Contributed to the Archive by Arthur Robinson

“The Savoy Conspirators,” 22 December 1886.
“Mr. Clement Scott and Mr. W.S. Gilbert,” 13 December 1888.
“Gilbert and Sullivan,” 21 May 1890.
“Where Do the Days Begin?” 7 February 1898.
“Comedy Theatre,” 8 June 1900.
“With Many Apologies,” 18 May 1903.

1. WSG to Pall Mall Gazette, Dec. 22, 1886, p. 3.

THE SAVOY CONSPIRATORS.

To the EDITOR of the PALL MALL GAZETTE.

Sir, – You are pleased to make merry with what is supposed to be an exaggerated anxiety on the part of Sir A. Sullivan and myself lest the details of the opera now in rehearsal at the Savoy should become prematurely known to the public.  So little has this consideration troubled us that we invited to the reading of the piece, which took place three weeks before the first stage rehearsal, no fewer than forty-four ladies and gentlemen of the chorus, who are in no way concerned with the dialogue, besides a dozen personal friends.  We have declined to accede to several requests which have been made to us to allow the details of the plot of the piece to be published in newspapers; and in acting thus we believe we have taken no unusual course.  It is not customary for dramatic authors in this or any other country to publish their plots eight weeks before the production of their pieces.  You say that so great is the fear of piracy that even the actors themselves do not know the name of the play, nor the characters they are severally engaged to represent.  The name of the play is at present unknown to myself, and I shall be much obliged to anyone who will tell it to me.  But the cast is as follows:–

Date, 1810.

2. WSG to Pall Mall Gazette, Dec. 13, 1888, p. 6.

MR. CLEMENT SCOTT AND MR. W.S. GILBERT.

To the EDITOR of the PALL MALL GAZETTE.

Sir, – In your Occasional Notes of to-day’s issue you state that I have written to the proprietors of the Daily Telegraph, not only protesting against Mr. Clement Scott’s criticism of “Brantinghame Hall,” but “absolutely demanding his dismissal from the post of dramatic critic.” You add that you are credibly informed that this is true, though in itself the thing seems incredible.  As I am in receipt of a letter from Mr. Clement Scott in which he informs me that it is his deliberate intention to make it generally known that I have written to Mr. Lawson to demand his dismissal, I am justified, I suppose, in assuming that it is to him that you are indebted, directly or indirectly, for this preposterous statement.  Such a statement is, of course, calculated to prejudice me most seriously in the eyes of dramatic critics and theatrical managers, and I have therefore instructed my solicitor to commence proceedings for libel against Mr. Clement Scott forthwith.  In the meantime I content myself with requesting you to allow me to assure your readers that the statement that I have written to the proprietors of the Daily Telegraph demanding Mr. Clement Scott’s dismissal from the post of dramatic critic is absolutely untrue.—

3. WSG to Pall Mall Gazette, May 21, 1890, p. 2

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN.

To the EDITOR of the PALL MALL GAZETTE.

Sir, – In to-day’s issue of the Pall Mall Gazette you appear to attribute the termination of my joint work with Sir Arthur Sullivan to a question connected with the opera which he is writing for Mr. D’Oyly Carte’s new theatre.  I shall feel obliged if you will permit me to state that any secession has no connection, direct or indirect, with the production of Sir A. Sullivan’s new opera.  For reasons that appear to me to be sufficient, I have voluntarily withdrawn from further collaboration, without, I am happy to say, putting an end to the friendly relations which have existed between Sir A. Sullivan and myself for many years.

4. WSG to the Pall Mall Gazette, Feb. 7, 1898, p. 3

WHERE DO THE DAYS BEGIN?

To the EDITOR of the PALL MALL GAZETTE.

Sir, – I see a controversy in one of your contemporaries on “Where do the days begin?”  Surely our days – that is to say, the days of all who date their longitude from Greenwich – begin on the meridian of 180 deg.  The only land on this meridian is the eastern fag-end of Siberia (which we need not consider) and the balmy isle of Fiji.  This favoured spot seems to present many residential advantages that have hitherto been overlooked.  In Fiji a man may stand with one leg in Sunday and the other in Monday at one and the same time.  He may walk decorously to church with his right leg while his left leg is dancing profane hornpipes.  If he cannot kick a bore into the middle of next week, he can easily project him a considerable distance in that direction.

Allow me to indicate to librettists the advantages of this meridian as a venue for light opera.  Personally, I have done with such matters.

5. WSG to the Pall Mall Gazette, June 8, 1900, p.

COMEDY THEATRE.

To the EDITOR of the PALL MALL GAZETTE.

Sir, – Two of my plays, “Pygmalion and Galatea” and “Comedy and Tragedy,” are to be revived to-night at the Comedy Theatre, which, in a brief space of time, has passed into the hands of Miss Janette Steer – a lady who plays the leading part in each play.

Although I have, by contract, expressly reserved to myself the right of stage-management in every detail, circumstances have arisen which have caused me to cease to concern myself with the parts of Galatea and Clarice.  These parts will, presumably, be played by Miss Steer in accordance with her own views.

While I am prepared to admit that Miss Steer’s interpretation may be characterized by much that is excellent, I am anxious, in fairness to myself, that it may not be assumed that her performance is necessarily a reflex of my intentions.

 6. WSG to the Pall Mall Gazette, May 18, 1903, p. 2.  (Letter dated 16 May 1903)

WITH MANY APOLOGIES.

To the EDITOR of the PALL MALL GAZETTE.

 Sir – There is a line in your issue of yesterday that must have sent a thrill of joy through many a worthy home.  I refer to a line in an article headed “A Naval Battle,” in which I am referred to as “the late W.S. Gilbert.”  I am always sorry to spoil sport, but common candour compels me to admit (reluctantly) that I am still alive. 

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