MR. CHARLES MATTHEWS.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 648, 21 April 1870, Page 2

MR. CHARLES MATTHEWS.

A great many old stories regarding this great actor are going the round of the papers since his arrival in Australia. Among others are published the following:— " Some years ago, he was called to take the chair at the anniversary dinner of the Royal General Thea"trical fund. Among the routine toasts was that of ' The Army and Navy.' ' With respect to the latter,' remarked the vivacious chairman, 'I think I have a claim to be heard with attention, for I have been in and out of the Fleet all my life.' To the youngsters present this allusion may have been as caviare to the general ; but the oldsters too well remembered the old Fleet Prison, and the days when Charles Matthews was wont to be arrested about twice a week for debt.

The conversations of Charles Matthews with his creditors would form a most delightful volume of ' Table-Talk.' There is a famous story of his calling a meeting of duns, and after stating to them the hopelessly embarrassed nature of his affairs, winding up with, ' Well, gentlemen, what do you propose'?' The positions of debtor and creditor were at once reversed. It was not for Mr Matthews to propose anything. Oh dear no! The onus of proposal lay on the duns. An equally characteristic story is that which a cursed bill discounter, whom wo shall call Ikoy Shobbers, used to relate. ' Mister Matthews,' he would say, ' owed mo a matter of five hundred pounds. lie called upon me, he did; and lie danced mo up and down the house ; and then he took and danced Mrs Shobbers up and down the house; and I'm blest if the end of it wasn't that he danced mo out of another five hundred pounds before he left the house.' Matthews was. always irresistible.

II He is in his sixty-seventh year. He legan life as an architect, and, as a wtege of tho late Lord Blessiugton, ccompanied that munificent noblelan to Italy, where he made a long ad delightful tour, one of his comvagnons de voyage being, we believe, James D'Egville, still a distinguished member of the old Water-color Society. Charles Matthews came back from Italy a proficient in his art, an acjcomplished musican, a perfect French and Italian scholar. His French is [something wonderful, and astonished the Parisians when he played 'Un Anglais Timicle,' (a French translation of Blanchard Jerrold's farce, 'As Cool as a Cucumber,') at one of the Boulevard theatres. On his return to England from the Continent, Charles Matthews, if we do not err, filled for some time the post of surveyor in Bloomsbury ; but 'he would be an actor,' and, as an actor he made his appearance at the Olympic Theatre. Since that period some thirty-five years since—he has almost incessantly been before the public, and has charmed countless thousands, both in England and America, by his geniality and versatility, his urbanity and grace. His fair and talented wife goes with him to share his fortunes; but let it not be forgotten that Charles Matthews has been twice married, and that he was once the husband of the most beaiitiful and fascinating woman of her age —the inimitable Vestris.