We，whocanrecalltheconsulshipofPlancus，andquiterespectable，old—fogyfiedtimes，rememberamongstotheramusementswhichwehadaschildrenthepicturesatwhichwewerepermittedtolook。TherewasBoydell’sShakspeare，blackandghastlygalleryofmurkyOpies，glumNorthcotes，straddlingFuselis！therewereLear，Oberon，Hamlet，withstartingmuscles，rollingeyeballs，andlongpointingquiveringfingers;therewaslittlePrinceArthur（Northcote）
crying，inwhitesatin，andbiddinggoodHubertnotputouthiseyes;therewasHubertcrying;therewaslittleRutlandbeingrunthroughthepoorlittlebodybybloodyClifford;therewasCardinalBeaufort（Reynolds）gnashinghisteeth，andgrinningandhowlingdemoniacallyonhisdeath—bed（apicturefrightfultothepresentday）;therewasLadyHamilton（Romney）wavingatorch，anddancingbeforeablackbackground，——amelancholymuseumindeed。Smirke’sdelightful"SevenAges"onlyfitfullyrelieveditsgeneralgloom。
Wedidnotliketoinspectitunlesstheelderswerepresent，andplentyoflightsandcompanywereintheroom。
CheerfulrelativesusedtotreatustoMissLinwood’s。LetthechildrenofthepresentgenerationthanktheirstarsTHATtragedyisputoutoftheirway。MissLinwood’swasworsted—work。Yourgrandmotherorgrandauntstookyouthereandsaidthepictureswereadmirable。Yousaw"theWoodman"inworsted，withhisaxeanddog，tramplingthroughthesnow;thesnowbittercoldtolookat，thewoodman’spipewonderful:agloomypiece，thatmadeyoushudder。
Therewerelargedingypicturesofwoollenmartyrs，andscowlingwarriorswithlimbsstronglyknitted;therewasespecially，attheendofablackpassage，adenoflions，thatwouldfrightenanyboynotborninAfrica，orExeter’Change，andaccustomedtothem。
AnotherexhibitionusedtobeWest’sGallery，wherethepleasingfiguresofLazarusinhisgrave—clothes，andDeathonthepalehorse，usedtoimpressuschildren。ThetombsofWestminsterAbbey，thevaultsatSt。Paul’s，themeninarmorattheTower，frowningferociouslyoutoftheirhelmets，andwieldingtheirdreadfulswords;thatsuperhumanQueenElizabethattheendoftheroom，alividsovereignwithglasseyes，aruff，andadirtysatinpetticoat，ridingahorsecoveredwithsteel:whodoesnotrememberthesesightsinLondonintheconsulshipofPlancus？andthewax—
workinFleetStreet，notlikethatofMadameTussaud’s，whosechamberofdeathisgayandbrilliant;butaniceoldgloomywax—
work，fullofmurderers;andasachiefattraction，theDeadBabyandthePrincessCharlottelyinginstate？
Ourstory—bookshadnopicturesinthemforthemostpart。Frank（dearoldFrank！）hadnone;northe"Parent’sAssistant;"northe"EveningsatHome;"norourcopyofthe"AmidesEnfans:"therewereafewjustattheendoftheSpelling—Book;besidestheallegoryatthebeginning，ofEducationleadingupYouthtothetempleofIndustry，whereDr。DilworthandProfessorWalkinghamestoodwithcrownsoflaurel。Therewere，wesay，justafewpicturesattheendoftheSpelling—Book，littleovalgraywoodcutsofBewick’s，mostlyoftheWolfandtheLamb，theDogandtheShadow，andBrown，Jones，andRobinsonwithlongringletsandlittletights;butforpictures，sotospeak，whathadwe？Therougholdwood—blocksintheoldharlequin—backedfairy—bookshadservedhundredsofyears;
beforeOURPlancus，inthetimeofPriscusPlancus——inQueenAnne’stime，whoknows？Wewerefloggedatschool;wewerefiftyboysinourboarding—house，andhadtowashinaleadentrough，underacistern，withlumpsoffatyellowsoapfloatingaboutintheiceandwater。AreOURsonseverflogged？Havetheynotdressing—rooms，hair—oil，hip—baths，andBadentowels？Andwhatpicture—bookstheyoungvillainshave！Whathavethesechildrendonethattheyshouldbesomuchhappierthanwewere？
Wehadthe"ArabianNights"andWalterScott，tobesure。Smirke’sillustrationstotheformerareveryfine。Wedidnotknowhowgoodtheywerethen;butwedoubtwhetherwedidnotpreferthelittleold"MiniatureLibraryNights"withfrontispiecesbyUwins;forTHESEbooksthepicturesdon’tcount。EveryboyofimaginationdoeshisownpicturestoScottandthe"ArabianNights"best。
Offunnypicturestherewerenoneespeciallyintendedforuschildren。TherewasRowlandson’s"DoctorSyntax":DoctorSyntaxinafuzz—wig，onahorsewithlegslikesausages，ridingraces，makinglove，frolickingwithrosyexuberantdamsels。Thosepictureswereveryfunny，andthataquatintingandthegay—coloredplatesverypleasanttowitness;butifwecouldnotreadthepoeminthosedays，couldwedigestitinthis？Nevertheless，apartfromthetextwhichwecouldnotmaster，werememberDoctorSyntaxpleasantly，likethosecheerfulpaintedhieroglyphicsintheNinevehCourtatSydenham。Whatmatterforthearrow—head，illegiblestuff？giveustheplacidgrinningkings，twangingtheirjollybowsovertheirridenthorses，woundingthosegood—humoredenemies，whotumblegaylyoffthetowers，ordrown，smiling，inthedimplingwaters，amidsttheanerithmongelasmaofthefish。
AfterDoctorSyntax，theapparitionofCorinthianTom，JerryHawthorn，andthefacetiousBobLogicmustberecorded——awondroushistoryindeedtheirswas！Whenthefuturestudentofourmannerscomestolookoverthepicturesandthewritingofthesequeervolumes，whatwillhethinkofoursociety，customs，andlanguageintheconsulshipofPlancus？"Corinthian，"itappears，wasthephraseappliedtomenoffashionandtoninPlancus’stime:theywerethebrilliantpredecessorsofthe"swell"ofthepresentperiod——
brilliant，butsomewhatbarbarous，itmustbeconfessed。TheCorinthianswereinthehabitofdrinkingagreatdealtoomuchinTomCribb’sparlor:theyusedtogoandsee"life"inthegin—shops;
ofnights，walkinghome（aswellastheycould），theyusedtoknockdown"Charleys，"poorharmlessoldwatchmenwithlanterns，guardiansofthestreetsofRome，PlancoConsule。Theyperpetratedavastdealofboxing;theyputonthe"mufflers"inJackson’srooms;they"sportedtheirprads"intheRinginthePark;theyattendedcock—
fights，andwereenlightenedpatronsofdogsanddestroyersofrats。
Besidesthesesports，thedelassemensofgentlemenmixingwiththepeople，ourpatricians，ofcourse，occasionallyenjoyedthesocietyoftheirownclass。WhatawonderfulpicturethatusedtobeofCorinthianTomdancingwithCorinthianKateatAlmack’s！WhataprodigiousdressKatewore！WithwhatgracefulABANDONthepairflungtheirarmsaboutastheysweptthroughthemazyquadrille，withallthenoblemenstandingroundintheirstarsanduniforms！
Youmaystill，doubtless，seethepicturesattheBritishMuseum，orfindthevolumesinthecornerofsomeoldcountry—houselibrary。
YouareledtosupposethattheEnglisharistocracyof1820DID
danceandcaperinthatway，andboxanddrinkatTomCribb’s，andknockdownwatchmen;andthechildrenofto—day，turningtotheirelders，maysay"Grandmamma，didyouwearsuchadressasthat，whenyoudancedatAlmack’s？Therewasverylittleofit，grandmamma。
Didgrandpapakillmanywatchmenwhenhewasayoungman，andfrequentthieves’gin—shops，cock—fights，andthering，beforeyoumarriedhim？Didheusetotalktheextraordinaryslangandjargonwhichisprintedinthisbook？Heisverymuchchanged。Heseemsagentlemanlyoldboyenoughnow。"
Intheabove—namedconsulate，whenWEhadgrandfathersalive，therewouldbeintheoldgentleman’slibraryinthecountrytwoorthreeoldmottledportfolios，orgreatswollenscrap—booksofbluepaper，fullofthecomicprintsofgrandpapa’stime，erePlancuseverhadthefascesbornebeforehim。TheseprintsweresignedGilray，Bunbury，Rowlandson，Woodward，andsomeactuallyGeorgeCruikshank——
forGeorgeisaveterannow，andhetooktheetchingneedleinhandasachild。Hecaricatured"Boney，"borrowingnotalittlefromGilrayinhisfirstpuerileefforts。HedrewLouisXVIII。tryingonBoney’sboots。BeforethecenturywasactuallyinitsteenswebelievethatGeorgeCruikshankwasamusingthepublic。
Inthosegreatcoloredprintsinourgrandfathers’portfoliosinthelibrary，andinsomeotherapartmentsofthehouse，wherethecaricaturesusedtobepastedinthosedays，wefoundthingsquitebeyondourcomprehension。Boneywasrepresentedasafiercedwarf，withgoggleeyes，ahugelacedhatandtricoloredplume，acrookedsabre，reekingwithblood:alittledemonrevellinginlust，murder，massacre。JohnBullwasshownkickinghimagooddeal:indeedhewasprodigiouslykickedallthroughthatseriesofpictures;bySidneySmithandourbravealliesthegallantTurks;bytheexcellentandpatrioticSpaniards;bytheamiableandindignantRussians，——allnationshadbootsattheserviceofpoorMasterBoney。HowPittusedtodefyhim！HowgoodoldGeorge，KingofBrobdingnag，laughedatGulliver—Boney，sailingaboutinhistanktomakesportfortheirMajesties！Thislittlefiend，thisbeggar’sbrat，cowardly，murderous，andatheisticashewas（weremember，inthoseoldportfolios，picturesrepresentingBoneyandhisfamilyinrags，gnawingrawbonesinaCorsicanhut;BoneymurderingthesickatJaffa;Boneywithahookahandalargeturban，havingadoptedtheTurkishreligion，&c。）——thisCorsicanmonster，nevertheless，hadsomedevotedfriendsinEngland，accordingtotheGilraychronicle，——
asetofvillainswholovedatheism，tyranny，plunder，andwickednessingeneral，liketheirFrenchfriend。Inthepicturesthesemenwereallrepresentedasdwarfs，liketheirally。Themiscreantsgotintopoweratonetime，and，ifwerememberright，werecalledtheBroad—backedAdministration。Onewithshaggyeyebrowsandabristlybeard，thehirsuteringleaderoftherascals，was，itappears，calledCharlesJamesFox;anothermiscreant，withablotchedcountenance，wasacertainSheridan;otherimpswerehightErskine，Norfolk（Jockeyof），Moira，HenryPetty。Asinourchildish，innocenceweusedtolookatthesedemons，nowsprawlingandtipsyintheircups;nowscalingheaven，fromwhichtheangelicPitthurledthemdown;nowcursingthelight（theiratrociousringleaderFoxwasrepresentedwithhairyclovenfeet，andatailandhorns）;nowkissingBoney’sboot，butinevitablydiscomfitedbyPittandtheothergoodangels:wehatedtheseviciouswretches，asgoodchildrenshould;wewereonthesideofVirtueandPittandGrandpapa。Butifoursisterswantedtolookattheportfolios，thegoodoldgrandfatherusedtohesitate。Thereweresomeprintsamongthemveryoddindeed;somethatgirlscouldnotunderstand;somethatboys，indeed，hadbestnotsee。Weswiftlyturnoverthoseprohibitedpages。Howmanyofthemtherewereinthewild，coarse，reckless，ribald，generousbookofoldEnglishhumor！
Howsavagethesatirewas——howfiercetheassault——whatgarbagehurledatopponents——whatfoulblowswerehit——whatlanguageofBillingsgateflung！Fancyapartyinacountry—housenowlookingoverWoodward’sfacetiaeorsomeoftheGilraycomicalities，ortheslatternlySaturnaliaofRowlandson！Whilstwelivewemustlaugh，andhavefolkstomakeuslaugh。WecannotaffordtoloseSatyrwithhispipeanddancesandgambols。Butwehavewashed，combed，clothed，andtaughttheroguegoodmanners:orrather，letussay，hehaslearnedthemhimself;forheisofnaturesoftandkindly，andhehasputasidehismadpranksandtipsyhabits;and，frolicsomealways，hasbecomegentleandharmless，smittenintoshamebyhepurepresenceofourwomenandthesweetconfidingsmilesofourchildren。Amongtheveterans，theoldpictorialsatirists，wehavementionedthefamousnameofonehumorousdesignerwhoisstillaliveandatwork。Didwenotsee，byhisownhand，hisownportraitofhisownfamousface，andwhiskers，intheIllustratedLondonNewstheotherday？TherewasaprintinthatpaperofanassemblageofTeetotalersin"Sadler’sWellsTheatre，"
andwestraightwayrecognizedtheoldRomanhand——theoldRoman’softhetimeofPlancus——GeorgeCruikshank’s。Thereweretheoldbonnetsanddrollfacesandshoes，andshorttrousers，andfiguresof1820sureenough。AndtherewasGeorge（whohastakentothewater—doctrine，asalltheworldknows）handingsometeetotalcressesoveraplanktothetablewherethepledgewasbeingadministered。HowoftenhasGeorgedrawnthatpictureofCruikshank！Wherehaven’tweseenit？Howfineitwas，facingtheeffigyofMr。AinsworthinAinsworth’sMagazinewhenGeorgeillustratedthatperiodical！HowgrandandseverehestandsinthatdesigninG。C。’s"Omnibus，"whereherepresentshimselftongedlikeSt。Dunstan，andtweakingawretchofapublisherbythenose！ThecollectorsofGeorge’setchings——ohthecharmingetchings！——ohthedearold"GermanPopularTales！"——thecapital"PointsofHumor"——thedelightful"Phrenology"and"Scrap—books，"ofthegoodtime，OUR
time——Plancus’sinfact！——thecollectorsoftheGeorgianetchings，wesay，haveatleastahundredpicturesoftheartist。Why，werememberhiminhisfavoriteHessianbootsin"TomandJerry"
itself;andinwoodcutsasfarbackastheQueen’strial。Hehasratherdesertedsatireandcomedyoflateyears，havingturnedhisattentiontotheserious，andwarlike，andsublime。Havingconfessedourageandprejudices，wepreferthecomicandfancifultothehistoric，romantic，andatpresentdidacticGeorge。Mayrespect，andlengthofdays，andcomfortablereposeattendthebrave，honest，kindly，pure—mindedartist，humorist，moralist！ItwashefirstwhobroughtEnglishpictorialhumorandchildrenacquainted。Ouryoungpeopleandtheirfathersandmothersowehimmanyapleasanthourandharmlesslaugh。Istherenowayinwhichthecountrycouldacknowledgethelongservicesandbravecareerofsuchafriendandbenefactor？
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