51 Upper Lewes Road, Brighton, _October 8th_, 1885. My dear Mr. Grossmith,--Yours to hand. Many thanks for the kind epistle respecting my birthday and health. I should like to have seen you. Pray give me a call next time you visit Brighton. God bless my dear, kind, good old friend, John L. Toole. Excuse my being brief. Shakespeare says, "Let those who play your clowns, speak no more than is put down for them." So I remain, Very faithfully yours, TOM MATTHEWS. Eighty years of age October 17th, 1885. Excuse all mistakes, my sight is bad. He does not show it in his letter; for he had sketched, in coloured crayons, a tiny representation of himself in the motley--head and shoulders. Sir Rivers Wilson, Eric Lewis, Lord Garmoyle (now Earl Cairns), Frank Miles, Herman Merivale, Kyrle Bellew, Jules Lasserre, Brandon Thomas, Alfred German Reed, Lady Fanny Fitzwygram, Mrs. Arthur Stirling, Alice Barnett (Lady Jane in _Patience_), Leonora Braham, Jessie Bond, Jenny Lee (Jo), Carlotta Addison, Alfred Scott Gatty, Countess of Londesborough (asking me to sit with his lordship and "cheer him up" at the time of his dreadful accident), Lady Dorothy Nevill. Everybody knows that Lady Dorothy Nevill gives very charming luncheon parties, their chief characteristic being the odd assortment of celebrities. On one of these occasions the announcement of the guests, who, somehow or other, arrived in strange couples, was especially amusing. The servant threw open the drawing-room doors, and announced "Lord Pembroke and Mr. George Grossmith." As I am only five-feet-five in height and comic in appearance, and his lordship is six-feet-six and rather serious, it is not to be wondered at that those already assembled indulged in a titter. The next announcement by the servant was "The Earl of Wharnecliffe and Mr. Justin McCarthy." For political reasons alone, this was amusing. Then came "The Duke of Wellington and Mr. Corney Grain." I do not know why, but this sounded very funny. It is only fair to Lady Dorothy to state that these are not "surprise" parties. Her guests are always informed whom they are to meet. The following letter is _apropos_ of my _debut_ at the Opera Comique: The Green Room, 10 Adelphi Terrace, W.C., _December 10th_, 1877. Dear George,--Let me congratulate you very heartily on your success. I read with very great pleasure the good notices about you. I shall hope to _hear_ you soon; because when at "The Globe" I shall cut a hole in the wall, and hope to listen to the charming music whilst I'm going through my own performance. With kind regards to your wife and self, and all good wishes for your continued success in your new arena, I am, Yours sincerely, J. L. TOOLE.