ires his love to you, to which I add mine to your
eldest niece and your invalid, and remain ever your affectionately
attached

F. A. K.

BLACKHEATH.
MY DEAREST H----,

I was exceedingly glad to receive your letter. You ask me for my
own criticism on my Portia; you know that I think I am able to do
myself tolerably impartial justice, which may be a great mistake;
but whether it is or not, I request you will believe the following
account in preference to any other report, newspaper or letter,
public or private, whatever.

In the first place, on my benefit night (my first appearance in the
part) I was so excessively nervous about it, and so shaken with the
tremendous uproar the audience made with their applause, that I
consider that performance entirely out of the pale of criticism,
and quite unworthy of it. I was _frightened_ FLAT to a degree I
could hardly have believed possible after my previous experience.

I am happy to think that I improve in the part, and sincerely hope
that I shall continue to do so for some time. The principal defect
of my acting in it is that it wants point--brilliancy. I do not do
the trial scene one bit better or worse than the most mediocre
actress would, and although the comic scenes are called delightful
by people whose last idea of comedy was borrowed from Miss C---- or
Miss F----, my mother says (and I believe her) they are very
_vapid_. The best thing I do in the play (and I think it is the
best thing I do at all, except Juliet's balcony scene) is the scene
of the caskets, with Bassanio, and this I think I do _well_. But
the scene is of so comparatively subdued, quiet, and uneffective a
nature that I think the occupants of the stage boxes and the first
three rows of the pit must be the only part of the audience who
know anything about my acting of that portion of the play. I like
the part better than any I have yet played. I delight in the
poetry, and my heart goes with every sentiment Portia utters. I
have a real satisfaction in acting it, which is more than I can say
for anything else I have yet had to do. Juliet, with the exception
of the balcony scene, I act; but I feel as if I _were_ Portia--