I have it on the authority of one of Hook’s most intimate friends, that he was capable of any act of kindness, and by way of instance of his goodness of heart, I am told by the same person that he on one occasion quitted all his town amusements to solace the spirit of a friend in the country who was in serious trouble.  I, of course, refrain from giving names:  but the same person informs me that much of his time was devoted in a like manner, to relieving, as far as possible, the anxiety of his friends, often, indeed, arising from his own carelessness.  It is due to Hook to make this impartial statement before entering on a sketch of his ‘Sayings and Doings,’ which must necessarily leave the impression that he was a heartless man.

Old Hook, the father, soon perceived the value of his son’s talents; and, determined to turn them to account, encouraged his natural inclination to song-writing.  At the age of sixteen Theodore wrote a kind of comic opera, to which his father supplied the music.  This was called ‘The Soldier’s Return.’  It was followed by others, and young Hook, not yet out of his teens, managed to keep a Drury Lane audience alive, as well as himself and family.  It must be remembered, however, that Liston and Matthews could make almost any piece amusing.  The young author was introduced behind the scenes through his father’s connection with the theatre, and often played the fool under the stage while others were playing it for him above it, practical jokes being a passion with him which he developed thus early.  These tricks were not always very good-natured, which may be said of many of his jokes out of the theatre.

He soon showed evidence of another talent, that of acting as well as writing pieces.  Assurance was one of the main features of his character, and to it he owed his success in society; but it is a remarkable fact, that on his first appearance before an audience he entirely lost all his nerve, turned pale, and could scarcely utter a syllable.  He rapidly recovered, however, and from this time became a favourite performer in private theatricals, in which he was supported by Mathews and Mrs. Mathews, and some amateurs who were almost equal to any professional actors.  His attempts were, of course, chiefly in broad farce and roaring burlesque, in which his comic face, with its look of mock gravity, and the twinkle of the eyes, itself excited roars of laughter.  Whether he would have succeeded as well in sober comedy or upon public boards may well be doubted.  Probably he would not have given to the profession that careful attention and entire devotion that are necessary to bring forward properly the highest natural talents.  It is said that for a long time he was anxious to take to the stage as, a profession, but, perhaps—­as the event seems to show—­unfortunately for him, he was dissuaded from what his friends must have thought a very rash step, and in after years he took a violent dislike to the profession.  Certainly the stage could not have offered more temptations than did the society in which he afterwards mixed; and perhaps under any circumstances Hook, whose moral education had been neglected, and whose principles were never very good, would have lived a life more or less vicious, though he might not have died as he did.