68 MEMOIR OF THOMAS BEWICK. 



I feel it as a misfortune, that a bias, somehow 

 or other, took place in my mind at this time, 

 which led me deeply into the chaos of what is 

 called religious works ; and, for the purpose of 

 getting into a thorough knowledge of all matters 

 of this important kind, I spent much time, and took 

 great pains, to obtain information ; but, instead of 

 this, I got myself into a labyrinth bewildered 

 with dogmas, creeds, and opinions, mostly the 

 fanatical reveries, or the bigoted inventions, of 

 interested or designing men, that seemed to me 

 to be without end ; and, after all my pains, I left 

 off in a more unsettled state of mind than when 

 I began. I may be mistaken ; but I think, many 

 a well-meaning man has spun out his life, and 

 spent his time, on subjects of this kind in vain. 

 Waggon loads of sermons have been published 

 some of them, perhaps, good in order to prove 

 matters (in my opinion) of no importance either 

 to religion or morality. If it be true that every 



to Newcastle, and to the binding business he added that of book- 

 seller. On this occasion Jonathan Kidd and myself became bound 

 for him for 60 for the payment of which his goods and books were 

 left to us to sell. In this freak, for he had no occasion to fail, he 

 wrote to me begging I would send him the books and goods, and 

 knowing his integrity I got my fellow bondman (with a good deal of 

 trouble) to assent to this proposal, and the books were sent off to 

 him. He commenced auctioneer, and soon paid us every penny of 

 the money. He afterwards began business in Nottingham, as book- 

 seller, printer, and stationer, and there he failed. He continued 

 his auctioneer's [business?] from place to place, and at length 

 became a soldier. In this his energy and activity became so con- 

 spicuous that he was employed as an inspector (I believe) of some of 

 the military hospitals in Ireland, and had a pension settled upon 

 him. He afterwards commenced the business of bookseller, book- 

 binder, etc., at Stonehouse, Plymouth, and at the same time followed 

 that of auctioneering. At length, however, he took entirely to 

 auctioneering, and that of the shop was turned over to his son, who 

 knew better than his father had done to conduct himself steadily. 

 [Several letters from William Gray are included in the Bewick MSS.] 



