Amid contemporary notices you often find the work of M. J. Lawless placed on the same level as that of Millais or Sandys; but, while few of the men of the period have less deservedly dropped out of notice, one feels that to repeat such an estimate were to do an injustice to a very charming draughtsman. For the sake of his future reputation it is wiser not to attempt to rank him with the greatest; but in the second order he may be fitly placed. For fancy and feeling, no less than for his loyal adherence to the Dürer line, at a time it found little favour, Lawless deserves to be more studied by the younger artists of to-day. A great number of decorative designers are too fond of repeating certain mannerisms, and among others, Lawless in England and Howard Pyle in America, two men inspired by similar purpose, should receive more attention than they have done. _Once a Week_ contains the largest number of his drawings. In vol. i., to _Sentiment from the Shambles_, there are three illustrations attributed to him. Those on pp. 505 and 509 are undoubtedly by Lawless, but that on p. 507 is so unlike his method, and indeed so unimportant, that it matters not whether the index be true or in error. [Illustration: M. J. LAWLESS 'ONCE A WEEK' VOL. IV. p. 407 EFFIE GORDON] [Illustration: M. J. LAWLESS 'ONCE A WEEK' VOL. VI. p. 14 DR. JOHNSON'S PENANCE] [Illustration: M. J. LAWLESS 'ONCE A WEEK' VOL. X. p. 71 JOHN OF PADUA] In vol. ii. are ten examples, two on the same page to _The Bridal of Galtrim_ (p. 88), _The Lay of the Lady and the Hound_ (p. 164), a very pre-Raphaelite composition, _Florinda_ (p. 220), (more influenced by the later Millais), _Only for something to say_ (p. 352), a study of fashionable society, which (as Mr. Walter Crane's attempts show) does not lend itself to the convention of the thick line, _The Head Master's Sister_ (pp. 386, 389, 393), _The Secret_ (p. 430), and _A Legend of Swaffham_ (p. 549). In vol. iii. _Oysters and Pearls_ (p. 79) is attributed to Lawless, but one hopes wrongly; _The Betrayed_ (p. 155), Elfie Meadows (p. 304), _The Minstrel's Curse_ (p. 351), _The Two Beauties_ (unsigned and not quite obviously a Lawless) (p. 462), and _My Angel's Visit_ (p. 658) are the titles of the rest. In the fourth volume there are: _The Death of OEnone_ (pp. 14, 15), _Valentine's Day_ (p. 208), _Effie Gordon_ (pp. 406, 407), and _The Cavalier's Escape_ (687), all much more typical. In vol. v. we find _High Elms_ (p. 420), _Twilight_ (p. 532), _King Dyring_ (p. 575), and _Fleurette_ (p. 700). In the sixth volume there are only three: _Dr. Johnson's Penance_ (one of the best drawings of the author), (p. 14), _What befel me at the Assizes_ (p. 194), and _The Dead Bride_ (p. 462). In the seventh volume there is one only to a story by A. C. Swinburne, _Dead Love_ (p. 434). Despite the name of Jacques d'Aspremont on the coffin, the picture is used to a poem with quite a different theme, _The White