ACROSS
 8. HIT* + EVERY = THIEVERY <crime>
 9. OR EGO _N = OREGON <somewhere in the American West>
10. S MIDGE = SMIDGE <bit>
11. <sport> ROUNDERS = (.c)RO UNDER S(h.)
12. LEG + (ALE ALE) outside G = LEGAL EAGLE <barman?>
14. <excellent> TOPS = ←SPOT←
16. <start of soliloquy> TO BE OR NOT TO BE = £*BRONTE*£
18. <African wildebeest> GNUS = ←SUNG←
19. CRY (←GOT← inside PRAM) = CRYPTOGRAM <code>
21. (ANT SWARM)* = STRAW MAN <crop's protection>
23. DANGER, N→G_ = DAGGER <weapon>
25. <French painter> RENOIR = RE_ + NOIR
26. ←ED← LIVERY = DELIVERY <way of speaking>

DOWN
 1. CHAMBER T IN = CHAMBERTIN <red wine>
 2. MEN D = MEND <darn>
 3. (LEE outside X) ME = LEXEME <word>
 4. <toxic chemical> HYDROGEN CYANIDE = (DOC YEARNING)* inside HYDE
 5. <record> DOCUMENT = MEN inside (DO CUT)
 6. HEADS TRON G = HEADSTRONG <showing no restraint>
 7. <fly> SOAR = ⭯OARS⭯
13. <diplomat> AMBASSADOR = A MBA'S SAD OR
15. DATE inside PIERRE = PIED-A-TERRE <summer home>
17. ENCORE* outside MO = ONCE MORE <again>
20. TIDY outside _D _L = TIDDLY <somewhat drunk>
22. THREE - H = TREE <plane?>
24. G I'VE = GIVE <to donate>