I HAVE, with all the consideration I have been able coolly to bestow
upon the subject, become clearly of opinion, that the highest character
a man can hope to attain to in this life is that of being a religious
philosopher; and he cannot be the latter without religion being deeply
impressed upon his mind; and, without the aid of religion and philosophy
conjointly, he need not hope to feel all the happiness in this world
attendant upon his approach towards perfection. The happiness derived
from ignorance is like that of unreasoning animals; and, in carrying
this a little further, or to the extreme, it is, comparatively, like the
happiness enjoyed by a gate-post.
It is from amongst men of this enlightened character only that all and
every clergyman ought to be selected, without permitting the least
interference of private patronage; for that has been, and will continue
to be, an evil of the most benumbing magnitude, which will—if not
stopped—upset the best laid plans, and render such nugatory, or null and
void. Could such a stride as this towards purity ever be accomplished,
then every village ought to have its church, and would thus become a
religious, a moral, and a patriotic little community, in which its
preceptors ought to teach youth the usual routine of their education
five days in the week, and those of all ages on the Sunday. This clergy
ought not to be sworn to any belief, nor trammeled with any creeds, but
only to promise, with the help of God, to instil into the minds of their
hearers the purest religious adoration of the Omnipotent, and the best
maxims of morality. In this the Scriptures would supply them with its
pure and sublime precepts, and, above all, the still more sublime and
amazing works contained in the great Book of the Creation is amply
spread out before them, and made up of the living, the visible, words of
God, so plainly to be seen, read, and felt, that howsoever miraculous
and astonishing they are, it would require no stretch of faith to
believe in them all. From these, such a clergy, one after another in
succession for ages, might take their texts, ever new, and preach from
them to all eternity; for, as to the number of subjects to preach from
and explain, they would be found to be endless even on this globe we
dwell upon, without soaring to those in the regions of immensity; and,
if its wonders were productive of disease, enlightened men would die of
wondering!
Were a clergy of this description established, there could be no fears
entertained of their teaching anything wrong; they would, on the
contrary, from their knowledge and virtue, be the pillars of the state
and the mainstays and ornaments of civilization. Every church ought to
have its library of good books, and its philosophical apparatus, to
illustrate or explain the various phenomena of nature, and the amazing
magnitude and distances of the “Heavenly bodies;” or, rather, the
incalculable number of suns and worlds floating about with the velocity
of light, in immeasurable, endless space. It is from these
contemplations that something like the truest conception of the Adorable
Author of the whole can be formed; and it would soon be found that men
of common capacities, and without having even been taught to read and
write, would be at no loss to understand the clear lectures delivered on
this latter subject. I think it would be folly, or worse than folly, to
entertain any suspicion that poor men, thus enlightened, would forget
the station in which they are placed, and cease to work honestly to
maintain themselves, or to become bad members of society. On the
contrary, it is reasonable to conclude that such a universal spread of
knowledge as would follow this system of education, and this kind of
religious worship, would stamp the character of a whole people as
intelligent, good, subjects; and it appears to me certain that, until
such a mode of enlightened Christianity is adopted and acted upon,
mankind will continue to be torn asunder, as they have too long been,
and that, if it could quickly be spread over the partly civilized world,
there would never more be any religious bickerings or animosities on
that score, and that then, but not till then, all mankind would become
as brethren.
I am well aware that the pride and the fears of what are called the
dignified clergy, might operate powerfully against the purity and
simplicity of such a change. If so, they will then thus clearly and
decisively show that it is a system of revenue only, and not religion,
that they can be fearful of upsetting; but, if none of these are
deprived of their present livings (or an equivalent to their value),
which they hold only during their lives, what have they to be afraid of?
To sell their present enormous revenues, and fund the amount, and then
divide the interest equally amongst the newly-established clergy, would
be only fair and just; and they, above all other men, ought to be
perfectly independent,—amply provided for, without being obliged to
collect any other revenue,—and made as happy as men can be in this
world; and, whatever might be deemed sufficient, a certain sum taken
from this income ought also to be funded as a provision to support them
in their declining years. Such a body of men as this clergy could not
fail of being revered and held in the greatest respect and estimation by
all good and wise men; and what more any good and wise man can wish for
in this world, I am at a loss to know.
It is from government, with the aid of our own enlightened and
liberal-minded clergy, and other such like men, that this important
business, in my opinion, ought to be openly and boldly taken up. They
ought to have the honour to show the way, and not leave any other nation
to take the lead of them in such a mighty and momentous concern, in
which the happiness of the whole human race would become most deeply
interested; and, from the change in men’s minds which is now taking
place, and widely spreading, this change, by its own weight, will most
assuredly happen, perhaps at no very distant day.
Were our own government inclined to make this improvement in religion
and politics, they would assuredly see the happiest results from it: it
would soon be found that there would then be no need to keep Ireland in
subjection, like a conquered country, by an expensive military force.
The Irish, naturally acute, lively, generous, and brave, would soon feel
themselves, under our excellent constitution, as happy and loyal a
people as any in the world, and as much attached to their country,
which, for its healthy climate and fertile soil, may match with any
other on this globe. One would hope that the native gentry would at
length see the very reprehensible injustice of becoming absentees.
Landowners in all countries, as well as in Ireland, ought as far as
possible to spend their rents where they receive them. Where they do not
do so, any country is certain to become poor.[41] Ireland ought
instantly to be put upon a par, in every respect, with their fellow
subjects of the British Isles. To withhold Catholic emancipation from
Ireland appears to me to be invidious and unjust; and, if emancipated,
it would be found at no very distant period that they would, under the
foregoing tuition, individually become enlightened, think for
themselves, adopt a rational religious belief, and throw off the bigotry
and superstition taught them with such sedulous care from their infancy,
and by which they have so long been led blindfold. If they could be
brought to think, and to muster up so much of the reasoning power as to
do all this, they would soon emancipate themselves. But even on this
business it must be observed that the Protestant Establishment does not
interfere with the Catholic modes of faith; they may preach up and
believe in what they please. In this they are not only fully tolerated,
but are also protected in their worship, so that on this score they can
have nothing to complain of. But beyond this the Protestant ascendancy,
having all the rich church livings secured to themselves, are fearful
that the Catholics, ever watchful, and never ceasing in their struggles
to be at the head of all church affairs—they, the Protestants, have
become extremely jealous lest the emancipation now so eagerly wished for
may, if granted, be a prelude to further future strides, and that the
latent objects the Catholics have in view is to partake in these rich
livings, or to get them wholly to themselves. To dwell longer on these
matters seems to me useless; for, so long as rich livings are set apart
as a provision for those whose creeds continue in fashion, all the
various numerous sects who dissent will always be barking at them, until
the purity and simplicity of worshipping one God only can be
established, and which to a certainty will one day happen. Till then,
all arguments on this subject may seem to be in vain.
Footnote 41:
In my ardent wish for the perfect happiness and union of the sister
Isles, I have suffered my sanguine imagination to wish and hope that
some great convulsion of nature might some day happen to throw up the
bed of the sea between them, so as to unite them both in one; and
present a south-western rocky front to the ocean. I see no harm in
indulging in such reveries; they may, indeed, be visionary, but they
are innocent ones.
Having given my opinion on religious matters freely and sincerely, and
with the best intentions, in which I do not wish to dictate, but only
wish mankind to think for themselves on such a momentous and important
affair as that of their present and their future eternal happiness, I
leave them to their own reflections, and shall only furthermore attempt
to show some of the salutary effects which I suppose would follow from
mine. I first picture to myself that I see such a body of learned,
rationally religious, moral, and patriotic men as this clergy spread
over our already matchless country: and that the effects of their
tuition and example, founded on honour and virtue, would very soon be
seen and felt amongst all ranks of society, and would further exalt the
character of our countrymen over the whole globe, as patterns for
imitation to the rest of mankind. It is only by an education like this,
that any country can hope that its institutions can remain unbroken up,
and endure as a nation for ever; but so it will be, if the government is
founded on wisdom and virtue, and backed by a whole people of the same
character. To rear up and establish such a renovated order of things as
I have with diffidence recommended, and coolly and deliberately to do
away with old errors, will not, perhaps, be soon or easily done; for
there are so many interests to consult, and so many men of the character
to doubt and despair of accomplishing anything, however good, that, if
they have influence over weak minds to help them out in this disposition
to despondency, it will have the direct tendency to realize such doubts,
and to throw a cold damp over the best and wisest plans. But we ought
never to despair of accomplishing anything where our objects in view are
good ones. To minds thus gifted, and such as this clergy it is hoped
would possess, there could be little need to dictate. Their own good
sense, aided by the gentry of the land, would constantly enable them to
see when anything was going wrong in each little community, and speedily
to rectify it. Such a number of little colleges spread over the land
would excellently prepare such youths as might be intended to finish
their education in colleges of a higher character, so as to fit them to
fulfil the various offices of the state, in any of its several
departments, as well as the many other employments they might be
destined to pursue; and in this the teachers would have it greatly in
their power to discover the talents or innate powers of mind of their
pupils, as well as the bent of their inclinations, so as to be enabled
to advise or direct inexperienced youths as to what might best suit
their several capacities; and to point out to them the proper course of
education that might lead to the calling or occupation in which they
might make the most respectable figure when they were launched into the
world. This duty of every teacher is an important one, and would require
the keenest observation to make the true discovery; for, after all, we
may be assured of this, that it is impossible to set bounds to the
improvement of the human mind, and it is also equally so to limit the
capabilities of the human frame when duly cultivated....
_November 1st, 1828._
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINAL.
IN offering these my sentiments and opinions, derived from the
observations I have made in my passage through life, I have never
intended to give offence to good men. With these sentiments some may be
pleased and others displeased, but, conscious of the rectitude of my
intentions, I do not covet the praises of the one nor fear the censures
of the other. It is at another tribunal that I, as well as all other
men, are to account for their conduct.
[Illustration]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
THOMAS BEWICK
GENTLY SIGHED AWAY HIS LAST BREATH
AT HALF-PAST ONE
ON THE MORNING OF THE
8TH NOVEMBER, 1828.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
APPENDIX.
AFTER Thomas Bewick retired from business in favour of his son, he
continued, till his death, to employ himself closely, at home, in
filling-up gaps in his History of British Birds; and, in conjunction
with his son, he also commenced a History of British Fishes. The
finished specimens of these, on the wood, are now for the first time
published in this Memoir. A portion of a series of appropriate
Vignettes, also executed by him for the work on Fishes, are now employed
as embellishments in the preceding pages. About twenty of the set,
together with six new birds, were printed in the last edition of the
History of Birds. It may be proper to add, that the late Robert Elliot
Bewick left about fifty highly-finished and accurately-coloured drawings
of fishes from nature, together with a portion of the descriptive matter
relating to the work.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BRITISH FISHES.
[Illustration:
BASSE.
(_Perca Labrax._—LINNÆUS.)
]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration:
FIFTEEN-SPINED STICKLEBACK.
(_Gasterosteus spinachia._—LINNÆUS.)
]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration:
BREAM.
(_Sparus Raii._—BLOCH.)
]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration:
JOHN DORY.
(_Zeus faber._—LINNÆUS.)
]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration:
BLACK GOBY.
(_Gobius niger._—LINNÆUS.)
]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration:
BALLAN WRASSE.
(_Ballan Wrasse._—PENNANT.)
]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration:
BARBEL.
(_Cyprinus barbus._—LINNÆUS.)
]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration:
GUDGEON.
(_Cyprinus gobio._—LINNÆUS.)
]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration:
TENCH.
(_Cyprinus Tinca._—BLOCH.)
]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration:
DACE OR DARE.
(_Cyprinus leuciscus._—BLOCH.)
]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration:
SAURY.
(_Esox Saurus._—PENNANT.)
]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration:
GAR FISH.
(_Esox Belone._—LINNÆUS.)
]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration:
SAMLET OR BRANDLING.
(_Salmo Fario._—LINNÆUS.)
]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration:
LUMP SUCKER.
(_Cyclopterus lumpus._—LINNÆUS.)
]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration:
DOG FISH.
(_Squalus Acanthias._—LINNÆUS.)
]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration:
THE MAIGRE.
(_SCIÆNA AQUILA._—CUVIER.)
]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration:
WEEVER.
(_Trachinus draco._—PENNANT.)
]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration]
THE ALARM.[42]
Footnote 42:
This fable was written and illustrated by T. Bewick, for his “Fables
of Æsop,” and is now published for the first time.
THE hollow grumblings of the devils on earth having reached the infernal
regions, Satan ordered an enquiry immediately to be made into the cause
of their outcry, and commanded a trio of his choicest associates
forthwith to fly with the velocity of light to see, and to report to
him, what was the matter. On their arrival on earth, they were met,
during the night, when men were asleep, by a deputation selected from
innumerable hosts of imps from every kingdom and state of the
uncivilized as well as the civilized world. They soon were given to
understand, that an outrageous mutiny, amounting to rebellion, had been
going on for some time against their old king, Ignorance, who was
accused of having become very remiss and negligent of his duty. For this
they resolved to have him hurled from his high station, and to have
another ruler appointed in his stead. It was alleged that, owing to his
neglect, mankind had lately begun to use their intellectual faculties to
such a degree, that it was feared, if they were suffered to go on, Satan
would (though very unjustly) lay the blame on them for the loss of his
subjects. Old Ignorance was immediately brought to judgment, and at the
same time other candidates for his office offered their services to
succeed him. The voting instantly took place, and was decided in the
twinkling of an eye, when it was found that old Ignorance was re-elected
by a great majority; for, on casting up the votes, they stood thus:—
PRINCIPALS. SATELLITES. IMPS.
{ Vanity.
}
Ignorance. { 300,000,000.
Superstition. }
{ Sensuality.
}
{ Arrogance.
}
Pride. { Envy. 100,000,000.
}
{ Obstinacy.
}
{ Blasphemy.
}
{ Revenge.
}
Malice. { Injustice. 100,000,000.
}
{ Cruelty.
}
─────────────────────────────────────────
Majority for 200,000,000
old Ignorance
The candidates who had lately contended with him in aspiring to supreme
command, having been appointed his chief ministers, he was sworn to
redouble his vigilence: in return for which it was finally decreed that
he should, in future, have seven links added to his tail, and his head
adorned with six horns, instead of two. His infernal honour being thus
pledged, the work of mischief was instantly begun, by his commanding his
ministers and their satellites to redouble their vigilence, by throwing
the mists of ignorance over the minds of the rulers and teachers of
mankind, and to fill their minds with superstition, bigotry, pride, and
arrogant zeal. All the imps of minor consideration were also ordered to
direct the unreasoning, lazy, envious, wicked, gross, vulgar herd of
mankind, high and low, into the paths which lead to misery. Having thus
concluded their mission, the innumerable host set off, like a whirlwind,
amidst the glare of lightning and the roar of thunder, to take up their
abode in the minds of men, where they had been nursed before; but
millions of their number, who had been dismissed from the minds of good
men, dropped behind, and, in their fall through endless space, by the
violence of their motion, ignited, were whirled into balls of fire, and
gravitated to the sun. The rest proceeded; their numbers eclipsed the
moon, and the effluvia which exhaled from them in their flight caused
plague, pestilence, and famine in the countries they passed over, and
the concussion they made in the air is said to have shaken the ices from
the poles.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
APPLICATION.
IF there be a plurality of devils, Ignorance must be their king; and
through his influence only men are wicked; and, under him and his
satellites, the wretchedness they have dealt out to mankind ever since
their chequered reign began has disfigured the fair face of nature; and
they have too often succeeded, in the struggles between virtue and vice,
in obscuring the reasoning powers of man, and bringing him down to the
level of the brute. For no sooner was it decreed by Omnipotence that his
reasoning creatures should live in a state of civilized society,
suitable to their natures and befitting so high a behest, than these
enemies to this good order of things obtruded themselves upon it, and
have too long and too often succeeded in baffling the efforts of good
men in their aims at approaching towards perfection, and in thwarting
the progress of mental improvement, and the consequent happiness of the
human race. They have, with the glimmering light of their _ignis
fatuus_, led their devotees in zig-zag, backward and forward paths,
through misty bogs and quagmires, into the midnight glooms and chaotic
darkness which envelope their wretched dens. The bloody pages of history
have in part recorded some of the many miseries which have from time to
time been inflicted upon their victims; but to enumerate only a portion
would be an irksome as well as an endless task.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRINTS BY MEANS OF A SERIES OF WOOD BLOCKS.
THE Author, at page 249 of this Memoir, in stating what he believes may
be done by the printing of large wood cuts from two or more blocks, so
as to rival the landscapes of William Woollett on copper, intimates his
intention of making the attempt, to show that it is not a visionary
theory. With this view, he executed a large wood cut, the subject being
an old horse “waiting for death.” A first proof was taken a few days
before his death. An impression at the same time was transferred to a
second block, the exact size of the first, and was intended to have been
engraved to heighten and improve the effect of the print; and a third
was prepared to be used if necessary. A few impressions of the first of
the series were printed in London in 1832, and were accompanied by a
descriptive history of the horse, written so far back as 1785. The print
(in a finished state) was intended to have been dedicated to the
“Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals,” and was also meant
to serve as one of a set of cheap embellishments for the walls of
cottages. The history of the old horse “waiting for death” is
subjoined.[43]
Footnote 43:
The vignette at page 53, vol. i, last edition of the “History of
British Birds,” will be found printed with two additional blocks as a
title page to the second edition of the “Quadrupeds,” quarto, without
letterpress, 1824.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WAITING FOR DEATH.
In the morning of his days he was handsome, sleek as a raven, sprightly
and spirited, and was then much caressed and happy. When he grew to
perfection, in his performances, even on the turf, and afterwards in the
chase, and in the field, he was equalled by few of his kind. At one time
of his life he saved that of his master, whom he bore, in safety, across
the rapid flood; but having, in climbing the opposite rocky shore,
received a blemish, it was thought _prudent_ to dispose of him; after
which he fell into the hands of different masters, but from none of them
did he ever eat the bread of idleness; and, as he grew in years, his cup
of misery was still augmented with bitterness.
It was once his hard lot to fall into the hands of _Skinflint_, a
horse-keeper, an authorised wholesale and retail dealer in cruelty, who
employed him alternately, but closely, as a hack, both in the chaise and
for the saddle; for when the traces and trappings, used in the former,
had peeled the skin from off his breast, shoulders, and sides, he was
then, as his back was whole, thought fit for the latter; indeed, his
exertions, in this _service of unfeeling avarice_ and _folly_, were
great beyond belief. He was always, late and early, made ready for
action; he was never allowed to rest, even on the Sabbath day, because
he could trot well, had a good bottom, and was the best hack in town;
and, it being a day of pleasure and pastime, he was much sought after by
beings, _in appearance_, something like gentlemen; in whose hands his
sufferings were greater than his nature could bear. Has not the
compassionate eye beheld him whipped, spurred, and galloped beyond his
strength, in order to accomplish double the length of the journey that
he was engaged to perform, till, by the inward grief expressed in his
countenance, he seemed to plead for mercy, one would have thought most
powerfully, but, alas, in vain! In the whole load which he bore (as was
often the case), not an ounce of humanity could be found; and, his rider
being determined to have pennyworths for his money, the ribs of this
silent slave, where not a hair had for long been suffered to grow, were
still ripped up. He was pushed forward through a stony rivulet, then on
hard road against the hill, and having lost a shoe, split his hoof, and
being quite spent with hunger and fatigue, he fell, broke his nose and
his knees, and was unable to proceed;—and becoming greased, spavined,
ringboned, blind of an eye, and the skin, by repeated friction, being
worn off all the large prominences of his body, he was judged to be only
fit for the dogs:—however, one shilling and sixpence beyond the
dog-horse price saved his life, and he became the property of a poor
dealer and horse doctor.
It is amazing to think upon the vicissitudes of his life: he had often
been burnished up, his teeth defaced by art, peppered under his tail;
having been the property of a general, a gentleman, a farmer, a miller,
a butcher, a higgler, and a maker of brooms. A hard winter coming on, a
want of money, and a want of meat, obliged his poor owner to turn him
out to shift for himself. His former fame and great value are now, to
him, not worth a handful of oats. But his days and nights of misery are
now drawing to an end; so that, after having faithfully dedicated the
whole of his powers and his time to the service of unfeeling man, he is
at last turned out, unsheltered and unprotected, to starve of hunger and
of cold.
1785.
[Illustration]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
JOHN BEWICK.
THAT rare old book, “A Collection of all the Ancient Poems, Songs, and
Ballads, relative to Robin Hood,” published by Ritson, 1795, was
embellished by John Bewick. Three of the cuts are introduced in the
following pages. A comparison of them with the book itself, will show
the great improvement which has taken place in the printing of wood cuts
since that day. It may not, perhaps, be out of place to insert an
extract from a letter, on the subject of these cuts, written by the
antiquary to the artist, more than half a century ago.
“Gray’s Inn.
“J. Ritson is sorry he was gone out when Mr. Bewick called; but
hopes he will proceed with the other cuts, which shall be left
entirely to his own fancy, and in which he will undoubtedly
consult his own reputation.”…
Amongst the many books illustrated by John Bewick, now very scarce, a
few may be enumerated:—“The Looking Glass for the Mind,” “Proverbs
Exemplified,”[44] “The Progress of Man in Society,” “Blossoms of
Morality.” The last-named was published by Mr. Newberry, to whom, for
his charming little books, the rising generation of that day was under
great obligation. In his preface, dated October 6th, 1796, Mr. N. says:—
Footnote 44:
The publisher, Dr. Trussler, quaintly observes, “It is a very proper
book to amuse and instruct youth, and the price, viz. 3_s._,
half-bound, will hurt no one.”
“Much time has elapsed since the commencement of this edition,
owing to a severe indisposition with which the artist was long
afflicted, and which unfortunately terminated in his death. And
sorry, very sorry, are we to be compelled to state, that this is
the last effort of his incomparable genius.”
[Illustration]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CORRESPONDENCE.
THE following letters are selected from a large correspondence,
extending over many years, and, from the matter they contain, may not be
thought uninteresting. The first is addressed to T. Bewick, on the
occasion of his brother’s death, by Mr. Wm. Bulmer, a native of
Newcastle, and who is mentioned at page 70 as the first typographer of
his day. A portrait of this gentleman is given in Dr. Dibdin’s
“Bibliomania” (?) in connection with the “Bodoni Hum.” Mr. Bulmer died
at his villa, Clapham Rise, Surrey, at the close of the year 1828.
WILLIAM BULMER TO THOMAS BEWICK.
Cleveland Row, December 10, 1795.
DEAR BEWICK,
The death of your brother has hurt me much, I assure you. He was
a young man whose private virtues and professional talents I
equally admired; so much so, indeed, that as a grateful tribute
to his memory, I have this day clothed myself in mourning. His
death has affected me in a manner that has much depressed my
spirits. If my opinion or assistance in your intended record of
his worth, on the melancholy tombstone that is intended to mark
the place of his interment, can be of any use, I beg you will
command me. The blocks for Mr. Way’s work[45] have come safe to
hand, but he informs me that you have omitted to send the
head-piece to Tale Seventh, “The Mantle Made Amiss,” which I
must beg you will send along with the first parcel of blocks for
the Chase; and, in cutting the remainder of Mr. Way’s work, you
will cut head and tail-piece in the regular succession,
_agreeable to the numbers on the different sketches_, as any
omission on this head causes an interruption in the printing. As
to the blocks for “The Chase,” I have already told you my
situation. I must, therefore, entirely rely on your making a
_bold effort to finish them in the specified time_. The whole
number is only twelve blocks, besides the vignette for the
title. Many of the tail-pieces are small. I wish fine execution
in them, I confess, but yet there must be that happy mixture of
engraving in them that will at the same time produce a boldness
of effect. Mr. Way particularly requests that I will inform you
that the blocks last sent are perfectly to his wishes. Agreeably
to your desire, I have sent the death of your brother to the
London prints. And believe me,
Yours, very sincerely,
WILLIAM BULMER.
Footnote 45:
“Fabliaux, or Tales abridged from French Manuscripts of the 12th and
13th Centuries. By M. Le Grand. Translated into English verse, by G.
L. Way, Esq.” 1796.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
THOMAS BEWICK TO —.
Newcastle, 4th October, 1794.
DEAR SIR,[46]
I received yours of the 17th ult., and thank you for the opinion
you have given me of America. Before I get the Birds done, I
have no doubt of matters being brought to such a crisis as will
enable me to see clearly what course to steer. My fears are not
at what you think will happen in America: it is my own
much-loved country that I fear will be involved in the anarchy
you speak of; for I think there is not virtue enough left in the
country gentlemen to prevent it. I cannot hope for anything good
from the violent on either side; that can only be expected from
(I hope) the great majority of moderate men stepping manfully
forward to check the despotism of the one party and the
licentiousness of the other. A reform of abuses, in my opinion,
is wanted, and I wish that could be done with justice and
moderation; but it is because I do not hope or expect that will
take place in the way I wish it that makes me bend my mind
towards America....
Footnote 46:
It appears from the autograph letter here copied, that Thomas Bewick
at one time contemplated emigrating to America. The name of his
correspondent is not known.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
MRS. M—[47] TO THOMAS BEWICK.
April 4, 1805.
I cannot resist the pleasure of thanking Mr. Bewick for the
entertainment I have just experienced in looking over the second
volume of the “British Birds.” The vignettes are incomparable.
The one with the string of the kite over the poor man’s hat,—who
cannot extricate himself, having to conduct his horse through
the water,—and that of the man clinging to the arm of the tree,
and, still more, the four little boys riding triumphant on the
tombstones, without a moment’s reflection on the mementos of
death around them, are, I think, excellently done. The little
drawing Captain M— presented me with, from Mr. Bewick, will be
placed in a book with the others I had given me at Newcastle,
which I have the greatest value for, and shall be very happy, if
either business or pleasure brought Mr. Bewick to London, to
show them to him, in the highest preservation, and also to be
introduced to his ingenious son, to whom I beg my compliments;
and remain Mr. Bewick’s very great admirer and obliged
S. M—.
Footnote 47:
The lady here indicated was the wife of an officer. She was an amateur
artist, and was a frequent visitor when at Newcastle.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
THOMAS BEWICK TO MRS. M—.
Newcastle, May 20, 1805.
MADAM,
Your very kind and flattering letter of the 4th ult. has reached
me, and I am happy to find that the second volume of the Birds
meets with your approbation, and that some of my little whimsies
put into vignettes have afforded you any entertainment. Could I
have forseen that the sketches, which your partiality makes you
value, would ever have been thought worthy of your notice, I
certainly would have saved more of them for you, and not have
put so many of them into the fire. And now, if my time and
attention were not so fully taken up with conducting other parts
of my business, I could easily furnish such without end; but,
when the fancies pop into my head, I have not time even to
commit them to paper, and I am often obliged to sketch them at
once upon the wood. A second edition of both volumes of the
Birds is now at press; and, as I believe you wish me success, I
cannot help informing you, that, in my opinion, Mr. Walker, the
printer, is doing the work to look better than either of the
volumes now before the public. He has seen some defects in his
former mode of printing which he is remedying in this. I have
just seen Aikin’s “Annual Review,” in which he dwells at large,
in his criticism, upon the History of the Quadrupeds and the
Birds. There are many misstatements, and some mistakes of the
printer, but, otherwise, he has gone the utmost lengths in
praise of the whole; and, if his praise be just, it is highly
flattering to me. I never hoped to have any compliments paid to
me as an author. I furnished all the original remarks, &c., for
the Quadrupeds, and the first volume of the Birds; but, if I
could have got any person to write a book for me, I would never
have thought upon writing the second volume myself.
Necessity—not choice—set me to work in this way. It was the work
of the winter evenings, at my happy fireside, surrounded by my
wife and girls at work, and cheered at intervals by many a wild
tune on the Northumberland pipes, played by my now stout,
healthy boy.
I am, Madam,
With best wishes for your health and happiness,
Your much obliged servant,
THOMAS BEWICK.
P.S.—Should business take me to London, I will certainly take
the liberty to give you a call. My boy thinks himself much
obliged to you for your attention and great kindness to him. I
would fain indulge him with a visit to London, but I think he is
too young yet, and I have some fears that I shall feel awkward
at parting with him even for a short time.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
THOMAS BEWICK TO —[48]
Newcastle, 15th Nov., 1808.
DEAR SIR,
Your letter of the fourth inst., enclosing your promissory note
at six months, came safe to hand. Having calculated upon being
sooner paid, I was, I confess disappointed; but, however, on
thinking all matters over respecting your present expenses in,
as yet, an unproductive publication, and remembering your
continual good wishes towards me, I now see that I have to thank
you for the above remittance. You make me smile when you talk of
my “accumulated wealth.” I might, indeed, have been, by this
time, as rich as I ever wished to be, if my publications had
been.... but that not being the case, that day must be longer
put off. It may, indeed, happen all in good time, viz., when I
am unable in the line of my business to be longer useful to the
world. I may then, indeed, in the down hill of life, have it in
my power to attain to the summit of my wishes, in retiring to a
cottage, by a burn side, surrounded with woods and wilds, such
as I was dragged from when young to exhibit myself upon the
stage of the busy world. To such a place as this I hope to
retire; and, if I am enabled to show kindness to old friends,
and to be a good neighbour to those around me, and at the same
time to fill up my leisure time in contemplation, and in the
amusements of fishing and gardening, then I shall think that
Providence has been pleased to single me out to be one of the
happiest of men. I intend to go to press in the spring with a
new edition of the Birds, printed with the same kind of small
type as the Quadrupeds: the two volumes in one volume demy. I
wish much to have one of your books, but I cannot engage in the
sale of them, being sufficiently embarrassed with my own
publications.
T. B.
Footnote 48:
An eminent publisher by whom he had been employed to embellish
an extensive work.
[Illustration:
Thomas Bewick
his mark
]
NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE:—
ROBERT WARD, PRINTER, FOOT OF DEAN STREET.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
● Transcriber’s Notes:
○ Missing or obscured punctuation was silently corrected.
○ Typographical errors were silently corrected.
○ Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation were made consistent
only when a predominant form was found in this book.
○ Text that was in italics is enclosed by underscores
(_italics_).
End of Project Gutenberg's A Memoir of Thomas Bewick, by Thomas Bewick