With reference to the private theatricals (or "plays," as Andersen calls them, including _The Frozen Deep_, by Wilkie Collins, in which Dickens, the author, Mark Lemon, and others performed, and for which in the matter of the scenery "the priceless help of Stanfield had again been secured"), on a temporary difficulty arising as to the arrangements, Dickens applied to Mr. Cooke of Astley's, "who drove up in an open phaeton drawn by two white ponies with black spots all over them (evidently stencilled), who came in at the gate with a little jolt and a rattle exactly as they come into the ring when they draw anything, and went round and round the centre bed (lilacs and evergreens) of the front court, apparently looking for the clown. A multitude of boys, who felt them to be no common ponies, rushed up in a breathless state--twined themselves like ivy about the railings, and were only deterred from storming the enclosure by the Inimitable's eye." Mr. Cooke was not, however, able to render any assistance. Mrs. Arthur Ryland of The Linthurst, near Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, who was present at Tavistock House on the occasion of the performance of _The Frozen Deep_, informs me that when Dickens returned to the drawing-room after the play was over, the constrained expression of face which he had assumed in presenting the character of Richard Wardour remained for some time afterwards, so strongly did he seem to realize the presentment. The other plays performed were _Tom Thumb_, 1854, and _The Lighthouse_ and _Fortunus_, 1855. The following copy of a play-bill--in my collection--of one of these performances is certainly worth preserving in a permanent form, for the double reason that it is extremely rare, and contains one of Dickens's few poetical contributions, _The Song of the Wreck_, which was written specially for the occasion. The smallest Theatre in the World! TAVISTOCK HOUSE. _Lessee and Manager_ -- -- -- MR. CRUMMLES. On Tuesday evening, June 19th, 1855, will be presented, at exactly eight o'clock, An entirely New and Original Domestic Melo-drama, in Two Acts, by Mr. Wilkie Collins, now first performed, called THE LIGHTHOUSE. The Scenery painted by Mr. Stanfield, R.A. Aaron Gurnock, the head Light-keeper MR. CRUMMLES. Martin Gurnock, his son; the second Light-keeper MR. WILKIE COLLINS. Jacob Dale, the third Light-keeper MR. MARK LEMON. Samuel Furley, a Pilot MR. AUGUSTUS EGG, A.R.A. The Relief of Light-keepers, by MR. CHARLES DICKENS, JUNIOR, MR. EDWARD HOGARTH, MR. ALFRED AINGER, and MR. WILLIAM WEBSTER. The Shipwrecked Lady MISS HOGARTH.