[Illustration: LADY LUFTON AND THE DUKE OF OMNEUM.
_By permission of Messrs. Smith, Elder & Co._]
In 1847 or '48 we were introduced to Mr. George Smith, of Smith, Elder and Co., and for several years executed a fair share of the engravings they required. Amongst the earlier of these works we contributed to "The Jar of Honey, from Mount Hybla," by Leigh Hunt, and "The Dwarf of the Golden River," by John Ruskin. During this period we were not infrequently brought into correspondence with Mr. Williams, literary adviser of the firm. He was a grand old gentleman, with a kind, sympathetic manner, which won for him the sincere regard of all with whom he became associated.
When the _Cornhill Magazine_ was started we were asked by Mr. George Smith (whose courtesy and kindness were at all times most marked during the many years of our connection) to undertake the engravings, as he purposed issuing one or two full page plates with each monthly number. This we did for several years, producing during the time, among the more important works, charming illustrations by Millais, Richard Doyle, Lord Leighton, P.R.A., F. Sandys, and other artists, all of whom, as time rolled on, acquired a prominent position in their art.
Artists not being proverbial for the just appreciation of punctuality, many of these engravings were produced under great pressure, as the following letter from Mr. George Smith will show:
"DEAR SIRS,--I am delighted with Mr. Millais' drawing, and I am obliged to you for having engraved it so well considering the pressure of time. There will be another illustration for the June number and another for August; Mr. Millais already has the proofs of the chapters of 'Framley Parsonage' for June and August.
"Believe me, "Yours faithfully, "G. SMITH.
[Illustration: TEMPTATION.--HORACE SALTOUN.
_By permission of Messrs. Smith, Elder & Co._]
Richard Doyle's "Bird's-eye Views of Society," which first appeared in the _Cornhill_, were afterwards published in book form, and had a very considerable sale.
It was also through our connection with the _Cornhill Magazine_ that we were introduced to George Augustus Sala, who was at that time contributing a series of papers and illustrating the articles himself. On our submitting proofs for his correction or approval, he wrote: