"Mr. H. came out last night and failed. I had many fears; the subject was not substantial enough. John Bull must have solider fare than a letter. We are pretty stout about it; have had plenty of condoling friends; but, after all, we had rather it should have succeeded. You will see the prologue in most of the morning papers. It was received with such shouts as I never witnessed to a prologue. It was attempted to be encored. How hard! -- a thing I did merely as a task, because it was wanted, and set no great store by; and Mr. H!! The number of friends we had in the house --my brother and I being in public offices, etc. --was astonishing, but they yielded at length to a few hisses.
A hundred hisses! (Damn the word, I write it like kisses -- how different!) -- a hundred hisses outweigh a thousand claps. The former more directly from the heart. Well, 'tis withdrawn, and there is an end.
Lamb to Wordsworth, Dec. 11, 1806.