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Ay； and those who are gone to a better。〃
This brings him to the consideration of his uncle。 〃Of all the men
I have ever known；〃 says he； 〃my uncle united the greatest degree of
cheerfulness with the sobriety of manhood。 Though a man when I was
a boy； he was yet one of the most agreeable companions I ever
possessed。 。 。 。 He embarked for America； and nearly twenty years
passed by before he came back again； 。 。 。 but oh； how altered！he
was in every sense of the word an old man； his body and mind were
enfeebled； and second childishness had come upon him。 How often
have I bent over him； vainly endeavoring to recall to his memory the
scenes we had shared together： and how frequently； with an aching
heart； have I gazed on his vacant and lustreless eye； while he has
amused himself in clapping his hands and singing with a quavering
voice a verse of a psalm。〃 Alas！ such are the consequences of long
residences in America； and of old age even in uncles！ Well； the
point of this morality is； that the uncle one day in the morning of
life vowed that he would catch his two nephews and tie them
together； ay； and actually did so； for all the efforts the rogues
made to run away from him； but he was so fatigued that he declared
he never would make the attempt again； whereupon the nephew
remarks；〃Often since then； when engaged in enterprises beyond my
strength； have I called to mind the determination of my uncle。〃
Does it not seem impossible to make a picture out of this？ And yet
George Cruikshank has produced a charming design； in which the
uncles and nephews are so prettily portrayed that one is reconciled
to their existence； with all their moralities。 Many more of the
mirths in this little book are excellent； especially a great figure
of a parson entering church on horseback；an enormous parson truly；
calm； unconscious； unwieldy。 As Zeuxis had a bevy of virgins in
order to make his famous picturehis express virgina clerical
host must have passed under Cruikshank's eyes before he sketched
this little； enormous parson of parsons。
Being on the subject of children's books； how shall we enough praise
the delightful German nursery…tales； and Cruikshank's illustrations
of them？ We coupled his name with pantomime awhile since； and sure
never pantomimes were more charming than these。 Of all the artists
that ever drew； from Michael Angelo upwards and downwards；
Cruikshank was the man to illustrate these tales； and give them just
the proper admixture of the grotesque； the wonderful； and the
graceful。 May all Mother Bunch's collection be similarly indebted
to him； may 〃Jack the Giant Killer；〃 may 〃Tom Thumb；〃 may 〃Puss in
Boots；〃 be one day revivified by his pencil。 Is not Whittington
sitting yet on Highgate hill； and poor Cinderella （in that sweetest
of all fairy stories） still pining in her lonely chimney…nook？ A
man who has a true affection for these delightful companions of his
youth is bound to be grateful to them if he can； and we pray Mr。
Cruikshank to remember them。
It is folly to say that this or that kind of humor is too good for
the public； that only a chosen few can relish it。 The best humor
that we know of has been as eagerly received by the public as by the
most delicate connoisseur。 There is hardly a man in England who can
read but will laugh at Falstaff and the humor of Joseph Andrews； and
honest Mr。 Pickwick's story can be felt and loved by any person
above the age of six。 Some may have a keener enjoyment of it than
others； but all the world can be merry over it； and is always ready
to welcome it。 The best criterion of good humor is success； and what
a share of this has Mr。 Cruikshank had！ how many millions of mortals
has he made happy！ We have heard very profound persons talk
philosophically of the marvellous and mysterious manner in which he
has suited himself to the timefait vibrer la fibre populaire （as
Napoleon boasted of himself）； supplied a peculiar want felt at a
peculiar period； the simple secret of which is； as we take it； that
he； living amongst the public； has with them a general wide…hearted
sympathy； that he laughs at what they laugh at； that he has a kindly
spirit of enjoyment； with not a morsel of mysticism in his
composition； that he pities and loves the poor； and jokes at the
follies of the great； and that he addresses all in a perfectly
sincere and manly way。 To be greatly successful as a professional
humorist； as in any other calling； a man must be quite honest； and
show that his heart is in his work。 A bad preacher will get
admiration and a hearing with this point in his favor； where a man
of three times his acquirements will only find indifference and
coldness。 Is any man more remarkable than our artist for telling
the truth after his own manner？ Hogarth's honesty of purpose was as
conspicuous in an earlier time； and we fancy that Gilray would have
been far more successful and more powerful but for that unhappy
bribe； which turned the whole course of his humor into an unnatural
channel。 Cruikshank would not for any bribe say what he did not
think； or lend his aid to sneer down anything meritorious； or to
praise any thing or person that deserved censure。 When he levelled
his wit against the Regent； and did his very prettiest for the
Princess； he most certainly believed； along with the great body of
the people whom he represents； that the Princess was the most
spotless； pure…mannered darling of a Princess that ever married a
heartless debauchee of a Prince Royal。 Did not millions believe
with him； and noble and learned lords take their oaths to her Royal
Highness's innocence？ Cruikshank would not stand by and see a woman
ill…used； and so struck in for her rescue； he and the people
belaboring with all their might the party who were making the
attack； and determining； from pure sympathy and indignation； that
the woman must be innocent because her husband treated her so foully。
To be sure we have never heard so much from Mr。 Cruikshank's own
lips； but any man who will examine these odd drawings； which first
made him famous； will see what an honest hearty hatred the champion
of woman has for all who abuse her； and will admire the energy with
which he flings his wood…blocks at all who side against her。
Canning； Castlereagh； Bexley； Sidmouth； he is at them； one and all；
and as for the Prince； up to what a whipping…post of ridicule did he
tie that unfortunate old man！ And do not let squeamish Tories cry
out about disloyalty； if the crown does wrong； the crown must be
corrected by the nation； out of respect； of course； for the crown。
In those days； and by those people who so bitterly attacked the son；
no word was ever breathed against the father； simply because he was
a good husband； and a sober； thrifty； pious； orderly man。
This attack upon the Prince Regent we believe to have been Mr。
Cruikshank's only effort as a party politician。 Some early
manifestoes