irst tour in the United
Kingdom, were made in 1858, under Mr. Arthur Smith's management. The
second provincial tour, partly in 1861, partly in 1862, and two sets of
readings in London, one at the St. James's Hall in 1862, the other at
the Hanover Square Rooms in 1863, took place under Mr. Thomas Headland's
management. As many as four distinct, and all of them important tours,
notably one on the other side of the Atlantic, were carried out
between 1866 and 1869, both years inclusive, under Mr. George Dolby's
management. As showing at once the proportion of the enormous aggregate
of 423 Readings, with winch these three managers were concerned, it may
be added here that while the first-mentioned had to do with 111, and the
second with 70, the third and last-mentioned had to do with as many as
242 altogether.

It was on the evening of Thursday, the 29th of April, 1858, that
Charles Dickens first made his appearance upon a platform in a strictly
professional character as a public Reader. Although, hitherto, he had
never once read for himself, he did so then avowedly--not merely by
printed announcement beforehand, but on addressing himself by word of
mouth to the immense audience assembled there in St. Martin's Hall. The
Reading selected for the occasion was "The Cricket on the Hearth," but
before its commencement, the author spoke as follows, doing so with well
remembered clearness of articulation, as though he were particularly
desirous that every word should be thoroughly weighed by his hearers,
and taken to heart, by reason of their distinctly explaining the
relations in which he and they would, thenceforth stand towards each
other:--

"Ladies and Gentlemen,--It may, perhaps, be
"known to you that, for a few years past I have been
"accustomed occasionally to read some of my shorter
"books to various audiences, in aid of a variety of
"good objects, and at some charge to myself both in
"time and money. It having at length become im-
"possible in any reason to comply with these always
"accumulating demands, I have had definitely to
"choose between now and then reading on my own
"account as one of my recognised occupations, or not
"reading at all. I have had little or no difficulty in
"deciding on the former course.

"The reasons that have led me to it--besides the
"consideration that it necessitates no departure what-
"ever from the chosen pursu