This series of Fairy Tales was continued, with pictures by Frederick Taylor, P.R.W.S., H. C. Horsley, R.A., and other artists of high repute.
[Illustration: SLEEPING CHILD AND LAMB. BY WILLIAM MULREADY, R.A.
FROM A BOOK OF POEMS BY THE REV. T. J. JUDKIN.]
Our connection with these two London publishing houses, added to the work we were doing for Mr. Cadell of Edinburgh, tended considerably to increase our responsibilities. And this may be the most convenient place to state that it was at Mr. Cundall's we were first introduced to Mr. George Routledge, who had called for the express purpose of asking Mr. Cundall to recommend a "good man" to engrave a small drawing on wood, a portrait of Sir Robert Peel, which he then had in his pocket. The commission was entrusted to us, and thus commenced a connection and a friendship which continued with unabated confidence and harmony for a period extending over forty years.
George Routledge, a strong-minded, clear-headed man of business, in his early days used to go personally to the larger north country towns, and get orders from the booksellers. His capacity in this branch was said to be something marvellous. An old Quaker bookseller, of Darlington, told us that Routledge never said, "Will thee buy this book?" but that it always was with him, "Thee must take it"; and as his wares were always good, the results were said to be many times beyond those of any other man "on the road." In the publishing business, he, in combination with his partners, William and Frederick Warne--both clever, energetic men,--made a force which developed their vast business so rapidly that Henry G. Bohn, the big publisher of that day, felt so jealous of their great success, that he used to say, "Well, it has taken three strong men to do it." After having produced sets of pictures by various artists, to many sorts of books, the most important of which was a small octavo of Longfellow's Poems, with illustrations by John Gilbert, they invited our co-operation, assistance, and direction in such matters, and it was then determined to do another edition of the same poems, more extensively illustrated by the same artist. They agreed to give us one thousand pounds for the pictures, which was to include Gilbert's charges as well as our own. The book proved a great success from every point of view, and to this day holds its own as one of the most beautiful examples of Sir John Gilbert's work as an illustrator. After the first edition many other poems were added, including "Miles Standish," all having Gilbert's illustrations to them.[4]