"St. John's Wood Road,

"March 11th, 1867.

"MY DEAR VERNON HEATH,-I have been so much occupied and so unwell lately that many things have escaped my prompt attention. Yes, I did receive the photographs of my colossal works in Trafalgar Square, and was much pleased by the successful result, unquestionably the best photographs of the lions yet done.

"Accept my thanks for the impressions sent here. I have recommended no end of friends to go to your studio for similar proofs.

"Yours faithfully,

"E. LANDSEER."

I mentioned previously the discussion which took place in the Press upon the merits of Sir Edwin's work. In the Times, March, 1867, appeared the following article from the pen of Mr. Tom Taylor :

"Now that Sir Edwin's noble quartet have exhausted the carping of small criticism, the first and general impression of their dignity and grandeur is quietly resuming its supremacy.

"We have now before us four masterly photographs by Vernon Heath, two representing the lion who looks to the north-westerly, and two devoted to him who looks to the south-westerly angle of the square. Of the former, the finest represents a foreshortened view of one of these mighty beasts from flank to head in diffused light strong enough to show the magnificent markings of the loin and the lithe strength of the tail, the National Gallery forming the background. The other north-westerly lion is in profile, with St. Martin's Church in the background, and the body in light, with the broad thigh projecting a bold shadow, and the great fold of loose skin that connects the reposing thigh and the flank brought into strong relief.

"Of the other brace, one is a boldly foreshortened view of the noble front-face, chest, and arms, with the light from the south-east just catching at the lower jaw and one side of the mane; the other, in profile, gives the body in broad half-shadow, the light falling on the back and edges of the forearms. Northumberland House, with its rival lion, very small, as he ought to look by the side of Sir Edwin's, forms the

background of this view. Next to seeing the real lions, we should recommend the study of Mr. Vernon Heath's photographs to all who wish to form an adequate judgment of this last and best addition to the monumental sculpture of the metropolis."

CHAPTER XXI.

The Fenian Outrage at Clerkenwell: Went There to Photograph-The Injury done-The object in View-The Results of the Explosion.

EARLY in the morning of December 14th, 1867, I was awoke by the housekeeper, who told me that a policeman was below, sent by the authorities of Scotland Yard with a letter for me. He was brought to my room, and told me of the diabolical attempt that had been made the previous afternoon to blow up the House of Detention at Clerkenwell; and I gathered from what he said, that the extent of the atrocity-which, as was discovered afterwards, was unexampled in its boldness of conception-was not at that moment fully known.

The letter contained a request from the Commissioner of Police to me to be at Clerkenwell as soon after daylight as possible with my camera.

I may say, in passing, that this outrage, which

spread destruction over a whole neighbourhood, killing, maiming, and wounding forty innocent people-men, women, and children of all ages, some of whom happened to be passing at the time -was committed in order to rescue two of the perpetrators' accomplices-Burke and Caseywho had been remanded by a magistrate and sent to the House of Detention. The object was to destroy the wall of the prison at the time the prisoners were taking exercise, and carry them off through the gap which the explosion would

create.

I reached the prison soon after 8 o'clock, and with the assistance of the police was speedily at work. It was a terrible scene! and, so far as regards the effect of the explosion, the experiment had been horribly successful. A vast breach had been made in the wall, not less than 60 feet wide, and the whole row of houses opposite the gap had been wrecked, as if shattered by an earthquake or ravaged by fire.

The house immediately facing the centre of the breach was the most damaged; those on each side being windowless and doorless, while huge wide cracks were everywhere visible. The