61 
A sketch of his romantic elopement with and marriage to the 
brilliant Miss Linley, with his subsequent perilous duelling 
adventures, was given ; reference being made to his writings, 
and particularly to those of his plays illustrating society and 
life at Bath. Passing reference was made to Quin, the actor ; 
and the story told of Sir Henry Irving’s exposure to cold, 
resulting in his death, during the unveiling of a tablet to 
Quin — a picture of the ceremony being thrown on the screen. 
Lord Chesterfield, who afterwards resided in the same house 
as Quin, and who there wrote some of the famous “ Letters,” 
was touched on, and reference made to Horace Walpole and 
his writings, especially to one of his letters describing a visit 
to the Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapel, to hear 11 Wesley’s 
Opera,” as he called it. Fanny Burney, Beckford, the poet 
Crabbe, and others, were then noticed, with Bishop Butler, 
the author of the “ Analogy,” who died at Bath. Next 
came Walter Savage Landor, whose friendship for Charles 
Dickens led up to the introduction of the latter to the audience. 
Reference was made to Dickens’ earlier visits to Bath, when 
he stayed at the “ Saracen’s Head ” ; his stay with Landor — 
at which time he conceived the idea of the character of “ Little 
Nell ; ” and to his utilisation of Bath in “ Pickwick.” After 
showing his indebtedness to the neighbourhood for the 
names “ Pickwick,” “ Snodgrass,” etc., views illustrating 
various portions of “ Pickwick ” were shown, including 
the house of “ Angelo Cyrus Bantam, Esq.,” and the room 
in which the ever-memorable “ swarry ” was held. 
The lecture was copiously illustrated by lantern slides, 
showing portraits of the writers referred to, their residences, 
etc. 
•°o 
