Before _Ainsworth’s Magazine_ was published, advertisements were put forth that I, George Cruikshank, was to be the illustrator thereof; and _the Artist and the Author_ then held a consultation as to what tale or romance we were to commence with, and which I was to _illustrate_; and, well knowing the importance of having _an attractive subject for the first number of a work, I then suggested to Mr. Ainsworth my idea of ‘The Miser’s Daughter’_ (the plot of which will be seen in my first letter to _The Times_ upon this subject, and which I had originally intended to have had written by some literary friend, and published it in my ‘Omnibus’). This romance (as I expected), _with my illustrations, did attract_ the public attention, and did to some extent make this magazine a success. There was published in _Ainsworth’s Magazine_, No. 2, March 1842, a woodcut of a drawing made by me, _at Mr. Ainsworth’s suggestion, of the Author and the Artist_, seated ‘in council,’ or conversing together in his library. And surely this looks as if he then considered me something more than a _mere illustrator_ of his magazine. [Then follows a statement of the final break up of the friendly collaboration of these old colleagues, explaining the Artist’s grievances in connection with _Windsor Castle_--also contributed to _Ainsworth’s Magazine_--and the fatal ending of these long associations, when the Author, unaccountably disregarding Cruikshank’s joint interests, elected to sell his magazine to the publishers; this seems to have fairly disgusted the Artist.] Here is his indignant protest:-- So it really appears as if all this gentleman’s promises, like pie-crust, were made to be broken; and as, in this instance, also, there was not any _written agreement_, the _arrangements_ which he had made, and the _engagements_ he had entered into with me, when I agreed to work with him in his magazine, all broke down, and I, as it were, again ‘thrown overboard’ or ‘left in the lurch.’ And thus ended the second edition of this Author’s extraordinary conduct towards the _Artist_. I will not go into the details of how I assisted this _Author_ with head and hand work in these novels, but I did my best to design and suggest. The foregoing statements will, I think, clearly explain why I have never, since that time (written 1872)--now some twenty-eight years back--given any more _original ideas, suggestions, and characters_ for any other tales or romances for Mr. Ainsworth _to write up to_; and also why I have never, from that time, illustrated any of this Author’s writings.