We were members of a family of twelve children, and, with one exception, we were born at Wooler, Northumberland, the youngest having been born at Newcastle-on-Tyne. Our father spent a great part of his time in horticultural pursuits, and in middle life took up art as a profession. He also held a commission in the Northumberland Militia. His sons, eight in number, inherited strong artistic tastes, which they all carried out professionally, except the youngest, Davison, who applied himself very successfully to commerce. The eldest, William, whose art work was chiefly devoted to heraldic and occasional ornamental decoration for MSS. books, also painted a little in still-life subjects with remarkable fidelity; while the second son, Robert, devoted himself to art, and obtained a fair reputation as a portrait painter. He also studied landscape painting for some time under Thompson, of Duddingston, and having practiced his art successfully both in Glasgow and Edinburgh, he came ultimately to London, where he died, having attained only his thirty-second year. The next brother, Alexander, was a youth of rare artistic promise, and, had he lived, must of necessity have made a great name for himself as a designer and draughtsman in black and white; but early in life, while living in London, he caught a chill, which terminated in consumption. He, having returned to his mothers house in Newcastle-on-Tyne, died before completing his twenty-third year.

The next brother, George, early in 1835,[1] being then nineteen, came to London as a pupil to the late Charles Gray, an engraver on wood, with whom he remained four years, and on the completion of his engagement, he commenced operations on his own account, though continuing on the most friendly terms with Gray. A few weeks later he was joined by his brother Edward, and from that day we two have, for a period of over fifty-five years, worked hand in hand together, as "The Brothers Dalziel."

In 1852 our brother John became associated with us. He was a skilful and highly accomplished engraver; but his health, unfortunately, gave way, and early in 1868 he was compelled to give up all artistic work and went to reside at Drig, a delightfully picturesque locality, surrounded on the one side by the Cumberland Lakes and hills, and on the other by the broad sea, hoping that the fine bracing air of the North would restore him to health, but unhappily the change came too late, and he died in the summer of 1869.

In 1860 our brother Thomas, who had been educated as a copperplate engraver, joined the "Brotherhood," and from that time devoted himself entirely to painting and drawing on wood, contributing much excellent work to the various books we produced. Among them may be mentioned "Dalziel's Arabian Nights," "Dalziel's Bible Gallery"—of which we will have much to say further on, and a beautiful edition of "The Pilgrim's Progress," as well as many very charming drawings for nearly all the Fine Art Books created by ourselves, or produced under our entire supervision.

In the early part of our career, that is to say during the Forties, we George and Edward, worked very much in association with Ebenezer Landells, one of the original projectors and proprietors of Punch, and from whom (the other original proprietors having resigned their shares in a then unprofitable speculation) Messrs. Bradbury and Evans, the printers, acquired a two-thirds share. Subsequently the entire property passed into their hands. We may here state that while in association with Landells, we engraved the picture, "Foreign Affairs," which was the first drawing contributed to Punch by John Leech.

Landells was a man to whom illustrated literature, journalism in particular, owes much. It is an old story, well known at the time, how he parted with his interest in Punch, and how he lost the proceeds in the Illuminated Magazine, which was edited by Douglas Jerrold. Among his thousand and one journalistic ventures, he was the first to project and produce the Lady's Newspaper, but in this, as in other things, he was before his time and failed. He it was who suggested to Herbert Ingram that an artist should be sent to follow the progress of Queen Victoria on her first journey to Scotland; Landells undertook the commission, and it was the success of, and great interest taken in these pictures that had much to do with making the Illustrated London News. The Queen was so much pleased, that she bought all Landells' original drawings. He worked very much with Herbert Ingram, and it was through him that we were engaged upon the second number of the Illustrated London News. It was for him that we engraved the prospectus block for Punch, also the covers for that journal drawn by "Archie" Henning, William Harvey, and John Gilbert, as well as the "H. K. B." drawings every week for "Master Humphrey's Clock." In fact we were largely indebted to him for much sincere help at a time when such help was invaluable, and at his house we had the advantage of forming the friendship of Douglas Jerrold, the Brothers Mayhew, Mark Lemon, and others connected with the foundation of Punch.

Landells was a man brimful of ideas and full of energy. One hardly ever met him but that he had some new project which was "certain to be a fortune"—a fortune that never came to him.

His connection with the Illustrated London News continued until Herbert Ingram's departure for America, from which place he never returned, having been drowned on Lake Michigan. It is a curious fact that, when Ingram's body was brought home for interment, on the same day that his funeral took place at Boston the remains of Landells were interred at Highgate Cemetery. We were at the ceremonies. Edward attended the one, while George was present at the other.

An interesting anecdote is told of Thomas Bewick in reference to Ebenezer Landells. When it was proposed to place him as a pupil with that eminent wood engraver, the father of the lad said, "Well, Mr. Bewick, I hope you will make my son a clever fellow." "Mr. Landells," replied the veteran, "I'll do my best to teach him what I know, but if God Almighty hasn't put brains into your son's head, it's impossible for me to put them there!"

This anecdote was told us by Landells himself, in illustration of a principle he was discussing, that unless a lad has a real, genuine love for the art he is studying, no teaching in the world will ever make him a skilful worker. His father not being able to arrange terms with Bewick, Landells did not remain long with him, but served his apprenticeship with Isaac Nicholson (an old pupil of Bewick's, who had opened an office on the opposite side of the way to his old master, in St. Nicholas' Churchyard, Newcastle-on-Tyne), with whom Charles Gray was also a pupil. And it was through those two young men coming to our Father to "learn to draw" that our brother Alexander became a pupil of Nicholson's, with whom he served a seven years' apprenticeship, and proved himself a very skilful draughtsman and engraver. Hence our somewhat close connection with the school of Thomas Bewick.

Landells was a man of slightly excitable temperament, and, as a rule, very demonstrative. One morning he called upon his old pupil, Edmund Evans, who was then commencing colour printing works in Racquet Court, saying "he was off to the Derby, and, as the morning looked rather doubtful, would he lend him an umbrella?" This Evans most willingly did, giving the best he had, almost a new one. Landells faithfully returned it the next morning, but the ferrule had disappeared, and the stick was battered down close to the silk. Landells had evidently been through some exciting scenes, and in expressing his high appreciation of the events Evans' umbrella had come sadly to grief.

When Landells got a little vexed or worried by anyone, which in his very much varied life he not unfrequently did, his invariable remark was, "Well, stop till I see him again and I'll give him a piece of my mind."

During the time that "ructions" were on with his co-partners in Punch, he met Douglas Jerrold in Fleet Street and complained bitterly, winding up with, "There, I've just been to see them and have given them a bit of my mind," "Ah," said Jerrold, "I'm afraid they would not gain much by that, Landells."

His eldest son, Robert Landells, also an artist of considerable ability in black and white work, acted for many years as Art War Correspondent to the Illustrated London News, and, in that capacity, went through a great part of the Franco-Prussian Campaign.

The years of our boyhood having been spent in Newcastle-on-Tyne, we have constantly been identified as being natives of the Tyneside, and so became much associated with several artists of ability who hailed from that part of the kingdom. Among the foremost of those we would mention William Harvey, the justly celebrated artist and book illustrator, who was himself a favourite pupil of Thomas Bewick, and during his apprenticeship designed and engraved several of the smaller tailpieces to the "Fables," "Natural History," and other works published by his famous master.

William Harvey was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, July 13th, 1796, and died at Richmond, Surrey, January 18th, 1866. He was apprenticed to Thomas Bewick, 1810, and the high esteem in which he was held by his master is shown in the letter here quoted.

Two years later, 1817, when he had completed his apprenticeship, he went to London, where he studied drawing and painting under Benjamin Haydon, and anatomy with Sir Charles Bell, where he had, as fellow students, amongst others, Charles Lock Eastlake, the P.R.A., George Lance, the fruit painter, and Sir Edwin Landseer. He soon became a most distinguished draughtsman and illustrator of books, his fame rising rapidly. For many years he stood prominently in the front of all others. Amongst his earliest works were "Henderson's Book on Wines," for which he not only made the drawings but engraved them all himself. It is further interesting as being the first work that bore his name. His great ability both as draughtsman and engraver is shown in the reproduction of an elaborate work from Benjamin Haydon's picture of "Dentatus"—which even in these advanced days must be held as a remarkable example of wood engraving, being, strictly speaking, a marvellous imitation of a copperplate, done in the grand line manner. Haydon no doubt induced Harvey to undertake this work to satisfy his own vanity, for he was not a man "who cared for others."

About this time he gave up engraving altogether and devoted himself entirely to drawing on wood.

William Harvey was a great and highly-gifted artist, a true man, a friend and counsellor to us from the time of our earliest efforts to the day of his death. He was a fine conversationalist, brimful of anecdotes, chiefly concerning a notable group of artists, authors, and men of law, many of whom had gone, and others who were then passing away. As an illustrator he held the town for many years, and in connection with Charles Knight did much to popularise black and white work; but even in his own time what changes took place! He said that in his early days if merely a frontispiece were wanted for a book, John Murray would invite him and John Thomson, the engraver, to dinner at Albemarle Street, that they might discuss the subject fully before beginning the work.

In his more important works Harvey always tried to push forward one or more young and unknown engravers of promise—in fact he was the young man's friend.

Of course he had many imitators; coming men begin by imitating the manner of the successful men who have gone before. He used to say, "The young man jumps on the shoulders of the old man, looks over his head, and consequently sees much farther along the road." Strong examples of this are shown in the early works of Sir John Gilbert, which alternated in likeness to William Harvey, Kenny Meadows, and George Cruikshank; but in a later stage took on much from the great German artist, Menzel.

The following are a few instances in illustration of young men building up their style by studying the old professors in their art, which we call to mind as occurring in our own experience:

William Harvey felt complimented by John Gilbert gleaning from his works; while George Cruikshank was highly indignant with Gilbert for what he called "cribbing his brains," and threatened to go down to Blackheath and "thrash the fellow." Gilbert, on being told this, only laughed, and said, "I don't think he knows what sort of man I am."

J. Prior, the father of Melton Prior, assisted William Harvey very frequently; and after acquiring a fair style of imitation, did a good deal of work on his own account, which sometimes bore too strong a resemblance to the master. He would say to Harvey, "I know you don't mind." He was right; good-natured Harvey did not mind if Prior got any advantage by it. But, like other men, Prior ultimately acquired a style of his own, and did much good service in the early days of the Illustrated London News, to which journal his son Melton has long been a valuable power as War Correspondent.

The early drawings of that great art genius, Fred Walker, A.R.A., R.W.S., have a strong family resemblance to those of Sir John Gilbert. J.W. North's early drawings reminded one vividly of Birket Foster, while Birket Foster's style was undoubtedly built upon Thomas Creswick, R.A.—and so on, and so on.

Our connection with Harvey was so close, not only as regards work, but socially, that we can say he was in every sense one of "Nature's best"; lovable to a degree,—and would far more than stand the test of the guiding-lines laid down by his master in the letter printed on page 12.

Among William Harvey's chief works mention must be made of the charmingly fanciful designs for Lane's "Arabian Nights," "Northcoat's Fables," "The Tower Menagerie," several of the books in "The Abbotsford Edition" of Sir Walter Scott's novels, and many smaller books, notably "The Children in the Wood," and "The Blind Beggar's Daughter of Bethnal Green"; also an extremely beautiful frontispiece, as well as other illustrations, to each of the plays in Charles Knight's Edition of Shakespeare's Works. Subsequently he illustrated for us an edition of "The Pilgrim's Progress," in which he displayed all his tasteful fancy in decorating its pages. This book was published by David Bogue. From 1839 to the time of his death, William Harvey entrusted many of his drawings to our care, as well as in later years constantly working for the various books produced under our superintendence.

On the death of William Harvey, it was proposed that a monument should be erected over his grave in Richmond cemetery, and in seeking subscriptions for that purpose, among others, Samuel Lover, the famous Irish song-writer, composer and artist, was asked to assist and co-operate with a few friends in carrying out the object, when in reply he wrote:

Is not this just the letter we might expect from the warm-hearted Irishman and true poet who could write the following beautiful lines?

The monument was erected, as suggested, in the cemetery at Richmond, Surrey, as well as a brass tablet in St. Nicholas' Cathedral, Newcastle-on-Tyne, both from designs by John R. Clayton.

Having furnished several illustrations to a book of Irish songs edited by Samuel Lover, and published by John Maxwell, husband of Miss Braddon, we received several kind letters of commendation and thanks for the care bestowed in getting up the work. Among others we may quote the following:

Again, in writing of a drawing to illustrate the "Four-leaved Shamrock," which we had submitted for his approval, he says:

During all our operations from the year 1851, we were fortunate enough to have the loyal and skilful help of our sister Margaret, who warmly entered into all our plans and worked very constantly upon the most highly finished engravings we produced. As much of the work we were engaged upon was intended for periodical publications, it may readily be supposed that there was, at times, great pressure to meet the requirements of the printer; on such occasions we could always be certain of her ever ready help, grudging neither time nor labour to render every assistance in her power. In all respects she was one of the most devoted, kind-hearted and sympathetic women that ever lived, and her great excellence of character, we have every reason to believe, was fully appreciated by all those who had the privilege of her acquaintance or friendship.