The "Humorous Sketches" (we refer, of course, only to the early impressions), although affording fair examples of the artist's comic style and manner, are in truth of very unequal merit. They comprise some eighty subjects, which, owing to the frequent republications, are so well known that it would be superfluous to attempt a detailed description of them here. The best is unquestionably the one numbered XXV., "This is a werry lonely spot, Sir; I wonder you arn't afeard of being rob'd." The inevitable sequel is amusingly related by Crowquill:--
"Poor Timmins trembled as he gazed Upon the stranger's face; For cut-purse! robber! all too plain, His eye could therein trace.
'Them's werry handsome boots o' yourn,' The ruffian smiling cried; 'Jist draw your trotters out, my pal, And we'll swop tiles beside.
That coat, too, is a pretty fit,-- Don't tremble so--for I Vont rob you of a single fish, I've other fish to fry.'"
The "Sketches," with other detached works by the artist, reappeared in an edition published by the late John Camden Hotten, entitled "Sketches by Seymour," comprising in all 186 subjects, for the most part sadly worn impressions. Although there is nothing whatever "Hogarthian" about the originals, as the amiable publisher would have us (as usual) believe, we may admit that the faces in No. 24, _At a Concert_, are a perfect study, and that this sketch, with Nos. 45 and 46 (_Snuffing_ and _Smoking_), afford excellent examples of the artist's ability as a draughtsman.
But the work which contains probably some of the best specimens of the artist's style is one now exceedingly scarce. Christmas books, like Christmas cards, are practically unsaleable after the great Christian festival has come and gone; and this was the experience of Mr. T. K. Hervey's "Book of Christmas," which, owing to the author's dilatoriness, came out "a day after the fair," and despite its attractions proved unmarketable. This circumstance, we need not say, by no means detracts from its value, and as a matter of fact, the collector will now deem himself fortunate if he succeeds in securing a copy at a price exceeding by one half the original cost. Those who have formed their ideas of Seymour's powers from the oft republished and irretrievably damaged impressions of the "Humorous Sketches," will be astonished at the unaccustomed style, vigour, and beauty of these illustrations. A few of the earlier _etchings_ are somewhat faint and indistinct, as if the artist, even at that time, was scarcely accustomed to work on copper. They, however, improve as he proceeds with his work; the larger number are really beautiful, and are characterised by a vigour of conception and execution, of which no possible idea can be formed by those who have seen only the "Humorous Sketches." Noteworthy among the illustrations may be mentioned the finely executed head of _Old Christmas_, facing page 23; the _Baronial Hall_ (a picture highly realistic of the Christmas comfort and good cheer which is little better than a myth to many of us); _The Mummers_; _Christmas Pantomime_; _Market, Christmas Eve_; _Boxing Day_; and _Twelfth Night in the London Streets_. The cheery seasonable book shows us the _Norfolk Coach_ with its spanking team rattling into London on a foggy Christmas Eve, heaped with fat turkeys, poultry, Christmas hampers and parcels. William Congreve tells us--