TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR.
14, Chandos Street, West Strand. SRI April 1834.
SIR—Having given insertion to a letter from Mr. ROBERT CitnIKSHANK, on the subject of a work which I am now publishing (illustrated by him), von will doubtless permit me, through the same channel, to reply to the statement he has put forth ; which, should it remain uncontradicted, might prove of serious in. jury to me in my capacity of PL BUSHER. It was originally agreed upon between us, that the work, which was to he entitled Cruihshanh at Home, should be published in one volume, and contain twenty-three engravings, inclusive of a drawing representing Mr. Crnikshank in his own Study. On this number being completed and delivered to me, Mr. CR r IKSHA NI: represented to me, that as he was about to publish a copperplate engraving of the ship called the " Great harry," to be dedicated, by ()emission, to her Royal Highness the Dutchess of KENT. Le was particularly anxious. mean- time, to add to his fame by the publication of his At !lane; and requested, as a great favour, that as the drawings were made in his very best mum er (and not "merely in outline"), they might be beautifully engraved. This request was acceded to ; and to render him a still further service, the original number of designs was increased to upwards of one hundred, and the hook brought out in the most handsome form possible, and in three volumes instead of one; of course at my own expense, which lie seems to forget. As for the stipulation that the Christian name, ROBERT, should be affixed to the work, this is positively untrue; though, on reference to the very fist vo- lume, it will be found that I have chosen to affix it.
The sum named for the drawings, was nut only not objected to, but most readily accepted by Mr. CM:MS[1A NI: ; whose reply was, that he must "leave off working for the Penny Casket, and similar inferior publications, and devote himself entirely to this job till it was completed." Two witnesses were present on the occasion. At all events, having fmnished more than four times the number of drawing.) first agreed fur, Mr. C. cannot, I think, have any just cause Mr complaint. It is a son:c1Chat singular circumstance, that Mr. CRulKslIANK edlcd at my house on the morning of the very day on which he dares his letter to you, and appeared on such friendly terms, that I readily obliged him with a trifling loan that he required ! I am, therefore, the more surprised at the nature of his communication to you ; and, but for his signature, could hardly believe that the sentiments expressed are his own. I beg to apolo- gize for thus troubling vuu, and ant, Sir, your obedient servant,
WILLIAM KIDD.
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