THOMAS BEWICK. 301 



than those of any man that I have ever seen : — a perfect old Englishman, 

 full of life, although seventy- four years of age, active and prompt in his 

 labours. Presently he proposed shewing me the work he was at, and went 

 on with his tools. It was a small vignette, cut on a block of boxwood not 

 more than three by two inches in surface, and represented a dog frighten- 

 ed at night by what he fancied to be living objects, but which were actu- 

 ally roots and branches of trees, rocks, and other objects bearing the sem- 

 blance of men. This curious piece of art, like all his works, was exquisite, 

 and more than once did I feel strongly tempted to ask a rejected bit, but 

 was prevented by his inviting me up stairs, where, he said, I should soon 

 meet all the best artists of Newcastle. 



There I was introduced to the Misses Bewick, amiable and affable 

 ladies, who manifested all anxiety to render my visit agreeable. Among 

 the visitors I saw a Mr Goud, and was highly pleased with one of the 

 productions of his pencil, a full length miniature in oil of Bewick, well 

 drawn, and highly finished. 



The old gentleman and I stuck to each other, he talking of my draw- 

 ings, I of his wood-cuts. Now and then he would take off his cap, and 

 draw up his grey worsted stockings to his nether clothes ; but whenever 

 our conversation became animated, the replaced cap was left sticking as 

 if by magic to the hind part of his head, the neglected hose resumed 

 their downwai'd tendency, his fine eyes sparkled, and he delivered his sen- 

 timents with a freedom and vivacity which afforded me great pleasure. 

 He said he had heard that my drawings had been exhibited in Liverpool, 

 and felt great anxiety to see some of them, which he proposed to gratify 

 by visiting me early next morning along with his daughters and a few 

 friends. Ilecollecting ac that moment how desirous my sons, then in 

 Kentucky, were to have a copy of his works on Quadrupeds, I asked him 

 where I could procure one, when he immediately answered " Here,'" and 

 forthwith presented me with a beautiful set. 



The tea-drinking having in due time come to an end, young Bewick, 

 to amuse me, brought a bagpipe of a new construction, called the Dur- 

 ham Pipe, and played some simple Scotch, English and Irish airs, all 

 sweet and pleasing to my taste. I could scarcely understand how, with 

 his large fingers, he managed to cover each hole separately. The instru- 

 ment sounded somewhat like a hautboy, and had none of the shrill war- 

 like notes or booming sound of the military bagpipe of the Scotch High- 



