MEMOIR OF THOMAS BEWICK. 215 



to our Maker, to contribute something to the 

 general good to the common fund of happiness 

 to our species."* Benevolent and patriotic senti- 

 ments of this kind ought always to be kept up, 

 and the mite of the humblest individual ought to 

 be received and acknowledged : the reveries of 

 such ought not to pass without being coolly 

 examined by men of experience. I well remember 

 my name having been set down as that of a person 

 who would, without hesitation, become a member 

 of a society in Newcastle, " for the suppression 

 of vice." To this I decidedly objected, and told 

 my well-meaning neighbour,! who named the 

 matter to me, that I thought the magistrates were 

 quite competent to manage that business ; but 

 that I would have no hesitation in joining their 

 society if they would change their plan, and make 

 it " a society for promoting and rewarding virtue." 

 I have often thought since that, if such a society 

 as the latter to be called "The Society of 

 Honour" were established in every parish, it 

 might, if well managed, do great ~good. The 

 society ought not to annoy any one, by being 

 over officious, nor to meddle otherwise than by 

 quietly, and yet publicly, rewarding, or expressing 

 the good opinion they entertain of the conduct of 

 the person honoured. 



Another society of a very different character to 

 the last-named is at this time winked at in this 

 land of liberty. I mean the present great and 



* Dr. F. Hutchinson. 



f Mr. Benjamin Brunton. He was a popular man, and was often 

 chairman at patriotic and charitable meetings, and had been one of 

 the committee who sued the magistrates of Newcastle on the Town 

 Moor business before mentioned. [See note, p. 70.] 



