Tom Hood.

form of dramatic composition . It was probably at this time he made the acquaintance of T . P . Cooke and Dibdin , the Poet of the Navy , as we may call him . He wrote the libretto for a little English opera brought out , it is said , at the Surrey

. the name even of which is now lost ; and he assisted his brother-in-law , Mr . Reynolds , in dramatising " Gil-Bias , " which was produced at Drury Lane . There was an entertainment also written about this time for Charles Matthews the

elder , who was heard by a friend most characteristically to remark , that he liked the entertainment very much , and Mr . Hood too ; but that all the time he was reading it Mrs . Hood would keep snuffing the candles . This little fidgety observation

very much shocked Mrs . Hood , but delig hted the humourist . He also wrote a pantomime for Mr . Frederick Yates , of the Adelp hi—father , if I mistake not , of the Civil Service novelist , whose name I have mentioned .

The Comic Annual of 1832 , was dedicated , by permission , to King William the IV ., who received the dedication and a copy of the work very graciously , and eventually expressed a desire to see the wit and humourist . Tom Hood accordingly called apon His Majestyby appointment

, , at Bri ghton , and was much taken by the King's cordial and hearty manner , by whom , indeed , he was very well received . In backing out of the royal presence , Hood forgot the way he had entered , and retrograded to the wrong entry . The

Ring good-humouredly laughed , aud himself showed him the right direction , going with him to the door . In 1832 , he left Winehmore and took a quaint old place , Lake House , Wanstead , Essex . Soon after his coming there , his

boyish spirit of fun broke out on one occasion , when some boys were caught robbing the orchard , and with the assistance of the gardener , were dragged trembling into the house . Mr . Reynolds , senior , who was staying there , upon a

hint being given , assumed the arm chair and the character and dignity of a county justice . The frightened culjirits were formall y charged with the offence of stealln g > which was proved from the contents ° f their pockets . The judge , assuming a severe air , immediately sentenced them to

instant execution by liMrgiiisi ^ jnhe cherry tree . The urchins were overcome with fright , dropped down on their knees , and piteously declared they would never do so , never no more . Little Fanny Hood , jirompted by her father , interceded for

the youngsters , who were solemnly forgiven , anel the two men laughed heartily to see how quickly they decamped . Here Hood wrote his only novel , "Tylney Hall , " much of the scenery and description being taken from Wanstead and the neighbourhood . It was dedicated to his friend

and patron , the Duke of Devonshire . At the end of 1834 , by the failure of a firm , poor Hood suffered , in common with many others , a very heavy loss , and consequently became involved in pecuniary difficulties . For some months he strove

with his embarrassments ; but the first heavy blow being followed up -. by other troubles , all hope of righting himself was abandoned . In this extremity , his daughter says , quoting from one of his letters , had he listened to the majority of his advisers , he

would at once have absolved himself of his obligations by one or other of those sharp but . sure remedies which the legislature has provided for , all such evils . But a sense of honour forbade such a course , and emulating the illustrious example of Sir Walter

Scott , he determined to try whether he could not score oft his debts as effectually and more creditably with his jien than with the legal whitewash or a wet sjionge . He had aforetime realised in one year a sum equal to the amount hi avrearand

, there was consequently a fair reason to expect that by redoubled diligence , economising and escaping costs at law , he would soon be able to retrieve his fortune .

With these views , leaving every shilling behind him derived from the sale of his effects , the means he carried with him being au advance upon his future labours he voluntarily expatriated himself and bade his native land " good-night . " To put the crowning stroke on all his sorrows ,

his wife was taken seriously ill , after the birth of their only son , who was born January 19 th , 1835 , and for some time her life was despaired of . Under God's good providence and the care of Dr . Elliott , whose friendship was then made , she was once more restored to comparative