A Memoir of Thomas Bewick Written by himself

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...

CHERRYBURN House, the place of my nativity, and which for many years my eyes beheld with cherished delight, is situated on the south side of the Tyne, in the county of Northumbe...

FROM the little window at my bed-head, I noticed all the varying seasons of the year; and, when the spring put in, I felt charmed with the music of birds, which strained their l...

DURING the time I was an inmate in my master’s house, along with his mother, brothers, and sister, I attended his brother’s horse, and made myself as useful to the family as I c...

THE first of October, 1774, arrived at last; and, for the first time in my life, I felt myself at liberty. I worked a few weeks with my old master, and then set off to spend the...

It is in compliance with your wish that I have, after much hesitation and delay, made up my mind to give you some account of my life, as it may at a future day amuse you and you...

WHILE the sale of edition after edition of the “Quadrupeds” was going on with great success, I turned my thoughts to the “History of British Birds.” I felt greatly charmed with,...

THE game laws have for ages past been a miserable source of contention between those rendered unqualified by severe and even cruel game laws, and parties who had influence to ge...

DURING a severe illness with which I was visited in 1812,—the particulars of which I need not detail to you, my dear Jane, as the part you and your mother and sisters took, in n...

BEING now nearly fourteen years of age, and a stout boy, it was thought time to set me off to business; and my father and mother had long been planning and consulting, and were...

FOR many years, including a part of those of my apprenticeship, my master and self were fully employed upon such work as I have named before, from silversmiths, watchmakers, and...

IT is of the utmost importance to individuals and to society that attention should be watchfully bestowed upon children, both with respect to their health and their morals. Thei...

THE first thing after my arrival in Newcastle was to see my old master, and the next to engage my old lodgings at Hatfields, and to fit up a work bench there. I then set to work...

WITHOUT presuming to scan the intentions of Omnipotence, in His gifts to the human race,—or to probe into the nature of His endless works of wisdom,—or to grope into matters int...

I REMAINED no longer in Newcastle than until I earned as much money as would pay my way to London. I then took my passage on board a collier bound to the great city; and, after...

HAVING, from the time that I was a school-boy, been displeased with most of the figures in children’s books, and particularly with those of the “Three Hundred Animals,” the figu...

IN Christmas week, 1784, while I was amusing myself with sliding on the ice at Ovingham, which was as smooth almost as a looking glass, between Eltringham and that place,—I know...

I HAVE noticed several of my friends and acquaintances whose characters stood high in my estimation. I have now another to introduce, the play-fellow of my youth, Thomas Lawson,...

HAVING already noticed my beginnings, or first efforts, in engraving on wood; and as at that time this department of the arts was at the very lowest ebb in this country, and, I...

I NEVER could agree in opinion with the philanthropic, and well-intentioned, and honest, Major Cartwright,[33] in his unqualified scheme of universal suffrage; because I conceiv...

HOW far I may venture further to obtrude my opinions, or advice, on the notice of artists, particularly engravers on wood, I know not, but they may readily imagine that I cannot...

WHEN very young I read the Bible through and through, but I, at that time, minded it no more than other histories with which my scanty library was furnished. I could not then ju...

I NEVER read Hume on miracles; I did not need to do so; but I have always thought that the man must be very difficult to please who could not be thoroughly satisfied with the on...

I HAVE before ventured my opinion on the political history of the Israelites and their wars, and I wish I could not believe in them; but I fear that portion of their history is...

NOT having seen Edinburgh since August, 1776, I longed to see it again, and set out on this journey on the 11th August, 1823, and went through by coach on that day. I always tho...

IT is foreign to my purpose to criticize the works of brother artists of the present day. I behold their excellent productions with pleasure; in them there is no falling off: th...

WHILST I was engaged with figures of the Water-Birds, and the Vignettes, and writing the History, I was greatly retarded by being obliged often to lay that work aside, to do var...

FROM this time till the peace was concluded, the political debatings, before noticed, continued, and were almost the constant subject of all companies. I have often sat and list...

answered. He was, in his day, accounted the best engraver of embellishments for books, most of which he designed himself. The frontispiece to the first edition of “Cunningham’s...

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....

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...

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-y...

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 w...

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—...

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...

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...

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 an...

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—...

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—...

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 l...

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—Revenue...

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 b...

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—Artis...

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...

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 Chillingha...

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 ambitio...

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 b...

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 wit...

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—...

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 pip...

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 la...

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 instr...

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—Immo...

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...

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 a...

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...