t is a good theatre, but the actors are very funny. Browne
laughed with such indecent heartiness at one point of the entertainment,
that an old gentleman in the next box suffered the most violent
indignation."

In 1837, "Phiz" accompanied DICKENS to Flanders, for a ten days' summer
holiday; and in 1838 they went to Yorkshire, a journey which resulted in
the production of _Nicholas Nickleby_.

The following year he made one of a party of four, and visited, with
DICKENS, MACREADY and FORSTER, nearly all the London prisons. These
joint tours of Author and Artist could not fail to assist the
realization of the scenes they intended to depict.

It is an interesting fact in connection with the career of "Phiz," that
he would never agree to draw from the living model,--all his
representations of moving crowds, and the various types of humanity,
which his etchings exhibit, being drawn from recollection. He would
sometimes make a few jottings in pencil--mere memoranda--when anything
struck him as being worthy of reproduction, but beyond that he depended
on his excellent memory. For example, he would go to Epsom on the Derby
Day without taking a pencil even, and, on returning home, would draw to
the life exact portraits of any conspicuous or eccentric character he
had seen on the course.

As previously stated, BROWNE was extremely fond of water-colour drawing,
and executed some thousands during his life; not unfrequently a day's
work would be represented by three or four of these productions. They
were not caricatures, as one might suppose, but rural scenes _a la
Watteau_, and allegorical subjects. This fact controverts the statement
made in a daily paper, that "unfortunately, without a text to
illustrate, 'Phiz' never had half-a-dozen ideas in his head" (!). For
many years he was a constant contributor of pictures--figure subjects of
a humorous and dramatic character--to the Exhibitions of the British
Institution, and of the Society of British Artists. Among his more
ambitious efforts was a cartoon of considerable dimensions, representing
"A Foraging Party of Caesar's Forces surprised by the Britons," which
appeared as No. 65 at the Westminster Hall Exhibition of 1843. This,
notwithstanding the "scratchy" manner of its execution, displayed
remarkable skill and abundant energy of design. At the same gathering
another cartoon was attributed to him, of which the energy bordered on
caricature; it was named, "Henry II defied by a