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With regard to the modern romance of 〃Jack Sheppard；〃 in which the
latter personage makes a second appearance； it seems to us that Mr。
Cruikshank really created the tale； and that Mr。 Ainsworth； as it
were； only put words to it。 Let any reader of the novel think over
it for a while； now that it is some months since he has perused and
laid it downlet him think； and tell us what he remembers of the
tale？ George Cruikshank's picturesalways George Cruikshank's
pictures。 The storm in the Thames； for instance： all the author's
labored description of that event has passed clean awaywe have
only before the mind's eye the fine plates of Cruikshank： the poor
wretch cowering under the bridge arch； as the waves come rushing in；
and the boats are whirling away in the drift of the great swollen
black waters。 And let any man look at that second plate of the
murder on the Thames； and he must acknowledge how much more
brilliant the artist's description is than the writer's； and what a
real genius for the terrible as well as for the ridiculous the
former has； how awful is the gloom of the old bridge； a few lights
glimmering from the houses here and there； but not so as to be
reflected on the water at all； which is too turbid and raging： a
great heavy rack of clouds goes sweeping over the bridge； and men
with flaring torches； the murderers； are borne away with the stream。
The author requires many pages to describe the fury of the storm；
which Mr。 Cruikshank has represented in one。 First； he has to
prepare you with the something inexpressibly melancholy in sailing
on a dark night upon the Thames： 〃the ripple of the water；〃 〃the
darkling current；〃 〃the indistinctively seen craft；〃 〃the solemn
shadows〃 and other phenomena visible on rivers at night are detailed
（with not unskilful rhetoric） in order to bring the reader into a
proper frame of mind for the deeper gloom and horror which is to
ensue。 Then follow pages of description。 〃As Rowland sprang to the
helm； and gave the signal for pursuit； a war like a volley of
ordnance was heard aloft； and the wind again burst its bondage。 A
moment before the surface of the stream was as black as ink。 It was
now whitening； hissing； and seething； like an enormous caldron。 The
blast once more swept over the agitated river； whirled off the
sheets of foam； scattered them far and wide in rain…drops； and left
the raging torrent blacker than before。 Destruction everywhere
marked the course of the gale。 Steeples toppled and towers reeled
beneath its fury。 All was darkness； horror； confusion； ruin。 Men
fled from their tottering habitations and returned to them； scared
by greater danger。 The end of the world seemed at hand。 。 。 。 The
hurricane had now reached its climax。 The blast shrieked； as if
exulting in its wrathful mission。 Stunning and continuous； the din
seemed almost to take away the power of hearing。 He who had faced
the gale WOULD HAVE BEEN INSTANTLY STIFLED；〃 &c。 &c。 See with what
a tremendous war of words （and good loud words too； Mr。 Ainsworth's
description is a good and spirited one） the author is obliged to
pour in upon the reader before he can effect his purpose upon the
latter； and inspire him with a proper terror。 The painter does it
at a glance； and old Wood's dilemma in the midst of that tremendous
storm； with the little infant at his bosom； is remembered
afterwards； not from the words； but from the visible image of them
that the artist has left us。
It would not； perhaps； be out of place to glance through the whole
of the 〃Jack Sheppard〃 plates； which are among the most finished and
the most successful of Mr。 Cruikshank's performances； and say a word
or two concerning them。 Let us begin with finding fault with No。 1；
〃Mr。 Wood offers to adopt little Jack Sheppard。〃 A poor print； on a
poor subject； the figure of the woman not as carefully designed as
it might be； and the expression of the eyes （not an uncommon fault
with our artist） much caricatured。 The print is cut up； to use the
artist's phrase； by the number of accessories which the engraver has
thought proper； after the author's elaborate description； elaborately
to reproduce。 The plate of 〃Wild discovering Darrell in the
loft〃 is admirableghastly； terrible； and the treatment of it
extraordinarily skilful； minute； and bold。 The intricacies of the
tile…work； and the mysterious twinkling of light among the beams；
are excellently felt and rendered； and one sees here； as in the two
next plates of the storm and murder； what a fine eye the artist has；
what a skilful hand； and what a sympathy for the wild and dreadful。
As a mere imitation of nature； the clouds and the bridge in the
murder picture may be examined by painters who make far higher
pretensions than Mr。 Cruikshank。 In point of workmanship they are
equally good； the manner quite unaffected； the effect produced
without any violent contrast； the whole scene evidently well and
philosophically arranged in the artist's brain； before he began to
put it upon copper。
The famous drawing of 〃Jack carving the name on the beam；〃 which has
been transferred to half the play…bills in town； is overloaded with
accessories； as the first plate； but they are much better arranged
than in the last…named engraving； and do not injure the effect of
the principal figure。 Remark； too； the conscientiousness of the
artist； and that shrewd pervading idea of FORM which is one of his
principal characteristics。 Jack is surrounded by all sorts of
implements of his profession； he stands on a regular carpenter's
table： away in the shadow under it lie shavings and a couple of
carpenter's hampers。 The glue…pot； the mallet； the chisel…handle；
the planes； the saws； the hone with its cover； and the other
paraphernalia are all represented with extraordinary accuracy and
forethought。 The man's mind has retained the exact DRAWING of all
these minute objects （unconsciously perhaps to himself）； but we can
see with what keen eyes he must go through the world； and what a
fund of facts （as such a knowledge of the shape of objects is in his
profession） this keen student of nature has stored away in his
brain。 In the next plate； where Jack is escaping from his mistress；
the figure of that lady； one of the deepest of the ＇Greek text
omitted＇； strikes us as disagreeable and unrefined； that of Winifred
is； on the contrary； very pretty and graceful； and Jack's puzzled；
slinking look must not be forgotten。 All the accessories are good；
and the apartment has a snug； cosy air； which is not remarkable；
except that it shows how faithfully the designer has performed his
work； and how curiously he has entered into all the particulars of
the subject。
Master Thames Darrell； the handsome young man of the book； is； in
Mr。 Cruikshank's portraits of him； no favorite of ours。 The lad
seems to wish to make up for the natural insignificance of his face
by frowning on all occasions most portentously