t. I had all but
a small portion of the catalogue written before he so kindly gave this
assistance, but at the suggestion of a mutual friend I gave him half the
profits of the catalogue, which amounted to several hundred pounds. I am
obliged to make this point clear, as to my astonishment it was reported
that the whole Exhibition was a joint affair, no doubt originated by Mr.
Punch in a few lines: "When two of Mr. Punch's young men put their heads
together to produce so excellent a literary and artistic a joke as that
now on view at the Gainsborough Gallery----" This was accepted as a
matter of fact by many, not knowing that this "joke," my work of years,
was a secret in the _Punch_ circle as outside it. The false impression
which Mr. Punch had originated he corrected in his Happy Thought way:
"_The Artistic Jubilee Jocademy in Bond Street._--The fire insurances on
the building will be uncommonly heavy because there is to be a show of
Furniss's constantly going on inside. Why not call it 'Furniss Abbey
Thoughts?'"

[Illustration: POTATO GANG IN THE FENS.

TWITCH-BURNING IN THE FENS.

A FLOOD IN THE FENS.

THE PICTURES BY R. MACBETH.

_Reproduced by permission of the Artist._]

[Illustration: MACBETH IN THE FENS.

_My parody in "An Artistic Joke" of Mr. Macbeth's composition and style
of work, showing that in my "Academy" I did not parody one subject, but
designed a picture embodying all the characteristics of the Artist._]

The following brief correspondence passed between the President of the
Royal Academy and myself:--

"Mr. Harry Furniss presents his compliments to Sir Frederick
Leighton and trusts he will forgive being bothered with the
following little matter.

"Sir Frederick is no doubt aware of Mr. Furniss's intention to have
a little Exhibition in Bond Street this spring,--a good-natured
parody on the Royal Academy. The title settled upon--the only one
that explains its object--is

"HARRY FURNISS'S
"ROYAL ACADEMY,
"'AN ARTISTIC JOKE.'"

"In this particular case the authorities (Mr. Furniss is informed)
see no objection to the use of the word _Royal_ pure and simple,
but as a matter of etiquette he thinks it right to ask the question
of Sir Frederick Leighton also.

"_March 11th, 1887._"

[Illustration: LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY.]

A word or two may not be out of place here on the pr