44 MEMOIR OF THOMAS BEWICK 



seen : a perfect old Englishman, full of life, although 

 seventy-four years of age, active and prompt in his 

 labours. Presently he proposed shewing me the 

 work he was at, and went on with his tools. It was 

 a small vignette, cut on a block of boxwood not more 

 than three by two inches in surface, and represented 

 a dog frightened at night by what he fancied to be 

 living objects, but which were actually roots and 

 branches of trees, rocks, and other objects bearing 

 the semblance of men. This curious piece of art, 

 like all his works, was exquisite, and more than once 

 did I feel strongly tempted to ask a rejected bit, but 

 was prevented by his inviting me up stairs, where, 

 he said, I should soon meet all the best artists of 

 Newcastle. 



" There I was introduced to the Misses Bewick, 

 amiable and affable ladies, who manifested all anxiety 

 to render my visit agreeable. Among the visitors I 

 saw a Mr Good, and was highly pleased with one of 

 the productions of his pencil, a full-length miniature 

 in oil of Bewick, well drawn, and highly finished. 



" The old gentleman and I stuck to each other, 

 he talking of my drawings, I of his wood-cuts. Now 

 and then he would take off his cap, and draw up 

 his grey worsted stockings to his nether clothes ; but 

 whenever our conversation became animated, the re- 



