MEMOIR OF THOMAS BEWICK. 67 



them, and boarded and lodged others of a better 

 cast of character. 



Long before the death of my friend Gilbert, I 

 had ceased to have the privilege of reading his 

 books, and what I could save out of my wages 

 only afforded me a scanty supply. I had, how- 

 ever, an opportunity, per favour of my master's 

 servant girl (who admitted me early in the morning 

 into his parlour), of reading through, with great 

 attention, the then new publication of " Smollett's 

 History of England ;" and, for a long time after- 

 wards, I clearly remembered everything of note 

 which it contained. With some of the characters 

 therein depicted, I was greatly pleased, but with 

 others I was shocked and disgusted. They 

 appeared to me like fiends obtruded upon the 

 community, as a curse and a scourge ; and yet 

 how surprising it is that some of these can be 

 spoken of, by authors, with complacency. Another 

 source from whence to obtain a supply of books 

 presently fell in my way, through the kindness 

 of William Gray, the son of Gilbert, whose work- 

 shop became a place of resort to me and others. 

 He was a bookbinder of some repute, and this 

 led him into employment of a superior cast to 

 that of his father, and his workshop was often 

 filled with works of the best authors. To these, 

 while binding, I had ready access ; for which 

 purpose I rose early in the morning; and to him 

 my well-known whistle in the street was the signal 

 for his quickly preparing to get to his work, and 

 I remained with him till my work hour came.* 



* William Gray was a most active and industrious man, of an 

 ardent but changeable temper. He began business in Newcastle 

 and prospered ; he went to London and did the same. He returned 



