Page:Pen And Pencil Sketches - Volume I.djvu/89

Mr.) Gilbert’s brilliant designs, and say, “There ! that’s the kind of thing we want — more variety of line— the thick and the thin.” I complied with this as far as I was able, studied Sir John’s cuts again and again, and even cribbed whole figures from them when I saw any that might be adapted ; but this was all I could do. Doubtless my drawings were bad, but the price paid for them was not high. I got but ten shillings a block, and had to find my own wood. The engraver must have been propor- tionately remunerated, for he hacked and slashed my work in such a way as to make the last state of those blocks considerably worse than the first. When, years after, I related my experience to Sir J. Gilbert, he said, “Ah! yes ; when I went round to the pub- lishers, I was told to draw as much as possible in the manner of William Harvey, who was the reign- ing fashion then.” The Home Circle became de- funct in about six months, but I believe the collapse was not so much owing to my illustrations, as to certain financial difficulties with the publisher — at least that was my impression, though I cannot vouch for the fact. I next find myself at some Literary Institute as “Professor” of Drawing (save the mark). If I had not written evidence of this, I should feel inclined to doubt it, for I entirely forget the name of the Institute, and that of the street where it was situated. The duties were light. I devoted two