394 JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION, 
in the two counties. And it was through George Wightwick that 
Cook became known to, and appreciated by, the late Countess of 
Morley, who was herself a distinguished amateur artist. 
As one introduction leads to another, so Lady Morley brought 
Cook to the notice of the Duke of Devonshire, who was so pleased 
with what he saw of the artist and his works that he commissioned 
him to make drawings at Lismore Castle, in Ireland, where Cook 
went in February, 1850, and was made much at home for about 
four weeks, the Duke showing him marked attention and kindness 
both on that and after occasions. 
[The lecturer showed a sketch of Cook’s, sent to his wife whilst 
he was at Lismore, and read a letter from Mr. Wightwick to Cook 
whilst the latter was there. ] 
I well remember his bringing these Irish sketches and drawings 
home with him to finish. They were mostly inland and wooded 
subjects, painted with exquisite feeling and refinement, but far 
inferior in artistic quality to what he was about to do with sea- 
coast subjects. 
The Plymouth Theatre was at this time in the hands of Mr. Hay, 
the manager and lessee, and required to be decorated. Col. Smith 
gave Cook many hints, and Cook prepared sketches for the purpose. 
Cook likewise painted for Mr. Hay the scenery for the spectacle of 
« Aladdin,” and also undertook and executed for him a panorama 
of the war in Afghanistan. This panorama was exhibited in Ply- 
mouth and in the chief towns of Cornwall, and in this gigantic 
work Cook showed in a marked way what stuff he had in him. 
Colonel Smith supplied him with sketches for costume, &c. The 
panorama was a great success. Hay travelled with it, and described 
it himself, and had appropriate music played during the exhibition. 
What Cook got paid for this enormous work, or what has become 
of it, I have not been able to trace. 
Mr. Hay subsequently gave Cook a benefit at the Plymouth 
Theatre, when “ As You Like It” was enacted. The house was 
filled, and Cook was well satisfied with his receipts. 
It was about this period of his life that I became well known to 
Samuel Cook; and being myself an amateur dabbler in art, was 
only too well pleased to have made such an acquaintance. I became 
a frequent visitor at his humble home in Westwell Street, in a 
house which no longer exists, but which stood just opposite the 
entrance to St. Andrew’s Hall. It was here that Cook painted his 
