** “The mention of his illustrations to ‘Oliver Twist’ led to some other talk concerning his connection with _Bentley’s Miscellany_, and he expressed his interest when I told him that my first appearances in print were in the pages of that magazine, when I was yet in my ‘teens,’ my various contributions being in verse. But this was after he had ceased to illustrate it, and when the chief etchings for its pages were supplied by John Leech. He told me of his misunderstandings with Mr. Bentley, and he has referred to them, in a paper in his _Omnibus_, as follows: ‘To “Oliver Twist” and “Jack Sheppard” I devoted my best exertions; but, so far from effecting a monopoly of my labours, the publisher in question (Mr. Bentley) has not, for a twelvemonth past, had from me more than a single plate for his monthly _Miscellany_, nor will he ever have more than that single plate per month, nor shall I ever illustrate any other work that he may publish.’ These single plates that he here mentions are the poorest that ever proceeded from his etching-needle, and would appear to have been wilfully and defiantly badly drawn, under the compulsion of an agreement that the artist was bound to carry out. He lived, however, to execute other and better work for Mr. Bentley, notably some additional illustrations to the evergreen ‘Ingoldsby Legends.’ Cruikshank used to place his watch upon the table and run his etching point over his design at the utmost speed. The outline made, he turned the plate over to his brother Robert, who finished it. Sands bit it up, and then it was forwarded to Bentley. The results fell so far short of George Cruikshank working _con amore_, that at last Mr. Bentley was content to set the unmanageable artist free. The secession of Cruikshank from the _Miscellany_ made room for John Leech.”--_Cuthbert Bede_. *** The publisher threatened the artist with an action, and compelled him to withdraw the pamphlet from circulation. On the retirement of Ainsworth from _Bentley’s Miscellany_, business relations were resumed between himself and the artist; and Cruikshank was advertised as illustrator of _Ainsworth’s Magazine_. And at this point Cruikshank passed from his humorous to his more ambitious and higher phase.