*DOYLE, RICHARD, was born In London in 1826. Ira is the son of Mr. John Doyle, generally believed to be the author of the celebrated 'MB.' political sketches which were a few years ago so remarkably popu lar, and which, while exhibiting with abundant keenness the prominent features and peculiarities of tho persons caricatured, were always gentle manly in feeling and free from any appearance of malice. The younger Mr. Richard Doyle 's designs were for some years a chief attraction iu the pages of ' Punch,' and possibly no previous pictorial satirist of passing customs and follies ever exhibited so much graceful fancy and playful exuberance of quaint inventiou and humour. And with all the temptations from the pressure of haste, political excitement, and the necessity of catching the passing whim or hitting the current fault or folly, lie never, as far as we can recollect, was charged or chargeable with descending to coarseness or vulgarity. Mr. Doyle possesses a surprising facility and accuracy of drawing, great keenness of observation, and considerable range of character. But he is most at
in London life. Nothing can exceed the infinite variety of his men about town, and their doings, in Ye Manners and Customs of ye English ; or the richness of his ' Brown, Jones, end Robinson; whether at home or abroad. But with his foreiguure he is not so happy ; while his sentimental young ladies and gentlemen of the Ethel and Clive Newsome class are "most tolerable and not to be endured." Since he ceased in 1850 to contribute to Punch,' Mr. Doyle has illustrated various fairy tales, &e., besides publishing his admirable Christmas book, The Foreign Tour of Messrs. Brown, Jones, and Robinson; but his later works have hardly the light mirthfulness or the vigour of those he executed under the stimulus oŁ constant occupation, constant applause, and the assurance that every satirical or humorous touch would produce its immediate and intended effect.