Q4 MEMOIR OF THOMAS BEWICK. 



latter there was no accommodation. The boat 

 upon deck was full of the sick, covered by an old 

 sail, and the rest were obliged to sit or lie down 

 in any corner where they could find room. The 

 first night was a sickly, suffocating one ; and for 

 three more nights and three days (the length of 

 our voyage to Shields), there was little or no 

 amendment of our situation. On board this sloop 

 there were only two beds that were not stowed 

 with goods ; and, from my wanting rest so long 

 before I left Edinburgh, I crept into one of them 

 as soon as I could, but found it so low that I 

 could not lie on my side, or easily turn over. So 

 I could get no sleep ; and, to mend the matter, I 

 had not been long in this wretched bed till a 

 sucking infant was put in beside me, its mother 

 being dismally sick in the boat upon deck ; and 

 the child fell exclusively into my charge. I 

 nursed it as well as I could during the whole 

 voyage; and I think, had I not done so, it must 

 have died. After resting a day or two at South 

 Shields, I set off to Newcastle, where I arrived 

 (in the assize week), I think, on the i2th of 

 August, 1776. After my long absence, I found 

 I had a few shillings left. On this occasion, my 

 friends in Newcastle quizzed me not a little for 

 having, as they termed it, begged my way through 

 Scotland. 



