“I now feel it necessary to inform the public that the usual or ordinary way of producing illustrated novels or romances is, for an author either to write out, from his own ideas, the whole of the tale, or in parts; the manuscript or letterpress of which is then handed to an artist to read and select subjects from for his illustrations, or sometimes for the author to suggest to the artist such subjects, scenes, or parts, as he might wish to be illustrated. And I, being known generally only as an artist, or illustrator, it would therefore very naturally be supposed that, in all cases, I have merely worked out other men’s ideas. But, if I have the opportunity, I shall be able to show that other men have sometimes worked out my ideas--but this will be for another occasion. And I will now explain that ‘Oliver Twist,’ ‘The Tower of London,’ ‘The Miser’s Daughter,’ etc., were produced in an entirely different manner from what would be considered as the usual course; for _I_, _the artist, suggested to the authors of these works the original idea, or subject_, for them to write out--furnishing, at the same time, the _principal characters and the scenes_. And then, as the tale had to be produced in monthly parts, the _writer, or author_, and the artist, had every month to arrange and settle what scenes, or subjects, and characters were to be introduced; and the author had to _weave_ in such scenes as I wished to represent, and sometimes I had to work out his suggestions. “And as to Mr. W. Harrison Ainsworth’s ‘singular delusion’ of an artist claiming to be the originator of works which he had merely illustrated, no more absurd or contemptible and rubbishing nonsense could ever be conceived; for no artist could possibly be in his right mind who would make such a claim, and it becomes a serious question as to whether any one who brings forth such nonsense can be in _his_ right mind; and if this author has really lost his memory, and as an invalid is suffering under ‘_singular delusions_,’ he has my pity and commiseration.