MEMOIR OF THOMAS BEWICK. 



CHAPTER I. 



Tynemouth, November, 1822. 



MY DEAR JANE, 



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 your brother 

 and sisters in your passage through the crooked as 

 well as the pleasant paths of the world. I will 

 commence by giving you some account of your 

 pedigree as far back as I can. 



My grandfather, Thomas Bewick, farmed the 

 lands of Painshaw Field and Birches Neuk, near 

 By well, and also the Colliery on Mickley Bank, or 

 Mickley Common how long since I know not, but 

 it might probably be about the year 1 700. He had 

 the character of being one of the most intelligent, 

 active, and best farmers on Tyneside, and it was 



