68 MEMOIR OF THOMAS BEWICK. 



and entered that naked but neat little town early 

 the second morning; alighting at the Eagle fit 

 sign to a visitor of the king of bird-engravers. 



" In my haste to find his lodging, I passed it ; 

 but stumping behind, with his great cudgel, he 

 seized me ardently by the arm before I was aware, 

 exclaiming, * I seed ye from tha window, and 

 kenned yer back and gait, my kind friend/ I found 

 him in very good lodgings facing the fountain - 

 corner of the superb Crescent, nearly opposite the 

 Old Hall; and, after the fervid raptures of again 

 meeting, we settled down into our usual chit-chat. 

 There were three windows in the 'front room, the 

 ledges and shutters whereof he had pencilled all 

 over with funny characters, as he saw them pass to 

 and fro, visiting the well. These people were the 

 source of great amusement : the probable histories 

 of whom, and how they came by their ailings, he 

 would humorously narrate, and sketch their figures 

 and features in one instant of time. I have seen 

 him draw a striking likeness on his thumb-nail, in 

 one moment ; wipe it off with his tongue, and in- 

 stantly draw another. He told me that, at water- 

 ing-places, if his name were known, he was pestered 

 with people staring at him, and inflicting foolish 

 questions ; and he cautioned me always in public to 

 to call him the ' old gentleman/ We dined occa- 

 sionally at the public table ; and one day, over the 

 wine, a dispute arose between two gentlemen about 

 a bird ; but was soon terminated by one affirming he 

 had compared it with the figure and description of 



