres for some of the old Musical Farces & Operas - and orchestra parts of several others. I am willing to dispose of all or any limited numbers, however few, for a moderate price and I would think that in an extemsive and established Theatrical Repositroy like yours you could turn them to good advantage by printing some of the best adapted for melodramatic Theatres [...]".. If interested he'll make a list (see below). LETTER TWO (8 Aug.1858): He is discussing his manuscripts with a dealer, and gives some thoughts on items in the collection (for example, the reception of "Real Life in London" in Philadelphia at his Benefit. He asks his to select what might "be suited to [his] business & advantage whther published or not - the same with the music". He tells an anecdote about Mr Egerton , "one of the theatre managers here", paying him a guinea just for the loan of one work, "the Book & music of The Bride of Abydos". He solicits a price, explaining how he needs money and work, regretting aging and "having done too much for others and too little for myself." LETTER 3 (16 June 1865): This letter mainly concerns the "Wardrobe" he possesses (as his correspondent would be aware), He would appreciate "a Display of Notes or Sovereigns [to] expedite an arrangement." WITH: "[ List of ] Musical PLays Farces & Dramas without Books of the Pieces", from 'Orchestra Parts of Ali Pacha' to 'Voice Scores of | Midas | Rosina | Tom Thum | Padlock | Paul & Virginia", concluded by Autograph Note Signed, 29 July 1858, asking for offer etc., 2pp, 12mo. AND: [headed] "Watkins Burroughs - List of his Manuscripts", 4pp., 12mo, closely-written, c.120 titles from "Antigone 3 Acts by Fitzball a first rate classical melodrama" to "Zenaldi". Many have a line through them, perhaps the dealer rejecting?