vol. ii. p. 123.

[40] "Annual Register," 1820, p. 986.

[41] See caricatures of Robert Cruikshank, 1820.

[42] "Annual Register," 1820, p. 1149; see also the impartial opinion
of the Duke of Portland, "Greville Memoirs," vol. i. p. 56.

[43] See "Annual Register," 1820, p. 1139 _et seq._

[44] This of course may not be the case. The Duke of Kent, we know,
was dead at the time, and Wood, we believe, was not Lord Mayor. He
had been Lord Mayor some time before, and the satire may possibly
allude to some order made at that time. At the same time, I find the
caricature amongst those assigned (in the large but badly arranged
collection to which I have present access) to this particular period.

[45] "Annual Register," 1820 [190].

[46] There is a custom in the Manor of Torre Devon, that when a
copyhold tenant dies, his widow has her free-bench in his land, but
forfeits her estate on committing the offence with which the queen
was charged; on her coming however into court riding backward on a
black ram, and repeating the formula mentioned in the design, the
steward is bound to reinstate her. Without this explanation the
meaning of this telling satire would not be understood. For the
formula (which cannot be repeated here) I must refer the reader to
Jacob's Law Dictionary, ed. 1756, title, "Free Bench."

[47] "Greville Memoirs," vol. i. p. 27.

[48] _Ibid._, p. 43.

[49] Unlike George Cruikshank, Rowlandson seldom dropped caricature
in his book illustration. When he does so, as in his designs to
"Naples and the Compagna Felice," he shows (as in his water colour
drawings) his wonderful graphic powers. His illustrated books are
rare, and command good prices. William Coombe's English "Dance of
Death" and "Dance of Life" (I refer of course to first editions) can
only now be purchased at L14.

CHAPTER V.

_THE CARICATURES OF ISAAC ROBERT CRUIKSHANK._

THE BROTHERS CRUIKSHANK.

It was the misfortune of the brothers Cruikshank that they outlived
their popularity: in the case of the younger brother, this result (as we
shall presently see) must be attributed in a certain measure to his own
fault; but as regards Robert, his efforts as a caricaturist were
destined to be eclipsed by the greater novelty and attractions of HB,
whilst a tendency to carelessness, and the absence of actual genius,
prevented him fro