MEMOIR OF THOMAS BEWICK. 75 



not at all agree with him in thinking it right to 

 upset the present state of society, by taking from 

 people what is their own, and then launching out 

 upon his speculations. I considered that property 

 ought to be held sacred, and, besides, that the 

 honestly obtaining of it was the great stimulant to 

 .industry, which kept all things in order, and 

 society in full health and vigour. The question 

 having been given against him without my having 

 said a word in its defence, he became swollen with 

 indignation, which, after the company was gone, 

 he vented upon me. To reason with him was 

 useless. He began by calling me from my 

 silence "a Sir Walter Blackett;"* adding, "If I 

 had been as stout as you are, I would have thrashed 

 you." "Indeed!" said I, "it is a great pity 

 you are not. 3 ' "But," said he, "there is another 

 way in which I can do the business, and have at 

 you!" He then produced a pair of cudgels, and to 

 work we fell. He did not know that I was a pro- 

 ficient in cudgel playing, and I soon found that he 

 was very defective. After I had blackened the 

 insides of his thighs and arms, he became quite 

 outrageous and acted very unfairly, which obliged 

 me to give him a severe beating. This, however, 

 did not make a breach between us, for I believe 

 the respect and kindness for each other was 

 mutual. 



* Sir Walter Blackett, bart., was five times mayor of Newcastle, 

 and represented the borough in seven Parliaments ; having been 

 fifty years a member. He died February 8th, 1777, aged 68. As 

 an orator he made no figure in the House, and having changed 

 his politics in his later years, he became rather unpopular, His 

 public and private charities were on a munificent scale; for which, 

 indeed, he was greatly distinguished. 



