54 MEMOIR OF THOMAS BEWICK. 



sons who ought to forbear, or be prevented, from 

 marrying* viz., those of a base, wicked, and dis- 

 honest character, and those who have broken down 

 their constitutions and debased both mind and 

 body by dissipation. The latter entail misery 

 upon their innocent offspring : the children of the 

 former, by the bad example shown to them, 

 become a curse to the community in which they 

 live. 



When we arrived at the Cock Inn, Newcastle, 

 the documents were soon made ready to bind my 

 companion and myself. He was bound to Messrs. 

 Doughty and Wiggins, chemists and druggists ; 

 but Mr. Beilby (perhaps from his having heard 

 some unfavourable account of me] and my father 

 not readily agreeing upon the exact terms of my 

 servitude, some fears were entertained that the 

 business between us might be broken off. On this 

 occasion my preceptor interfered very ardently, 

 spoke warmly in my praise, and dwelt forcibly, in 

 particular (notwithstanding my wild, boyish beha- 

 viour at school), upon my never being saucy or 

 sulky, nor in the least indulging in anything like 

 revenge. In this business, Mr. Gregson was ably 

 seconded by his relation and my kind friend, Mr. 

 Joseph Langstaff, of Newcastle, who was also ac- 

 quainted with my new master ; and so the business 

 of binding was settled at last. 



My new master, who, I believe, had laid down 

 plans for the regulation of his own conduct, began 

 with me upon a system of rigid discipline, from 

 which he never varied or relaxed, and it was not 

 long before I gave occasion to his putting it in 

 force. Having walked out on a Sunday afternoon 

 to see the environs of the town, the first place that 



