Chapter II: Preface

The anxiety necessarily attendant upon the publication of this volume being now brought to a close, it only remains to apologise for the delay, for which many reasons might be adduced, and to express a hope that it may be received with the same favour which has for so long a period been kindly extended to the works of Thomas Bewick. It may be matter of interest to many of his admirers to learn that the whole of the wood cuts now in the hands of the family are in as good preservation as when they left the graver.[1]

Footnote 1:

As evidence of which, it is impossible to distinguish the cuts
introduced into the last edition of “Birds” from those previously
published. This is due to the well-known fact, as mentioned at page
243, that an immense number of impressions may be taken from a wood
block; and to the system, peculiar to Thomas Bewick, of lowering all
the more delicate parts.

This volume was considerably advanced at press before it was decided to append the cuts of the Fishes; an arrangement which it is hoped may meet with general approbation—more particularly as, by that means, the cuts and the vignettes[2] engraved for the History of Fishes will thus go together. Much additional matter respecting the Fishes, which had occupied so much time and attention, would doubtless have found a place in the pages of the Memoir, had not the hand of Death so suddenly arrested the labours of the Author. From the ample materials which exist, the Appendix might have been greatly extended, but it is now felt to be desirable to bring the publication to a termination as speedily as possible.

J. B.

Gateshead-on-Tyne, May, 1862.

Footnote 2:

The vignette placed at page 286—a view of Cherryburn, with Mickley
Bank in the distance, and a funeral procession descending the sloping
pasture towards the boat, waiting to convey it across the Tyne to the
last resting-place of the family at Ovingham—appears, from the date
attached, to be the last vignette ever executed by Thomas Bewick.

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It is at this period when the full value of a well-spent life will shine with full effulgence upon the mind, and spread over it a self-approbation of more worth than all the riches of the world. An ill-spent life, on the contrary, will bring forward its recollections, and send the guilty and polluted body unregretted to the grave, and the degraded soul to the Giver of it, to be disposed of, in the justice and mercy it will be found to deserve.—_Loose Note._

T. B.

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CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Introductory—Parentage—Birth, 1753—Mickley School—Ovingham 1–13
School—First attempts at drawing—Hunting
parties—Sheep—Shelter for sheep in snow
storms—Birds—Border songs and laments—Earl of
Derwentwater—Whins food for cattle

CHAPTER II.

Employments in spring—Angling—Mischievous pranks—Floggings 14–31
at school—Ghosts and Boggles—Change in the
mind—Man-fights, dog-fights, cock-fights—Fear of ghosts
entertained by the bulk of the people—Meet the Devil going
a-guising—Miss Gregson’s reproof—Mr. Gregson’s
lecture—Birds and their nests—Ants—Bees

CHAPTER III.

Description of Cherryburn—The surrounding common—The 32–49
peasantry—Will Bewick—Anthony Liddell—Thos. Forster—John
Chapman—Their peculiarities and way of life—The very old
men—Their avidity for news—Old Soldiers—John Cowie—Ben
Garlick—Their enthusiastic description of the battles they
had fought—The Borderers—Their propensity for war and
rapine—Their names—The farmers of Tyneside—The lairds—The
gentry—Plan of the late Duke of Northumberland for raising
the character of the peasantry—Parish relief
degrading—Proposed iron works at Eltringham—Failure of the
scheme

CHAPTER IV.

Sent on trial to Ralph Beilby, engraver—Day of the binding 50–61
arrives—Grief on leaving the country—Call at the
parsonage, Ovingham—Assembling of the villagers at the
church-yard gates—Betty Kell’s luck penny—Journey to
Newcastle, accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Gregson and his
son—Lecture—Christopher Gregson bound on the same
day—Scrape at King Jamie’s Well—New master and his
discipline—Sketch of the Family—Copy Copeland’s
Ornaments—Block out the diagrams for Charles Hutton’s
work—Etch sword-blades for W. and N. Oley, of Shotley
Bridge—Coarse work of the shop—Silversmiths’ work—Wood cut
of George and the Dragon—Cuts for Children’s books—Story
Teller—Gay’s Fables—Select Fables—Obtain a premium for the
cut of the old hound—Mr. Gregson’s congratulations
thereupon

CHAPTER V.

Lodge with Mrs. Blackett—Gilbert Gray—His excellent 62–79
character—Lodge at Hatfields—Scamps and tramps—Rise early
and obtain access to my master’s books, and to those at
the workshop of Wm. Gray—Religious books—Become unwell—Dr.
Bailes prescribes—Recommends temperance and exercise—Walks
to Elswick Whey-house—Bread and milk diet—Walks to
Cherryburn after shop hours—Reflections on getting into
debt—William Bulmer, printer—Robert Pollard,
engraver—Thomas Spence—His vagaries—George Gray—His worthy
character—Engrave cuts for Dr. Hutton’s Mathematical
Works, 1773, and for Dr. Horsley’s edition of Sir Isaac
Newton’s works, 1778—Bird catchers and bird
dealers—Profligate men—Serjeant Hymers—Whittaker
Shadforth—Practise the manual exercise—Miss Beilby—Her
death

CHAPTER VI.

Expiration of apprenticeship, 1774—Return to 80–93
Cherryburn—Employed on wood cuts for printers—Remain at
Cherryburn till 1776—Beauty of
Tyneside—Hunting—Angling—Northumberland pipes—Pedestrian
tour to Cumberland—Carlisle—Langholm—Hawick—
Selkirk—Dalkeith—Edinburgh—Border scenery—Auld Reekie—Walk
to Glasgow—To Dumbarton—Smollett’s monument on the side of
the Leven—Walk through the Highlands of Scotland—Grandeur
of the scenery—Admiration of the people—Their
dwellings—Their loyalty to Prince Charles—Their
hospitality—Fairs and trysts—Scotch music and
dancing—Leave the Highlands with regret—Walk to
Stirling—Thence by Linlithgow to Edinburgh—Return to
Newcastle by sea

CHAPTER VII.

Visit London, 1776—Meeting with friends and 94–104
schoolfellows—Execute wood cuts for Isaac Taylor—Meet with
Serjeant Hymers—Wood cuts for Thomas Hodgson—Work for Mr.
Carnan and Mr. Newberry—Fallen women and their
misery—Reverse of the picture—Celebrated
preachers—Religions of different sects—Preference for the
Church of England—Offer of procuring employment with Mr.
Pingo of the Mint—Surplus cash, how disposed of—Dislike to
London—Determine to leave it—Mr. Taylor remonstrates on
the subject—Mr. Hodgson’s kind offer to furnish
employment—His legacy—Leave London by sea—Arrive at
Newcastle, 1777

CHAPTER VIII.

Fit up a work bench at Hatfields—Offer of partnership with 105–114
Mr. Beilby—Reflections thereon—Brother John Bewick—His
amiable disposition—His talent—Visits to Cherryburn with
him—His early death, 1795—Angling—River-side
scenery—Change of the seasons—Reflections—Hardy
constitution

CHAPTER IX.

Presentiment of a change at Cherryburn—Death of father, 115–123
mother, and sister, 1785—Sketches of their
characters—Visits to Cherryburn cease—George
Parkin—Diabolical attempt on his life

CHAPTER X.

Isaac Hymen—Mr. Langlands—Matthew Prior—American war—Alfred 124–134
the Great—Become acquainted with a society of literary
young men—Their dinners—Their songs—Northumberland pipes
introduced at the Theatre—Peacock—Cant—John Bowman—His
skill on the fife

CHAPTER XI.

Thomas Lawson—Walk to York with Philip Gregson—Return by 135–143
Borough Bridge—Darlington—Westward by Bowes—Over
Stainmore—To Penrith and Ainstable—To Cherryburn and
Newcastle—Perambulation to Berwick—Stop at Elwick—Nearly
swept away by the tide in crossing to Holy Island—Speeches
delivered at Alnwick—Swarley’s Club—Wood cuts for
Hutchinson’s History of Durham—For Walker, of Hereford—For
Nicholson, of Ludlow—For Bulmer’s publications of
Parnell’s Hermit and Goldsmith’s Deserted Village—Copper
plates for Sir Harry Liddell’s tour to Lapland—Canal
plates, 1796

CHAPTER XII.

Commence the History of Quadrupeds with the wood cut of the 144–152
Dromedary, 1785—Rev. R. Oliphant—Rev. T. Hornby—Marriage
with Miss Elliot—Her death, 1826—Visit to Chillingham,
1789—Large wood cut of the Chillingham Bull—Visit John
Bell at Eslington—Make a drawing there of a Newfoundland
dog—Illness of Rev. C. Gregson—His death, 1790—His
estimable character

CHAPTER XIII.

Commence first volume of the History of Birds—Charmed with 153–165
the subject—Ornithological works of that
day—Correspondence with friends and amateurs on the
subject—Visit Mr. Tunstal’s museum at Wycliffe, 1791—Make
drawings of birds there—Lodge with John Goundry—Rev. Dr.
Zouch—His hospitality—His liberality of
sentiment—Christians and Christianity—Thoughts on the
Deity—Man in Society—Genus homo—Canine race—Their
instincts—Return from Wycliffe—Visit an old
schoolfellow—Preserved birds superseded by birds newly
shot—Birds sent by General Dalbiac, Lieutenant-Colonel
Dalton, Major Shore, Major H. F. Gibson, and from all
parts of the kingdom—First volume of History of Birds
finished at press, 1797—Mr. Beilby retires—Gratitude a
rare virtue—Carelessness in money matters—Second volume of
the Birds published, 1804—Additions to the first
volume—Severe confinement and application—Motives for
labours—Encouraged by amateurs

CHAPTER XIV.

Natural History retarded by the work of the shop—Writing 166–171
engraving—Plates for bank notes—Prevention of
forgery—Carlisle bank note—King George III. approves of
this note—Correspondence with S. Thornton, Esq., 1801—Ends
in nothing—Commission appointed to investigate the subject
of forgery, 1818—Engrave plates for the Berwick Bank—The
Northumberland Bank—Gave in a plan to the
commissioners—The leading objects permanency,
&c.—Correspondence with Sir Joseph Banks on the
subject—Fairman, Perkins, and Heath—Their
specimens—Opinions of the commissioners delivered in the
House of Commons by Mr. Pierce—Sir William Congreve a
commissioner—His successful operations

CHAPTER XV.

Illness, 1812—Æsop’s Fables commenced—An arduous 172–184
undertaking—Published, 1818—Remarks on the French
Revolution, 1789—Causes of it—War declared by England,
1793—Waste of life and treasure—Apathy of country
gentlemen—Remarks on the loyalty of that day—Valour of
British seamen—Rise in the value of land—Incites to
agricultural improvements—Messrs. Bailey and Culley—Their
agricultural reports—Mr. Smith’s Cheviot sheep—Make a
drawing of a ram—Sagacity of the shepherd’s dog—Fat cattle
for Durham report

CHAPTER XVI.

Further remarks on the measures and supporters of Mr. 185–189
Pitt—Witches—Their treatment—Consequences of ignorance—Mr.
Pitt’s motives—General Bonaparte’s victories—His ambition
and consequent ruin—Reflections on war and its
horrors—What might have been done with the men and the
money—The moss-troopers—Their ferocity

CHAPTER XVII.

Gifts of Omnipotence to the human race—Duty of man to 190–199
cultivate these gifts—Consequences of neglecting these
duties—Education to be given to every one—An imperative
duty upon the community—To check the reasoning power a
crime—Masters and servants—Equality impossible—Patriotism
a first duty—Alfred the Great—Foundation of England’s
glory laid by him—Free discussion should be
encouraged—Review of past transactions—Foreign despots and
demi-oligarchs—Loans wrung from the people—Jacobins,
Levellers, and Radicals—Fears for the safety of Great
Britain—The King can settle this question, and entitle
himself to the gratitude of posterity

CHAPTER XVIII.

Major Cartwright—Disapprove of his scheme of universal 200–207
suffrage—Elections may be simplified—Wasteful expenditure
to be avoided—Holy Alliance—Spain and
Italy—Superstition—Society for the Suppression of
Vice—Constitutional Association—Its object—Betrayers of
innocence, robbers of widows—Tattoo their
backs—Criminals—Plan to redeem their characters—Laws of
England—Need of revision—The learned
professions—Preference for medical men

CHAPTER XIX.

Remarks on the education of children—Their health and 208–217
pursuits—Education of girls—Horticulture and Floriculture
recommended to ladies—Freeholders—Their
duties—Oaths—Immorality—Profligacy—Thoughts on
marriage—Education of boys

CHAPTER XX.

The game laws—Riflemen—The fisheries—Grants in feudal 218–230
times—A change necessary—The way to effect
this—Remuneration to the present owners—Salmon formerly
abundant in the Tyne—Spawning places—Weirs and dams—Impure
water—Appointment of vigilant guards—Destruction of Salmon
by the porpoise—Suggestions for catching the porpoise—Uses
to which they may be applied—Necessity of protecting the
parent fishes—Incredible number of the fry—The
angler—Angling ought to be unchecked—Preserved waters
debar the angler—Formation of Waltonian Societies
recommended—Their duties—Constant beating of the streams
to be discountenanced—Pought nets—Catching the fry in
mill-races, and liming the burns, to be prohibited—Angling
and its delights—Beautiful scenery—Permanent pools may be
stocked with eels—Further reflections on the subject

CHAPTER XXI.

Visit Edinburgh, 1823—Kind attentions shown—Morning walks to 231–236
Elswick Lane—Contemplations in church-yards—Thoughts on
monuments—Inscriptions on rocks—Erection of pillars over
copious springs

CHAPTER XXII.

First efforts in engraving on wood—Progress—Difficulties to 237–244
contend with—Albert Durer—His cross-hatching and drawings
on the wood—Printing from two or three blocks—Artists of
the present day—Improved methods of Printing wood
blocks—Attempt at colour on the wood—Lowering the
back-ground—Stronger lines left to protect the cut—A
delicate _fac_ known to have printed above 900,000
impressions

CHAPTER XXIII.

Prints from large blocks formerly in use in cottages—Great 245–250
variety of the subjects—Blocks printed in colours—Gubitz
of Berlin—Impressions from duplicate and triplicate
blocks, by J. B. Jackson—Stroke engraving—Its capabilities
in landscape—William Woollett—His unequalled landscapes on
copper—His probable excellence as a wood engraver, so as
to rival copper—Further notice of John Bewick and R. E.
Bewick

CHAPTER XXIV.

Advice to artists—Difficulties of choosing a 251–257
profession—Study of nature to be preferred—Old
masters—Their varied excellences—Poetry and
painting—Musical talent—Beauty of wild
scenery—Thompson—Allan Ramsay

CHAPTER XXV.

The Bible—The sublime precepts it contains—The 258–264
Israelites—Intentions of Omnipotence—Wonders of the
universe—The deluge—Early history of mankind—The Bible the
first instrument of knowledge—A future state

CHAPTER XXVI.

Interpretation of the Scriptures—The mind, the soul, and the 265–270
reasoning powers of man—Religion natural and necessary to
man—The inspired Author of Christianity—His pure and
perfect doctrines

CHAPTER XXVII.

The miracle of creation—Adoration due to the great Author of 271–277
the whole—Paganism and succeeding errors—Evils of
intolerance—Good effected by monks of old—The
Reformation—American institutions—Established clergy—Their
learning and acquirements—Fanaticism—Ravings of Ranters

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Religion and philosophy conjoined necessary to human 278–285
happiness—Selection of clergymen—Wonders of the
universe—Intended for the contemplation of every human
being—Revenues of the clergy—More equal division
recommended—Ireland and the Irish-Catholic
emancipation—Absentees—Protestants and
Catholics—Reflections on the value of religious
education—Colleges for the purpose—No limit to the
improvement of the human mind—Nor to the capabilities of
the human frame

FINAL 286

APPENDIX 289–344

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MEMOIR OF THOMAS BEWICK.

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