CHARLES MATHEWS, MACREADY, DOUGLAS
JERROLD, AND MANY OTHERS.

Among my pleasantest reminiscences were the partly amateur and partly
professional entertainments that took place at the celebrated seat of
the distinguished author, Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton, about the year
185-.

At that time a gentleman of position usually sought to enhance the
family dignity by a seat in Parliament. The most brilliant mediocrity
even could not succeed without the patronage of the great families,
while the great families were dependent upon those who had the
franchise for the seats they coveted.

Forty-shilling freeholders were of some importance in those days;
hence these theatrical performances at Knebworth Park, for Sir Edward
wanted their suffrages without bribery or corruption.

Those who were the happy possessors of what they called the
"frankise" were also distinguished enough, to be invited to the great
performances at the candidate's beautiful estate.

It was a happy thought to give a succession of dramatic
entertainments, amongst which "Every Man in his Humour" was one. Sir
Edward knew his constituents and their tastes; it would be better
than oratory at some village inn to ask them to the stately hall of
Knebworth, and give them one of our fine old English plays.

I have already said that I had made up my mind in my earliest days to
go to the Bar or on the Stage, and that love for the histrionic art
(sometimes called the footlights) never left me.

For some reason or other I was invited to join the illustrious company
which assembled on those eventful evenings, although I was cast for a
very humble part in the performance. Nor is there much to wonder at
when I tell you who my colleagues were.

First comes that most distinguished comedian of his day, Charles
Mathews. I had known him for many a year, and liked him the better, if
that was possible, the longer I knew him.

Mathews was the leader of the company; next was another illustrious
man whose name will live for ever, and who was not only one of the
greatest authors of his time, but also the most distinguished of the
non-professional actors. Had he been on the stage, Mathews himself
could not have surpassed him. This was Charles Dickens.

After him comes a great friend of Sir Edward, John Foster, a barrister
of Lincoln's Inn, and author of the "Life of Goldsmith," as well as
editor of the _Examiner_ newspaper.

I am not quite sure whether Macready was present on