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had to abandon wood-engraving, and went to Dundee for a more 
bracing climate; he stayed there for two years, being engaged in 
mercantile occupations, but also keeping up his literary work. In 
1820 he returned to London, and was associated as sub-editor 
with Reynolds in the London Magazine. Here he made the 
acquaintance of many of the chief literary men of the day, among 
whom were included Charles Lamb, the poet Cunningham, 
Hazlitt, Talfourd, Barry Cornwall, Cary the translator of Dante, 
and Dr. Bowring. On May 5, 1824, he married Miss Reynolds, 
the daughter of the publisher. His first important efforts in the 
literary world were but ill received. The ‘‘ National Tales” hung 
fire; he tried to be too serious; the ‘‘ Plea for the Midsummer 
Night’s Fairies” was a failure ; he bought up the copies himself; 
in 1826 he brought out ‘“‘ Whims and Oddities,’ which proved a 
great success. Then the next year came a severe illness, and 
he was forced to move to the southern coast, choosing Brighton 
as his domicile; one or two anecdotes of his irrepressible fun in 
the midst of suffering were here narrated, his wife being in more 
than one instance the butt of his jokes. Returning from 
Brighton, he resumed his literary work, and the reader here gave 
the poem of ‘‘ Eugene Aram.’’ About the same time appeared 
the first volume of the ‘‘Comic Annual,’ and by these two 
publications the author attracted the notice of the Duke of 
Devonshire, who was then finishing the library at Chatsworth ; 
Hood supplied his patron with comic titles for imaginary books. 
Fortune at this point turned against Hood, and he lost all his 
savings, and more besides, by entrusting his money to his 
publisher. Like Sir Walter Scott, uhder very similar circum- 
stances, he made up his mind to do his utmost to clear off the 
heavy liabilities, and the first step towards the economy required 
was to try a residence abroad. Mr. Steinthal here called 
attention to Hood’s ‘ Journey up the Rhine,” which is a most 
amusing and delightful book, and told some good anecdotes of 
his life in Coblenz and in other places in Germany. Then Hood 
went to reside at Ostend about 1836 or 1837, and the story of 
“Miss Kilmansegg and her golden leg” was read at this 
point. From Ostend he returned to England and became 
connected with Punch, which was started just about that 
time, and in that paper first appeared the ‘Song of the Shirt.” 
On May 3, 1845, he died, and the inséription on his grave, 
‘‘He sang the song of the shirt,’ conimemorates one of his 
latest and most effective poetic efforts. Shortly before he died, 
he received an intimation from Sir R. Peel that a pension had 
been awarded to his wife from the fund at the disposal of the 
Government. Mr. Steinthal concluded by referring to some of 
his letters which have been preserved, illustrating his love of 
children, and the pains he took to make his letters to the 
