BROOKS, CHARLES SHIRLEY, novelist and journalist, was the son of Mr. William Brooks, an architect, and was b. at Brill, in Oxfordshire, about the year 1820. B was educated chiefly by the late Rev. T. J. Bennett, canon of St. Paul's; and upon leaving school, was articled to an attorney. Upon serving out his time, he passed milli dis tinction the examination in the law society's hall. Literature, however. had more charms for him than the law, and he had not long been settled in London, before he tried the experiment of living by it as a profession. Ile wrote dramas—Our New Gorern ess; Honors and Tricks; The Creole; The Daughter of the Stars; and he contributed at the same time to some of the leading periodicals and journals. An introduction to the editor of the Morning Chronicle procured him a steady engagement as writer of the pa•lia mentary summary for that journal. He was also sent by the proprietors of the Chron icle on a mission into Russia, Syria, and Egypt, to report on the condition of labor and the poor in those countries; and the results of his observations appeared in a series of letters in that journal. B. was also a contributor to Punch from the commencement of
that periodical. The "Essen' e of Parliament" in Punch is said to have been regularly contributed by him. He alse wrote for it "Miss Violet and her Offers ;" "The /Neg gletons." etc. 13. also contributed political and other articles to the columns of the London News. As a novelist, B. is a graceful and pleasing writer, and there fore deservedly popular. He is author of Aspen Court; 7 he Gordian Knot; The Silver Cord(originally published in Once a Week); and Sooner or Later. B. is likewise author of The Russians of the South. He acquired a reputation as a lecturer. On the death of Mr. Mark Lemon, in 1870, B. became the editor of Punch. Ile died in 1874. A volume' of his liTit and Humor appeared in 1875.