Our first introduction to Jean Ingelow was through Mr. Niles, of Roberts Brothers, Boston, U.S., who wanted some illustrations done for her poems. Some six or eight page drawings were made by J. W. North, and the success of that venture induced us to make terms with her for the elaborately illustrated edition of "Jean Ingelow's Poems," for which we retained the English rights, and which we produced and placed in the hands of Messrs. Longman, her English publishers. The pictures were by various artists—Pinwell is at his very best in "The High Tide," "Winstanly," and many others; so is J. W. North, who gave us numerous examples in his most refined manner. Wolf, Small, and Houghton are all there in good form. There is one fine example of Sir E. J. Poynter, P.R.A., of "Euphrosyne," and there are a number of our own drawings of which it is needless to particularize.

It was in our connection with Good Words that we first came in contact with Robert Buchanan, who was at that time coming right to the front as a popular poet. At our invitation he was induced to write and procure verses to the set of pictures by Fred Walker and others, which were published as "Wayside Posies," and for which he gave us much beautiful work. After this we made arrangements with him to produce an illustrated book, to be called "North Coast and Other Poems," which afforded plenty of scope for pictures of varied kinds. Commencing with "Meg Blane," a strong dramatic story of the sea is fully illustrated by A. B. Houghton and Thomas Dalziel. "An English Eclogue" has a fine example of G. J. Pinwell; the same may be said of "The Battle of Drumlie Moor," and of the illustrations to "The Ballad Maker" and "Sigurd of Saxony." Houghton's pictures to "The Northern Warning" and to "The Saint's Story" are all powerful works. There are also two very fine drawings by William Small from the truly pathetic story of "The Exiles of Glen Oona."

"Ballad Stories of the Affections" was always a favourite book with us—the fine old ballads giving such an opportunity for pictures of an imaginative, poetic character. Two of Pinwell's—"Maid Mettelil" and "Young Axelvold"—are of exceeding beauty. Of A. B. Houghton's those for "Signelil, the Serving Maiden," and that for "The Two Sisters" are amongst his best. J. D. Watson has some good pictures, and those by J. Lawson illustrating "Aage and Elsie" are strong dramatic work. As to our own drawings, which are numerous, we will only say that we loved the subjects, and had much pleasure in making the drawings.

Among the many truly gifted young artists who came under our notice at this period was J. M. Lawless. His drawings were of such a refined and accomplished character that he at once took a place amongst the distinguished men of the time. He exhibited some few pictures at the Royal Academy which brought him prominently before the public; one of these, "A Midnight Mass," another, "A Sick Call"—a poor woman has been to fetch a priest, who, with his acolytes, is being rowed across a river; the woman's deep grief, and the solemnity of the entire scene, gives a touch of pathos to the group, and suggests it being a case in extremis. From "A Man at the Spinet," which we give, he painted a sweet water colour. Lawless was regarded as a "coming man," but, alas! like others of that "golden period" of Illustrative Art he passed away at quite an early age.