nquestionably Tenniel."

Affiliated with _Punch_, in its membership at least, was that "Guild of
Literature and Art" of which Charles Dickens was the father. Its
theatrical career began in 1845 at the Royalty Theatre, Soho, at that
time called Miss Kelly's, the initial performance being Ben Jonson's
"Every Man in his Humour," with Mark Lemon as Brainworm and Dickens as
Bobadil. (_See p. 137._) On May 15th, 1848, much the same company, in
aid of the fund for the endowment of the perpetual curatorship of
Shakespeare's house at Stratford-on-Avon, gave the "Merry Wives of
Windsor," when Dickens played Shallow; George Cruikshank, Pistol; John
Leech, Slender; Mark Lemon, Falstaff; and other characters were
represented by George Henry Lewes, John Forster, Dudley Costello,
Augustus Egg, R.A., and Mr. Cowden Clarke--a goodly company. Mr. Sala
says that Lemon's conception of Falstaff (which was also known to the
public through the jovial editor's "readings"), though well understood,
was "the worst he ever saw;" but Mrs. Cowden Clarke declared it "a fine
embodiment of rich, unctuous raciness, no caricature, rolling greasiness
and grossness, no exaggerated vulgarisation of Shakespeare's
immortal 'fat knight,' but a florid, rotund, self-indulgent
voluptuary--thoroughly at his ease, thoroughly prepared to take
advantage of all gratification that might come in his way, and
thoroughly preserving the manners of a gentleman accustomed to the
companionship of a prince. John Leech's Master Slender," she continues,
"was picturesquely true to the gawky, flabby, booty squire.... His mode
of sitting on a stile, with his long ungainly legs dangling down ...
ever and anon ejaculating his maudlin cuckoo cry of 'Oh sweet Ann Page,'
was a delectable treat." Without disrespect to Leech's memory, it may be
said that others of his friends did not form a similarly favourable
opinion of his histrionic powers.

A company quite as notable in its way was that which played "Not so Bad
as We Seem," by Lytton (with whom _Punch_ had made his peace), at
Devonshire House, on May 27th, 1851, before the Queen and the Prince
Consort, at the instance of the Duke of Devonshire. The playbill
deserves to be preserved here, although the only _Punch_ names among the
actors are those of Jerrold, Lemon, and Tenniel--the last-named of whom
is the only survivor of them all.

MEN.

The Duke of Middlesex { Peers Attached To the Son } Mr. Frank Stone,