Maclise's

Allan Cunningham, Terry (the actor), Newton (the artist), a Dr. Yates of Brighton, Captain, Mr., and Mrs. Lockhart, Miss Scott, Mr. Hogg, and your humble servant. We had all assembled when Sir Walter entered the room. sketch does not give his expression, although there is certainly a strong likeness-a likeness in it which cannot be mistaken; but I have a very rough profile sketch in pen and ink by Newton, which is admirable, and which some time or other I will copy and send you. When I was introduced to the Great Unknown' I really had not the power of speaking; it was a strange feeling of embarrassment, which I do not remember having felt before in so strong a manner; and of course to his 'I am glad to see you, Mr. Croker, you and I are not unknown to each other,' I could say nothing. He contrived to say something neat to every one in the kindest manner-a well-turned compliment, without, however, the slightest appearance of flatterysomething at which every one felt gratified. After speaking for a few moments to Mr. Terry and Allan Cunningham, he returned to where I stood fixed and mute as the monument on Fish Street Hill;' but I soon recovered the use of my tongue from the easy manner in which he addressed me, and no longer seemed to feel myself in the presence of some mighty and mysterious personage. He spoke slowly, with a Scotch accent, and in rather a low tone of voice, so much so, indeed, that I found it difficult to catch every word. He mentioned my Fairy Legends,' and hoped he should soon have the very great enjoyment of reading the second volume. You are our-I speak of the Celtic nations' (said Sir Walter)—' great authority now on fairy

superstition, and have made Fairy Land your kingdom; most sincerely do I hope it may prove a golden inheritance to you. To me,' (continued Sir Walter) 'it is the land of promise of much future entertainment. I have been read

a man.

ing the German translation of your tales and the Grimms' very elaborate introduction.' Mr. Terry mentioned having received from me Daniel O'Rourke in the shape of a Christmas pantomime. It is an admirable subject,' said Sir Walter, and if Mr. Croker has only dramatized it with half the skill of tricking up old wives' tales which he has shown himself to possess, it must be, and I prophesy, although I have not seen it, it will be as great a golden egg in your nest, Terry, as Mother Goose was to one of the greater theatres some years ago.' He then repeated by heart part of the conversation between Dan and the Eagle, with great zest. I must confess it was most sweet from such But really I blush, or ought to blush, at writing all this flattery." Here the origin of Maclise's illustrations to the legends is thus given by the editor of the Gentleman's Magazine.' "The artist, who had not then quitted his native city of Cork, was a frequent visitor to Mr. Sainthill (the author of Olla Podrida'), at the time that the first edition of the work appeared. Mr. Sainthill read the tales aloud from time to time in the evening, and Maclise would frequently, on the next morning, produce a drawing of what he had heard. These were not seen by Mr. Croker until his next visit to Cork: but when he did see them he was so much pleased with them that he prevailed upon Mr. Sainthill to allow them to be copied for his forthcoming edition : and this was done by Maclise, and

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the drawings were engraved by W. H. Brooke, and Maclise's name was not attached to them, but merely mentioned by Mr. Croker in his preface."

Scott made favourable mention of the 'Fairy Legends' in the collected edition of the Waverley Novels' published in 1830. In a note on Fairy Superstitions to Chapter XI. of Rob Roy,' speaking of the elfin traditions peculiar to the wild scenery where Avon Dhu or the River Forth has its birth, he observes: "The opinions entertained about these beings are much the same with those of the Irish, so exquisitely well narrated by Mr. Crofton Croker." Again, in his Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft,' Scott says: "We know from the lively and entertaining legends published by Mr. Crofton Croker, which, though in most cases, told with the wit of the editor and the humour of his country, contain points of curious antiquarian information" as to what the opinions of the Irish are. And again, speaking of the Banshee: "The subject has been so lately and beautifully investigated and illustrated by Mr. Crofton Croker and others, that I may dispense with being very particular regarding it." This was indeed gratifying from such an authority. The late Thomas Haynes Bayley dedicated to Crofton Croker a volume entitled 'Songs from Fairy Land.'

Having dwelt at considerable length upon the legends, the required limits of this notice will not permit more than a reference to the literary works of Mr. Croker which succeeded them; and as there is but occasion for their enumeration, they shall be here given in the order of their appearance, merely premising that the tales of

Barney Mahoney' and 'My Village versus Our Village,' were not by Mr. Croker, although they bore his name: they were, in reality, written by Mrs. Croker. The list stands thus:—

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1828-9. The Christmas-Box, an Annual Present for Children, a collection of Tales edited by Mr. Croker, and published by Harrison Ainsworth' (Sir Walter Scott, Lockhart, Ainsworth, Maria Edgeworth, and Miss Mitford were among the contributors).

1829. Legends of the Lakes; or, Sayings and Doings at Killarney, collected chiefly from the Manuscripts of R. Adolphus Lynch, Esq., H. P. King's German Legion, with illustrations by Maclise (Ebers).' A second edition, compressed into one volume as a guide to the Lakes, appeared in 1831. (Fisher.)

From this time Croker became contributor to the 'Gen

tleman's' and 'Fraser's' Magazines. In 1832 he was a steward at the famous literary dinner given to Hogg the Ettrick Shepherd.

1835. Landscape Illustrations to Moore's Irish Melodies, with Comments for the Curious.' (Only one number appeared.) (Power.)

1837. A Memoir of Joseph Holt, General of the Irish Rebels in 1798. From Holt's Autobiographical MS. in the possession of Sir W. Betham.' (Colburn.)

The Journal of a Tour through Ireland in 1644, translated from the French of M. de la Boullaye le Gouz, assisted by J. Roche, Father Prout, and Thomas Wright.' (Boone.) Dedicated to the elder Disraeli, "in remembrance of much attention and kindness received from him

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many years ago;" which dedication was cordially responded to by that author.

1839. The Popular Songs of Ireland.' (Colburn.)

1843. A Description of Rosamond's Bower, Fulham * (the residence of Mr. Croker for eight years), with an inventory of the pictures, furniture, curiosities, &c., &c. (Privately printed.)

It was here that Moore, Rogers, Maria Edgeworth, Lucy Aikin, "Father Prout" (Mahony), Barham (Ingoldsby), Sydney Smith, Jerdan, Theodore Hook, Lover, Planché, Lords Braybrooke, Strangford, and Northampton, Sir G. Back, John Barrow, Sir Emerson Tennent, Wyon, Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Hall, T. Wright, and many others were the guests of Mr. Croker. One room in the house was fitted up as a Museum, where such visitors delighted to assemble.

During subsequent years Mr. Croker produced several minor works on antiquarian and popular subjects, some of them printed for private circulation among his friends, and others as contributions to the different societies of which he was a member. He died at his residence, 3, Gloucester Road, Old Brompton, on the 8th of August, 1854, aged 57, and was buried in the private grave of his father-in-law, Mr. Francis Nicholson, in the Brompton Cemetery, a sketch of which, by Mr. Fairholt, appears in these pages. It should not be forgotten that Mr. Crofton Croker was a contributor to the Amulet,' 'Literary Souvenir,' and Friendship's Offering,' as well as (more extensively) to

* See pages 156–164.