CHAPTER VIII. 



THE first thing after my arrival in Newcastle 

 was to see my old master, and the next to engage 

 my old lodgings at Ned Hatfield's, and to fit up 

 a work bench there. I then set to work upon my 

 wood cuts. This, however, was interrupted by 

 other jobs ; and the first of the kind was that of 

 engraving a copper plate of the "Theban Harp," 

 for the Rev. James Murray, for some of his pub- 

 lications.* Some of the silversmiths also began 

 to press their jobs upon me. I had not, however, 

 been long at work for myself till proposals were 

 made to me to join in partnership with my late 

 master; and this was brought about by a mutual 

 friend (?), John Robertson, the silversmith. This 

 proposal which was to set me down at once in a 

 well-established business I did not relish so 

 warmly as our mutual friend expected. I had 

 formed a plan of working alone, without appren- 

 tices, or being interrupted by any one ; and I am 

 not certain, at this day, whether I would not have 

 been happier in doing so than in the way I was 



* The Rev. James Murray, a Church of Scotland minister, with 

 whom I had been long acquainted. He was accounted one of the 

 best Hebrew scholars of his day. His "Sermons to Asses" [1768] 

 attracted much notice, and so did many of his other works. He was 

 a keen, satirical writer in some of his controversies. Among his 

 friends, he was of a lively, witty, and pleasant temper, and greatly 

 valued by a numerous acquaintance for his humanity and good sense. 

 He died 28 January, 1782, aged 50 years,' and was buried in St. 

 Andrew's Church Yard, Newcastle. [The plate of the " Theban 

 Harp" appeared in the "Pismire Journal," Newcastle, 1777.] 



