MATHEWS'S COMIC ANNUAL.
THE manner of telling a droll story, of describing an odd incident, and depicting a humorous character, constitutes more than half the fun. MATHEWS, therefore, is sure to amuse ; for whatever his matter may be, his manner is always effective. Nevertheless, his success in entertaining his audience must depend, in some degree, upon the wit and originality of his author. Not all his piquancy and vivacity can sufficiently enliven a dull subject. MATHEWS, in bringing out his budget of fun this year, has to contend against some little amount of dead-weight, and the patience of his audience was too much taxed on the first night; but prompt retrenchment will remove the slight pressure, and give due effect to his ways and means of affording them amusement. The introduction of this his fourteenth annual " At Home," is felicitously couched in Parliamentary phrase ; and being very neat and pointed, told effectively. Every sentence elicited a burst of laughter; although, as he observed, he could now boast of having transported hundreds for fourteen years. The veteran Re- corder of the follies of the days looks as hale and hearty as ever. _His vigour and animal spirits seem unabated. His style, always finished, has become thoroughly mellowed by time and experience. Though he limps in his gait, he does not come halting off: and if this were the last entertainment—as we devoutly hope it is not— it would by no means be a lame and impotent conclusion. The curve of his leg, and the " downward drag austere " of his mouth, are merely idiosyncracies. If his voice be less flexible, or have lost an upper note or so, its lower tones are still good, for he retains his ventriloquial powers. MATHEWS, though sometimes at a disadvantage in not being his own author, makes up for it by being his own artist. His portraits, be they heads, kit-cats, or full-lengths, be they sketches or finished pictures, are done-to the life: they are literally speak- ing likenesses. In this entertainment, he hits off the manner and imitates the voice and brogue of Ireland's great Agi- tator, so vividly as to bring him in idea before you ; his physi- ognomy even partakes of the resemblance. Perhaps the action is too much caricatured, and the matter is too absurd. MATHEWS'S .portraits of real persons are like H. B:s sketches; his fancy por- traits are more in the spirit of GEORGE, CRUIKSHANIeS caricature etchings. We wish he would introduce more individual resem- blances, and give us living portraits of celebrated persons. His manner is so gentlemanly, that even the parties themselves, if men of sense, would not take offence, any more than public men who are caricatured by H. B., whose delineation of an individual indeed, is regarded as an enviable distinction by some, and is smiled at by all. We beg to suggest to our dramatic limner,.to give us a series of am-
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