THE

NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

MEMOIR OF THE LATE THEODORE EDWARD HOOK, ESQ.

(WITH A PORTRAIT.)

Of all the "familiar faces" that within the last twenty years have vanished from the social circles of the metropolis, none has been more missed, or will cause a greater blank in convivial society than one which Death has lately withdrawn from the great family groupe. Associated with Music and Song, Wit, Humour, and an extraordinary power of Improvisation, it was the face most eagerly looked for in all gay parties, and the lover of laughter felt certain that neither the dinner-table nor the drawing-room would be a dull one where he recognised the features of the late Theodore Hook.

His brilliant reputation, however, did not rest solely on his conversational sallies and impromptu performances, unusual as they were, and must have been, to astonish Sheridan, who is said to have been present at one of his most remarkable exploits-the singing of an extempore song, in which no less than threescore persons of the company obtained a point a-piece. It was to one of these extempore efforts undertaken in defence of the Prince Regent against an insinuation at a public dinner at Worcester, that he was indebted for the kind notice of George IV., and the friendship of the Duke of Cumberland, which ultimately led to his appointment to the treasurership of the Mauritius. As a Novelist he was also amongst the most popular authors of the day-and the Readers of this Magazine ought to kno that the very last employment of his pen was devoted to their entertainment. It was the closing act of a literary career, of which, as becomes us, we will now give a brief sketch.

If Genius and Talent be hereditary, Theodore Hook unquestionably derived a considerable portion of his endowments from his Parents, both of whom were persons of superior abilities and acquirements. His Father was James Hook, a composer of much celebrity in his day, and whose Ballads were especially popular with the frequenters of Oct.-VOL. LXIII. NO. CCL.

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Vauxhall. He married Miss Madden who, as Prima Donna at the then fashionable Gardens, gave to her husband's songs all the advantages they could derive from a sweet voice and an agreeable style of singing. She also enjoyed a respectable share of literary reputation as the Authoress of the " Double Marriage," which was published in 1784, and hence no doubt the bias so prominent in both her sons. James, the eldest, produced in 1795 an Opera called "Jack of Newbury," and two years afterwards another dramatic piece named " Diamond cut Diamond," besides being the reputed author of two novels of considerable celebrity" Pen Owen," and " Percy Mallory." But his profession was the Church, in which by his superior attainments he was raised to a Deanery: whilst his son, the Rev. Dr. Walter Hook, following in his father's footsteps, has been promoted to the office of one of Her Majesty's Chaplains, and rewarded with the Vicarage of Leeds. Theodore, younger by twenty years than his brother James, could scarcely fail to profit by the advantage which such a home must have afforded to a boy of quick parts. After receiving a tolerable home education he was sent to Harrow, where he made a profitable use of his time, distinguishing himself no less in the eyes of his masters, than in those of the scholars-for he was the very model of a Harrow boy -daring, clever, and fertile in resources, whether for mischief or mirth. He was afterwards for a short period at Oxford, where he was matriculated and nearly rejected at the same time, from his over willingness to subscribe to the Thirty-Nine Articles-"Oh, ah, to forty if you choose." A latitudinarianism that somewhat shocked the grave Master of St. Mary's Hall.

It was the misfortune of Theodore Hook to lose his mother in his sixteenth year, a period when the influence of such a parent would have been essentially beneficial. Possessed of an extraordinary fund of animal spirits, it is not surprising that his youth, thus uncontrolled, should have been marked by many irregular and extravagant escapades: but these were far from being his only distinction. The society of his father's friends, most of whom were in some way connected with the Theatre, probably fostered an inclination towards the Drama; for at the early age of seventeen he produced his first dramatic attempt, a Comic Operetta, called the "Soldier's Return," and which was represented at the Haymarket in 1805. For this piece as the first instalment of his literary gains, he received a banker's check of 50%. Soon afterwards he produced a Farce, called "Catch him who Can," and "Tekeli, or the Siege of Montgatz;" and having by the success of these pieces established his reputation as a dramatic writer, he continued for the next five years to draw the chief part of his income from the same source. His other productions during this period were, the "Invisible Girl," a sort of Monologue intended to display to advantage the powers of the unrivalled Jack Bannister-a Melodrama called "The Fortress"-" Music Mad"-"The Siege of St. Quintin"-" Killing no Murder"-" Safe and Sound"-" Ass-assination and "The Will and the Widow." He afterwards added to this list, "Trial by Jury," and "Darkness Visible." A controversy with the Deputy Licenser, who opposed the performance of "Killing no Murder," afforded the town some amusement-but the Farce was ultimately produced, the cause of

quarrel, a Methodist Parson, being converted into the Apollo Belvi so well known to the admirers of Liston.

It was during the performance of these pieces that Hook naturally became a constant frequenter of the green-rooms of the different theatres; and those who had then the privilege of the entrée to the coulisses can never forget the fun which his presence produced. The entertainment behind the curtain was fully equal, if not superior, to that enjoyed by the audience before it. Never shall we forget the effect produced upon Dowton and the other actors on the stage during one of the serious scenes of a sentimental comedy of the day, by Hook's possessing himself of the livery coat of one of the under performers, and with a tragedy strut marching on to the stage to present a letter to Dowton, who, taken by surprise at the sight of the new performer, could not utter a word, while the rest of the actors were convulsed with laughter. We remember likewise one night during the performance of Monk Lewis's melodrama of "One O'clock, or the Wood Demon," that Hook having found that there was a second speaking-trumpet in the property-room, possessed himself of it, and placed himself in the flies. When the demon roared into speaking-trumpet No. 1, " My prey— my prey," Hook, with speaking-trumpet No. 2, continued the speech and the same voice, "For I am devilish hungry," to the great astonishment of the audience. This freak, however, drew down the serious anger of the manager, who threatened to expel the delinquent, but contented himself with locking up the second trumpet as a particeps

criminis.

In the meantime the Dramatist mixed extensively in society, which he carefully studied, and thus obtained that knowledge of its various phases, and the insight into character which he has since displayed so effectively in his numerous publications. He also cultivated his musical talents with such assiduity and success, that he could sit down at the piano and extemporise any kind of vocal performance, from a sentimental Ballad to a burlesque Opera. With such accomplishments, a prepossessing exterior, unbounded confidence and inexhaustible spirits, it is not surprising that his company was almost universally courted. In fact, by the brilliancy of his wit, his convivial powers, and his agreeable manners, he quickly enjoyed a position in society that few literary men, by profession, have ever obtained.

His first attempt in Fiction was a Novel styled the "Man of Sorrow;" but the one that obtained for him the greatest celebrity was the First Series of "Sayings and Doings." The publication of this work immediately placed him in the front rank of our modern Novelists. It obtained an extensive popularity, and was followed by a Second and Third Series, with similar results. To these succeeded" Maxwell," ""The Parson's Daughter," "Love and Pride," "Gilbert Gurney," "Gurney Married,” "Jack Brag," "Precepts and Practice," "Births, Deaths, and Marriages"-the last Novel he lived to finish being" Fathers and Sons," which is nearly brought to a conclusion in our present number. He also edited "Pascal Bruno," "Cousin Geoffrey," "Peter Priggins," "The French Stage," and a work now on the eve of publication called "The Parish Clerk."

To Biographical Literature he contributed the "Life of Sir David

Baird," and the "Memoirs of Michael Kelly;" but in the projected "History of the House of Hanover," we believe he made no progress; he liked better to create than to seek for materials ready-made. Latterly, indeed, he was loth to engage in any undertaking which was likely to require much literary labour.

In the John Bull Newspaper, which he started in conjunction with several influential men of his own party, he became one of the most powerful advocates of the Conservative cause, and continued to conduct the Journal with unwearied spirit and energy till attacked by his fatal illness. His influence as a political writer concurred with his fame as a Novelist and his reputation as a Wit and Humourist to enlarge the circle of his acquaintance, and from his habits of intimacy with many celebrated contemporaries, his conversation teemed with interesting anecdotes and clever observation. At the tables of the great he was therefore a welcome guest, and the best dinner-parties and soirées of the season, lost more than half their attractions in the absence of Theodore Hook.

In the course of this pleasant and brilliant career, he received, as compliments and presents, a great variety of snuff-boxes-so many indeed of every kind and quality, as to fill a tolerably large drawer. One of these tokens arrived late at night, in a case, and accompanied by a letter, which he did not give himself the trouble to read, whilst the case was carelessly tossed in the drawer with the rest. The next morning, however, he felt curiosity just sufficient to induce him to inspect his new present, and was agreeably surprised, on opening the case, by discovering a magnificent gold box, richly set with large diamonds of the purest water! It had formerly been given by the Pacha of Egypt to Sir David Baird, whose widow, in turn, had presented it to her husband's Biographer.

Mr. Hook was a Fellow of the Antiquarian Society, and a Member of the "Garrick" and the "Athenæum," from their first establishment. At both of these clubs he was a frequent visiter, his convivial powers making him excellent society for some, whilst his amusing conversation ensured him a hearty welcome from others. He was likewise an Eccentric, in the day when the society so called was in its zenith, and was made a member of that then celebrated society the same evening with Sheridan, Lord Petersham, and many others who were busy in the Westminster election, when Sheridan was opposed to Mr. Paul. But let him present himself where he would, the jest was always ready on his lips and he was not only "witty himself, but the cause of wit in others." He had only to enter a circle which the moment before had been as dull as a funeral, and instantly the whole party were inspired with new life, and jest followed jest, till the subject was exhausted -when the punster would give the idea quite a different turn, and continued the skirmish in a new direction.

The limited space which a magazine allows, may be sufficient to give a catalogue of Hook's literary productions, and a description of some of the extraordinary qualities with which nature had endowed him; but it would require a volume to detail the use which he made of these qualities and the adventures which they produced. In his novel of " Gilbert Gurney" he has himself given sketches of some few of the scenes of

his early life, for almost every scene in that book is a true picture which had actually happened. These, however, are not half the extraordinary things which he did, or which were done at his suggestion, during those early times when every day produced a farce, of which Hook was the author. Some of his doings may be recorded, but where is the memory that can record his sayings? We will venture to assert that no ten wits of the present day ever said so many things worthy of remembrance as Hook. Had he been blessed with a Boswell friend, what a book might be made of the good things which fell from his lips to create bursts of admiration, or roars of laughter, and to be detailed by the hearers at other tables on succeeding days. All Hook's early days were not however passed in fun-some of them were devoted to sentiment. He had two serious attachments-and if either of them had ended as he wished them to end, Hook might have been a different man in some points, and still the delight of his numerous friends. One of them was the beautiful daughter of a retired actor, whose suppers in those days were celebrated for the wit which sparkled at the table-and the other was the daughter of a gallant deceased general whom he had met during a visit at Taunton. The former was afterwards married to a member of a noble house, and still lives the ornament of the circle in which she moves; and the latter became the wife of one of our celebrated legal characters, who has since been solicitor-general and a judge, and has now been dead some years. Taunton will long remember the period of this courtship, for his mad pranks and his facetious sallies kept the whole town alive during the time he was one of its denizens.

Theodore Hook was born in Charlotte-street, Bedford-square-our first acquaintance with him began there, when he was a youth, making the whole neighbourhood familiar with his practical jokes and jests of every colour and quality. He was born on September the 22nd, 1788, and died at his house at Fulham, on August the 24th, 1841. For some months before his decease, it was evident to his friends that his constitution was rapidly breaking up. He occasionally exhibited symptoms of impatience and irritation; yet in his worst moods there would often escape a flash of merriment, such as "set the table in a roar." the case at last became too serious for a jest,-and the genius which had illumined so wide an horizon, set in darkness for ever! Peace be with him! The gibes, the gambols, the songs are hushed-but his works will keep his name in remembrance, and survive long after tongues shall have ceased to talk of THEODORE Hook.

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