To 1864 belongs formally _The Cornhill Gallery_, a hundred impressions from the original blocks of pictures. Among the early volumes issued for Christmas 1865, this is, perhaps, the most important book, but, as its contents are fully noticed elsewhere, no more need be said here. It is amusing to read that a critic disliked 'Mr. Leighton's unpleasant subjects'--the Romola designs! Dalziels' _Illustrated Goldsmith_ (Ward and Lock, 1865), may be considered, upon the whole, the masterpiece of G. J. Pinwell, who designed the hundred illustrations which seemed then to be accepted as the only orthodox number for a book. How charming some of these are every student of the period knows. Pinwell, as certain original drawings that remain prove only too clearly, suffered terribly at the engraver's hands, and, beautiful as many of the designs are, one cannot avoid regret that they were not treated more tenderly. It is quite possible that bold work was needed for the serial issue in large numbers, and that the engravers simplified the drawings of set purpose; but the delicacy and grace of the originals are ill-replaced by the coarser modelling of the faces and the quality of the 'line' throughout. This year saw also _Home Thoughts and Home Scenes_, a book with thirty-five drawings of children, by A. Boyd Houghton (Routledge, 1865); which was afterwards reprinted as _Happy Day Stories_. This book is absolutely essential to any representative collection of the period, but nevertheless its designs can hardly be regarded as among the artist's most masterly works. Warne's edition of _The Arabian Nights_ (1866), with sixteen drawings, eight by A. Boyd Houghton, must not be confused with the other edition to which he contributed quite distinct subjects. This, and _Don Quixote_ (Warne) appear in the Christmas lists for 1865. The great Spanish novel hardly seems to have sustained the artist to his finest achievements throughout. It contains 100 most interesting designs; some that reveal his full accomplishment. At the same time it fails to astound you, as the _Arabian Nights_ have a knack of doing again and again, whenever you turn over their pages. [Illustration: G. J. PINWELL DALZIELS' 'ILLUSTRATED GOLDSMITH,' p. 155 WHAT, BILL! YOU CHUBBY ROGUE] [Illustration: FREDERICK WALKER 'A ROUND OF DAYS' AUTUMN]