More Letters of Note

by Shaun Usher

  TAYLOR PASSING IN THE NAME OF VICTORIA THE NEXT ONE ADELAIDE THE THRID ONE CALLED SARAH ANN THESE THREE WOMEN HAVE DEFRAUDED THE REVENUE OF THOUSANDS BY IN THE NAME OF VICTORIA AND ADELAIDE POOR PEOPLE WITH ABSURD IDEAS THESE IMPOSTORS AND PRETENDERS ARE THE SISTERS OF CHARLES TAYLOR CHIPPENHAM CAMBS CAMBRIDGESHIRE PEOPLE ARE HELL FIRE DESPOT – THE FRENCH REPUBLICANS WOULD NOT ENCOURAGE THE BOOKMAKERS LANGHAMS BULGARIAN ATROCITY TRICKS LONDON MUSIC HALLS & THEATRES KNOW JOHN LANGHAM THE LUNATIC THE BACKERS SENT HIM OFF THE NEWMARKET HEATH AND PLACED HIM IN BROADMORE LUNATIC ASYLUM HE IS THE FELLLOW WHO PASSED AS BACCARAT WILDON OF TRANBY COURT HE INSULTED HRH PRINCE OF WALES THE SCANDAL WAS REPORTED IN THE NEWS PAPERS AND THE PULPIT JOHN LANGHAM IS A BASTARD LIVING IN LONDON WITH HIS MOTHER SHE FOUND SOMETHING TO DO AT A THEATRE AND JOHN LANGHAM WAS SENT TO A GUN MAKER BY THE KINDNESS OF A FEW FRIENDS HE MARRIED SUSAN TURNER OF CHIPPENHAM CAMBS THEIR SON HAS BEEN PASSING AS SIR SAVILLE CROSSLEY OF SOMERLEYTON HALL NR LOWESTOFT SUFFOLK THE VICTORIA ADELAIDE AND SARAH ANN TAYLORS TURNERS AND LANGHAMS OUGHT TO BE UNDER BOLTS AND BARS IN HORSE MONGER LANE JAIL OR NEWGATE MASTER WALTER BULWER WAS LORD KER’S SON AND LORD KER AND SON FOR YEARS THEY ARE POOR POVERTY DRESSED UP WITH ALIAS’S FROM A TO Z THE OLD MAN PASSED AS SIR CHARLES HARVEY OF CROWN POINT NORWICH HE PRETENDED TO SHOOT HIMSELF HE QUICKLY FOUND HIS WAY IN TO GT YARMOUTH WORKHOUSE THEY THE SO CALLED SON IN LAW STRACEY OF RACKHEATH PARK NORWICH THE FELLOW HERE PASSING AS MASTER UNMASKED WILL PROVE TO BE JOHN LANGHAM’S SON AND SUSAN LANGHAM HIS WIFE HER MAIDEN NAME SUSAN TURNER OF CHIPPENHAM CAMBS MARIA TURNER IS HER SISTER THESE TWO WOMEN ARE GEORGE DAWSON TURNERS DAUGHTERS FORMERLY OF CHIPPENHAM CAMBS THE MATRON I THINK WILL PROVE TO BE ONE OF THE NOTORIOUS TAYLORS VICTORIA ADELAIDE OR SARAH ANN CHIPPENHAM VILLAGE CAMBS THEIR FATHER WAS A CARPENTER THE WOMAN ANNA MARIA AFTERWARDS MRS YOUNG WENT TO JOHN LANGHAM’S LONDON IN THE YEAR 1851 TO THE EXHIBITION HYDE PARK SHE WENT FROM CHIPPEN HAM STAYED THERE ONE WEEK E. BULWER ESQ KNOW THIS HOUSE IS FULL OF NORWICH TRAMPS POCKTHORPE CASTLE DITCHES AND ARE PLACED IN THE ROWS FOR A CERTAIN TIME THEN BROUGHT INTO THIS CHARLOTTE STREET BROTHEL WORKHOUSE THE FELLOW ORDERING EVERY THING HERE IS HUNTER BUNTER LANGHAM SON OF JOHN AND SUSAN ROSS LANGHAM TRAINED AT CAM BRIDGE FOR A TRICK MAN BESSIE BARTON OF CAMBRIDGE TOLD ME KNOWN AS MISS LORINA BULWER SO WELL SHE SAID WELL I NEVER SEE SUCH A ______________________

  HIS GRANDFATHER SAID ALTHOUGH OF WEAK MIND HE COULD HAVE BEEN PUT TO SOMETHING TO BRING IN A LIVING HIS FRIENDS EMPLOYED ARE HUNTER BUNTER WALTER DIVER HUNTER BUNTER FREDERICK DANBY PALMER LAWYER GT YARMOUTH FRANK BURTON LAWYER GLENELG HOUSE SOUTH END GT YARMOUTH KEEPS A BROTHEL DANIEL MEADOWS KING STREET SURGEON SO TERMED KEEPS A BROTHEL D. MEADOWS IS FRANK BURTON’S FATHER IN LAW MEADOWS SECOND DAUGHTER MARRIED FRANK BURTONS BROTHER BOTH MEN ARE DANIEL MEADOWS SONS IN LAW THE FELLOW BUXTON THE FELLOW LANGHAM SUSAN TURNER ROSS LANGHAMS SON THE TAYLORS CHARLES TAYLOR THE FATHER HIS TWO SONS ONE DRIVE A GT YARMOUTH SCAVENGER CART AND TWO DAUGHTERS ONE IS THE SO CALLED PRINCESS OF WALES THE SO CALLED PRINCE OF WALES IS BOB SEWARD’S SON THE MAN WHO MURDERED A WOMAN AT NORWICH BOILED SOME OF HER REMAINS WITH SAGE AND ONIONS TO TRY HUMAN FLESH WHO WITH MRS ANNA MARIA YOUNG OF WALTHAMSTOW ESSEX THE GROVE WALTHAMSTOW SHE AGREED FIRST WITH FREDERICK DANBY PALMER LAWYER GT YARMOUTH BEFORE SHE MARRIED THE FELLOW GEORGE YOUNG OF WALTHAMSTOW ESSEX FOR A VOYAGE IN LOYDS SHIP FOR HER HUSBAND GEORGE YOUNG SHE HAD FIVE CHILDREN WITH HER THREE AND TWO OF HER HUSBANDS CHILDREN BY HIS FIRST OR FORMER WIFE SHE IS NOT RELATED TO THE BULWERS NOT THE LEAST RELATIONSHIP SHE IS AN IMPOSTOR FORGER DEFRAUDER AN INTIMATE FRIEND OF MADAM RACHEL TAYLORS VICTORIA ADELAIDE AND SARAH ANN TAYLORS THESE ARE THE LEADERS OF THE FEMALE NOTORIOUS CARD-SHARPS OF CAMBRIDGESHIRE MRS ANNA MARIA YOUNG IS ALIAS MRS PINCHING SHE HAS BEEN USING THE NAME OF MRS PINCHING FOR YEARS I MISS LORINA BULWER WONDER – LOYD THE SHIPPER – DID NOT PROSECUTE HER SHE PASSED AS ANNA MARIA BULWER AND WAS A PUPIL OF MISS WINN SCHOOL BECCLES SUFFOLK E. BULWER ESQ ELDEST SISTER WAS BROUGHT UP BY HIS GRACE DUKE HAMILTON AND MARRIED LORD GEORGE OR LORD JOHN MANNERS SONS OF HIS GRACE DUKE RUTLAND OF BELVOIR CASTLE SOMERSETSHIRE HIS GRACE THE DUKE HAMILTON OWNED AND LIVED AT ICKWORTH PARK SUFFOLK AND OWNER OF IRISH ESTATE WHEN IS THE – LAND TAX – PROPERTY TAX – LEGACY DUTY - DUTY IN CRESTS – NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO BE HOLDER OF ONE UNLESS FULL AND CLEAR PROOF CAN BE GIVEN AT THE HERALD OFFICE LONDON AS TO RIGHTFUL LAND &c DOG LICENCE – GUN LICENCE – GUN LICENCE FOR CROW BOY – TAX ON LIVERY SERVANTS – LICENCE ON ALL VEHICLES ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF WHEELS LET ON HIRE – SUCCESSION DUTY ON NOBLEMEN’S LANDED ESTATES TAX ON SHARES INCOME TAX &c WHEN DID THE POOR POVERTY CAMBRIDGESHIRE PEOPLE PAY THESE GOVERNMENT TAXES WHEN DO CAMBRIDGESHIRE PEOPLE PAY THEIR LOCAL RATES – WHERE IS THE ASSESS TAX COLLECTOR – WHERE IS THE LOCAL TAX COLLECTOR – THE LOCAL LANDLORD THE EXCISE MAN WHEN WAS GURNEYS BANK ENROLLED BY ACT OF PARLIAMENT NOT ONE PAGAN IN THIS WORKSHOUSE THE PEOPLE ARE REAL ENGLISH TRAMPS HAWKERS SHOW PEOPLE ENGLISH – NOT ONE BELONG TO ANY OF MY CLASS NOT ONE HERE HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH MY PARTY. I MISS LORINA BULWER HAVE A JEW TIE THROUGH DR PINCHING OF WALTHAMSTOW ESSEX MOSES & SON MINORIES LONDON KNOWS

  REPUBLICANS WOULD NOT ENCOURAGE THE BOOKMAKERS LANGHAMS BULGARIAN ATROCITY TRICKS LONDON MUSIC HALLS & THEATRES KNOW JOHN LANGHAM THE LUNATIC THE BACKERS SENT HIM OFF THE NEWMARKET HEATH AND PLACED HIM IN BROADMORE LUNATIC ASYLUM HE IS THE FELLLOW WHO PASSED AS BACCARAT WILDON OF TRANBY COURT HE INSULTED HRH PRINCE OF WALES THE SCANDAL WAS REPORTED IN THE NEWS PAPERS AND THE PULPIT JOHN LANGHAM IS A BASTARD LIVING IN LONDON WITH HIS MOTHER SHE FOUND SOMETHING TO DO AT A THEATRE AND JOHN LANGHAM WAS SENT TO A GUN MAKER BY THE KINDNESS OF A FEW FRIENDS HE MARRIED SUSAN TURNER OF CHIPPENHAM CAMBS THEIR SON HAS BEEN PASSING AS SIR SAVILLE CROSSLEY OF SOMERLEYTON HALL NR LOWESTOFT SUFFOLK THE VICTORIA ADELAIDE AND SARAH ANN TAYLORS TURNERS AND LANGHAMS OUGHT TO BE UNDER BOLTS AND BARS IN HORSE MONGER LANE JAIL OR NEWGATE MASTER WALTER BULWER WAS LORD KER’S SON AND LORD KER AND SON FOR YEARS THEY ARE POOR POVERTY DRESSED UP WITH ALIAS’S FROM A TO Z THE OLD MAN PASSED AS SIR CHARLES HARVEY OF CROWN POINT NORWICH HE PRETENDED TO SHOOT HIMSELF HE QUICKLY FOUND HIS WAY IN TO GT YARMOUTH WORKHOUSE THEY THE SO CALLED SON IN LAW STRACEY OF RACKHEATH PARK NORWICH THE FELLOW HERE PASSING AS MASTER UNMASKED WILL PROVE TO BE JOHN LANGHAM’S SON AND SUSAN LANGHAM HIS WIFE HER MAIDEN NAME SUSAN TURNER OF CHIPPENHAM CAMBS MARIA TURNER IS HER SISTER THESE TWO WOMEN ARE GEORGE DAWSON TURNERS DAUGHTERS FORMERLY OF CHIPPENHAM CAMBS THE MATRON I THINK WILL PROVE TO BE ONE OF THE NOTORIOUS TAYLORS VICTORIA ADELAIDE OR SARAH ANN CHIPPENHAM VILLAGE CAMBS THEIR FATHER WAS A CARPENTER THE WOMAN ANNA MARIA AFTERWARDS MRS YOUNG WENT TO JOHN LANGHAM’S LONDON IN THE YEAR 1851 TO THE EXHIBITION HYDE PARK SHE WENT FROM CHIPPEN HAM STAYED THERE ONE WEEK E. BULWER ESQ KNOW THIS HOUSE IS FULL OF NORWICH TRAMPS POCKTHORPE CASTLE DITCHES AND ARE PLACED IN THE ROWS FOR A CERTAIN TIME THEN BROUGHT INTO THIS CHARLOTTE STREET BROTHEL WORKHOUSE THE FELLOW ORDERING EVERY THING HERE IS HUNTER BUNTER LANGHAM SON OF JOHN AND SUSAN ROSS LANGHAM TRAINED AT CAM BRIDGE FOR A TRICK MAN BESSIE BARTON OF CAMBRIDGE TOLD ME KNOWN AS MISS LORINA BULWER SO WELL SHE SAID WELL I NEVER SEE SUCH A ______________________

  HIS GRANDFATHER SAID ALTHOUGH OF WEAK MIND HE COULD HAVE BEEN PUT TO SOMETHING TO BRING IN A LIVING HIS FRIENDS EMPLOYED ARE HUNTER BUNTER WALTER DIVER HUNTER BUNTER FREDERICK DANBY PALMER LAWYER GT YARMOUTH FRANK BURTON LAWYER GLENELG HOUSE SOUTH END GT YARMOUTH KEEPS A BROTHEL DANIEL MEADOWS KING STREET SURGEON SO TERMED KEEPS A BROTHEL D. MEADOWS IS FRANK BURTON’S FATHER IN LAW MEADOWS SECOND DAUGHTER MARRIED FRANK BURTONS BROTHER BOTH MEN ARE DANIEL MEADOWS SONS IN LAW THE FELLOW BUXTON THE FELLOW LANGHAM SUSAN TURNER ROSS LANGHAMS SON THE TAYLORS CHARLES TAYLOR THE FATHER HIS TWO SONS ONE DRIVE A GT YARMOUTH SCAVENGER CART AND TWO DAUGHTERS ONE IS THE SO CALLED PRINCESS OF WALES THE SO CALLED PRINCE OF WALES IS BOB SEWARD’S SON THE MAN WHO MURDERED A WOMAN AT NORWICH BOILED SOME OF HER REMAINS WITH SAGE AND ONIONS TO TRY HUMAN FLESH WHO WITH MRS ANNA MARIA YOUNG OF WALTHAMSTOW ESSEX THE GROVE WALTHAMSTOW SHE AGREED FIRST WITH FREDERICK DANBY PALMER LAWYER GT YARMOUTH BEFORE SHE MARRIED THE FELLOW GEORGE YOUNG OF WALTHAMSTOW ESSEX FOR A VOYAGE IN LOYDS SHIP FOR HER HUSBAND GEORGE YOUNG SHE HAD FIVE CHILDREN W
ITH HER THREE AND TWO OF HER HUSBANDS CHILDREN BY HIS FIRST OR FORMER WIFE SHE IS NOT RELATED TO THE BULWERS NOT THE LEAST RELATIONSHIP SHE IS AN IMPOSTOR FORGER DEFRAUDER AN INTIMATE FRIEND OF MADAM RACHEL TAYLORS VICTORIA ADELAIDE AND SARAH ANN TAYLORS THESE ARE THE LEADERS OF THE FEMALE NOTORIOUS CARD-SHARPS OF CAMBRIDGESHIRE MRS ANNA MARIA YOUNG IS ALIAS MRS PINCHING SHE HAS BEEN USING THE NAME OF MRS PINCHING FOR YEARS I MISS LORINA BULWER WONDER – LOYD THE SHIPPER – DID NOT PROSECUTE HER SHE PASSED AS ANNA MARIA BULWER AND WAS A PUPIL OF MISS WINN SCHOOL BECCLES SUFFOLK E. BULWER ESQ ELDEST SISTER WAS BROUGHT UP BY HIS GRACE DUKE HAMILTON AND MARRIED LORD GEORGE OR LORD JOHN MANNERS SONS OF HIS GRACE DUKE RUTLAND OF BELVOIR CASTLE SOMERSETSHIRE HIS GRACE THE DUKE HAMILTON OWNED AND LIVED AT ICKWORTH PARK SUFFOLK AND OWNER OF IRISH ESTATE WHEN IS THE – LAND TAX – PROPERTY TAX – LEGACY DUTY - DUTY IN CRESTS – NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO BE HOLDER OF ONE UNLESS FULL AND CLEAR PROOF CAN BE GIVEN AT THE HERALD OFFICE LONDON AS TO RIGHTFUL LAND &c DOG LICENCE – GUN LICENCE – GUN LICENCE FOR CROW BOY – TAX ON LIVERY SERVANTS – LICENCE ON ALL VEHICLES ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF WHEELS LET ON HIRE – SUCCESSION DUTY ON NOBLEMEN’S LANDED ESTATES TAX ON SHARES INCOME TAX &c WHEN DID THE POOR POVERTY CAMBRIDGESHIRE PEOPLE PAY THESE GOVERNMENT TAXES WHEN DO CAMBRIDGESHIRE PEOPLE PAY THEIR LOCAL RATES – WHERE IS THE ASSESS TAX COLLECTOR – WHERE IS THE LOCAL TAX COLLECTOR – THE LOCAL LANDLORD THE EXCISE MAN WHEN WAS GURNEYS BANK ENROLLED BY ACT OF PARLIAMENT NOT ONE PAGAN IN THIS WORKSHOUSE THE PEOPLE ARE REAL ENGLISH TRAMPS HAWKERS SHOW PEOPLE ENGLISH – NOT ONE BELONG TO ANY OF MY CLASS NOT ONE HERE HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH MY PARTY. I MISS LORINA BULWER HAVE A JEW TIE THROUGH DR PINCHING OF WALTHAMSTOW ESSEX MOSES & SON MINORIES LONDON KNOWS

  [ends]

  Letter No. 055

  MY REAL NAME IS DAVID JONES

  DAVID BOWIE TO SANDRA DODD

  September 25th, 1967

  David Bowie was just 20 years of age and yet to make a dent in the music scene when, in September of 1967, he received his first piece of fan mail from America. The fan in question was 14-year-old Sandra Dodd, a New Mexico resident whose uncle, a manager of a local radio station, had recently given her a promotional copy of Bowie’s first album. Intrigued, she wrote him a letter, told him that his music was as good as that of The Beatles and offered to start a US fan club on his behalf. Her letter did reach Bowie. In fact, he was so excited to receive such praise from across the Atlantic that he immediately typed out this endearing reply from the office of his manager, Kenneth Pitt.

  PITT

  25th, September 1967

  Dear Sandra,

  When I called in this, my manager’s office, a few moments ago I was handed my very first American fan letter - and it was from you. I was so pleased that I had to sit down and type an immediate reply, even though Ken is shouting at me to get on with a script he badly needs. That can wiat (wi-at? That’s a new English word which means wait).

  I’ve been waiting for some reaction to the album from American listeners. There were reviews in Billboard and Cash Box, but they were by professional critics and they rarely reflect the opinions of the public. The critics were very flattering however. They even liked the single “Love You Till Tuesday”. I’ve got a copy of the American album and they’ve printed the picture a little yellow. I’m really not that blond. I think the picture on the back is more ‘me’. Hope you like those enclosed.

  In answer to your questions, my real name is David Jones and I don’t have to tell you why I changed it. “Nobody’s going to make a monkey out of you” said my manager. My birthday is January 8th and I guess I’m 5’10". There is a Fan Club here in England, but if things go well in the States then we’ll have one there I suppose. It’s a little early to even think about it.

  I hope one day to get to America. My manager tells me lots about it as he has been there many times with other acts he manages. I was watching an old film on TV the other night called “No Down Payment” a great film, but rather depressing if it is a true reflection of The American Way Of Life. However, shortly after that they showed a documentary about Robert Frost the American poet, filmed mainly at his home in Vermont, and that evened the score. I am sure that that is nearer the real America. I made my first movie last week. Just a fifteen minutes short, but it gave me some good experience for a full length deal I have starting in January.

  Thankyou for being so kind as to write to me and do please write again and let me know some more about yourself.

  Yours sincerely,

  (Signed)

  Letter No. 056

  A NEW PAGE IN MOTION PICTURE HISTORY

  SAMUEL GOLDWYN TO WALT DISNEY

  September 11th, 1964

  In 1934, the first in a series of eight books featuring Mary Poppins, written by Australian novelist P. L. Travers, was published. One of the books’ many fans was Walt Disney’s daughter, Diana, who was so taken with the Poppins tales that she begged her father to bring the character to the big screen. His initial attempt to do so proved fruitless, however, as did that of movie mogul Samuel Goldwyn, but 20 years later Disney finally persuaded Travers to jump on board. Mary Poppins was eventually released in 1964, at which point it charmed millions of people and won five Academy Awards. Walt Disney was widely lauded for his efforts: one of the many congratulatory letters he subsequently received was from the same Samuel Goldwyn who, years before, had also tried – but failed – to bring Poppins to life.

  SAMUEL GOLDWYN

  September 11, 1964

  Dear Walt:

  Once in a lifetime -- and only once -- a picture comes along which cannot be compared to any other and to which no other can be compared. A picture which writes a new page in motion picture history. A picture which has such universal appeal that it is a pure delight to father, mother, children, grandparents and grandchildren -- it makes no difference who.

  You have made it -- MARY POPPINS.

  You have made a great many pictures, Walt, that have touched the hearts of the world, that have spread your name and your fame to every corner of the globe, and you have deserved every bit of acclaim that has come to you. But you have never made one so wonderful, so magical, so joyous, so completely the fulfilment of everything a great motion picture should be as MARY POPPINS.

  I hope everyone in the world will see it -- that is the nicest thing I can possibly wish them.

  Sincerely,

  [Signed]

  Letter No. 057

  I LOVED THE BOY

  WILLIAM WORDSWORTH TO ROBERT SOUTHEY

  December 2nd, 1812

  1812 was the darkest of years for William Wordsworth, the English Romantic poet responsible for many enduring masterpieces including “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” and the posthumously published autobiographical poem, “The Prelude”. In June, his three-year-old daughter, Catherine, died after suffering convulsions; then, on the first day of December, his six-year-old son, Thomas, passed away having suffered from measles and pneumonia. On December 2nd, with both children buried beneath the same tree in the Lake District, William Wordsworth wrote to friend and fellow poet, Robert Southey.

  William Wordsworth in a monograph from The Poetical Works of Wordsworth

  December 2, 1812

  Wednesday Evening

  My dear Friend,

  Symptoms of the measles appeared upon my Son Thomas last Thursday; he was most favorable held till Tuesday, between ten and eleven at that hour was particularly lightsome and comfortable; without any assignable cause a sudden change took place, an inflammation had commenced on the lungs which it was impossible to check and the sweet Innocent yielded up his soul to God before six in the evening. He did not appear to suffer much in body, but I fear something in mind as he was of an age to have thought much upon death a subject to which his mind was daily led by the grave of his Sister.

  My wife bears the loss of her child with striking fortitude. For myself dear Southey I dare not say in what state of mind I am; I loved the boy with the utmost love of which my soul is capable, and he is taken
from me—yet in the agony of my spirit in surrendering such a treasure I feel a thousand times richer than if I had never possessed it. God comfort and save you and all our friends and us all from a repetition of such trials—O Southey feel for me! If you are not afraid of the complaint, I ought to have said if you have had it come over to us! Best love from everybody—you will impart this sad news to your Wife and Mrs Coleridge and Mrs Lovel and to Miss Barker and Mrs Wilson. Poor woman! She was most good to him—Heaven reward her.