JOHN SCOTT 149 



during his apprenticeship we find him haunting the 

 premises of a local engraver from whom he 

 acquired a knowledge of both line and mezzotint 

 engraving. Of the man who was thus instrumental 

 in helping the future artist to learn the rudiments of 

 his real profession little is known. From the fact 

 that he was on his way home from Newcastle races 

 when he was waylaid and cruelly murdered we 

 may infer that he was a man of sporting tastes ; 

 and perhaps his proclivities may have influenced 

 the direction of his pupil's talents. 



Though the tallow-chandlery business must have 

 been at least uncongenial to a youth of artistic 

 temperament, Scott remained with Mr. Greenwell 

 until his indentures expired, when he left the shop 

 and took up the graver's tool in earnest. Suc- 

 cess was waiting for him, as his first task was to 

 engrave a series of profile portraits for Angus' 

 French Revolution. Among his Newcastle friends 

 Scott numbered a Mr. Fisher, parish clerk of St. 

 Nicholas Church ; Mr. Fisher was also proprietor 

 of a circulating library, and thereby came in con- 

 tact with the educated classes. To a gentleman 

 who frequented his library Mr. Fisher showed 

 examples of Scott's work, including his maiden 

 effort, a plate entitled " Duck Shooting," taken from 

 a schoolboy's copy book. The gentleman was so 

 favourably impressed by these engravings that Mr. 



