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any given objecta beautiful Irish physiognomy being moulded upon a
keg of whiskey； and a jolly English countenance frothing out of a
pot of ale （the spirit of brave Toby Philpot come back to reanimate
his clay）； while in a fungus may be recognized the physiognomy of a
mushroom peer。 Finally； if he is at a loss； he can make a living
head； body； and legs out of steel or tortoise…shell； as in the case
of the vivacious pair of spectacles that are jockeying the nose of
Caddy Cuddle。
Of late years Mr。 Cruikshank has busied himself very much with steel
engraving； and the consequences of that lucky invention have been；
that his plates are now sold by thousands； where they could only be
produced by hundreds before。 He has made many a bookseller's and
author's fortune （we trust that in so doing he may not have
neglected his own）。 Twelve admirable plates； furnished yearly to
that facetious little publication； the Comic Almanac； have gained
for it a sale； as we hear； of nearly twenty thousand copies。 The
idea of the work was novel； there was； in the first number
especially； a great deal of comic power； and Cruikshank's designs
were so admirable that the Almanac at once became a vast favorite
with the public； and has so remained ever since。
Besides the twelve plates； this almanac contains a prophetic
woodcut； accompanying an awful Blarneyhum Astrologicum that appears
in this and other almanacs。 There is one that hints in pretty clear
terms that with the Reform of Municipal Corporations the ruin of the
great Lord Mayor of London is at hand。 His lordship is meekly going
to dine at an eightpenny ordinary； his giants in pawn； his men in
armor dwindled to 〃one poor knight；〃 his carriage to be sold； his
stalwart aldermen vanished； his sheriffs； alas！ and alas！ in gaol！
Another design shows that Rigdum； if a true； is also a moral and
instructive prophet。 John Bull is asleep； or rather in a vision；
the cunning demon； Speculation； blowing a thousand bright bubbles
about him。 Meanwhile the rooks are busy at his fob； a knave has cut
a cruel hole in his pocket； a rattlesnake has coiled safe round his
feet； and will in a trice swallow Bull； chair； money and all； the
rats are at his corn…bags （as if； poor devil； he had corn to spare）；
his faithful dog is bolting his leg…of…muttonnay； a thief has
gotten hold of his very candle； and there； by way of moral； is his
ale…pot； which looks and winks in his face； and seems to say； O
Bull； all this is froth； and a cruel satirical picture of a certain
rustic who had a goose that laid certain golden eggs； which goose
the rustic slew in expectation of finding all the eggs at once。
This is goose and sage too； to borrow the pun of 〃learned Doctor
Gill；〃 but we shrewdly suspect that Mr。 Cruikshank is becoming a
little conservative in his notions。
We love these pictures so that it is hard to part us； and we still
fondly endeavor to hold on； but this wild word； farewell； must be
spoken by the best friends at last； and so good…by； brave woodcuts：
we feel quite a sadness in coming to the last of our collection。
In the earlier numbers of the Comic Almanac all the manners and
customs of Londoners that would afford food for fun were noted down；
and if during the last two years the mysterious personage who； under
the title of 〃Rigdum Funnidos；〃 compiles this ephemeris； has been
compelled to resort to romantic tales； we must suppose that he did
so because the great metropolis was exhausted； and it was necessary
to discover new worlds in the cloud…land of fancy。 The character of
Mr。 Stubbs； who made his appearance in the Almanac for 1839； had； we
think； great merit； although his adventures were somewhat of too
tragical a description to provoke pure laughter。
We should be glad to devote a few pages to the 〃Illustratons of
Time；〃 the 〃Scraps and Sketches；〃 and the 〃Illustrations of
Phrenology；〃 which are among the most famous of our artist's
publications； but it is very difficult to find new terms of praise；
as find them one must； when reviewing Mr。 Cruikshank's publications；
and more difficult still （as the reader of this notice will no doubt
have perceived for himself long since） to translate his design into
words； and go to the printer's box for a description of all that fun
and humor which the artist can produce by a few skilful turns of his
needle。 A famous article upon the 〃Illustrations of Time〃 appeared
some dozen years since in Blackwood's Magazine； of which the
conductors have always been great admirers of our artist； as became
men of honor and genius。 To these grand qualities do not let it be
supposed that we are laying claim； but； thank heaven； Cruikshank's
humor is so good and benevolent that any man must love it； and on
this score we may speak as well as another。
Then there are the 〃Greenwich Hospital〃 designs； which must not be
passed over。 〃Greenwich Hospital〃 is a hearty； good…natured book；
in the Tom Dibdin school； treating of the virtues of British tars；
in approved nautical language。 They maul Frenchmen and Spaniards；
they go out in brigs and take frigates； they relieve women in
distress； and are yard…arm and yard…arming； athwart…hawsing；
marlinspiking； binnacling； and helm's…a…leeing； as honest seamen
invariably do； in novels； on the stage； and doubtless on board ship。
This we cannot take upon us to say； but the artist； like a true
Englishman； as he is； loves dearly these brave guardians of Old
England； and chronicles their rare or fanciful exploits with the
greatest good…will。 Let any one look at the noble head of Nelson in
the 〃Family Library；〃 and they will； we are sure； think with us that
the designer must have felt and loved what he drew。 There are to
this abridgment of Southey's admirable book many more cuts after
Cruikshank； and about a dozen pieces by the same hand will be found
in a work equally popular； Lockhart's excellent 〃Life of Napoleon。〃
Among these the retreat from Moscow is very fine； the Mamlouks most
vigorous； furious； and barbarous； as they should be。 At the end of
these three volumes Mr。 Cruikshank's contributions to the 〃Family
Library〃 seem suddenly to have ceased。
We are not at all disposed to undervalue the works and genius of Mr。
Dickens； and we are sure that he would admit as readily as any man
the wonderful assistance that he has derived from the artist who has
given us the portraits of his ideal personages； and made them
familiar to all the world。 Once seen； these figures remain
impressed on the memory； which otherwise would have had no hold
upon them； and the heroes and heroines of Boz become personal
acquaintances with each of us。 Oh； that Hogarth could have
illustrated Fielding in the same way！ and fixed down on paper those
grand figures of Parson Adams； and Squire Allworthy； and the great
Jonathan Wild。
With regard to the modern romance of 〃Jack Sheppard；〃 in which the
latter personage makes a second appearance； it