Mr. Atxinson's Sketch of the late T. Bewick. 135 



with preternatural attributes, and acting according to the rank fancy 

 of the author, rather than to any reasonable or moral and exemplary 

 motive. 



In our museums, too, we owe the present improvement on the gro- 

 tesque figures which satisfied and misled former naturalists, entirely to 

 his faithful and simple representations. 



As a debt of gratitude, therefore, to this celebrated man, it seems only 

 reasonable that the first volume of the Transactions of a Society devoted 

 to the cultivation of Natural History (existing in the town, to which he 

 was so bright an ornament, and to many of the inhabitants of which he 

 was intimately known), should contain a notice of his life and works. 



Having, for the last few years of his life, enjoyed a closer intimacy 

 with him than any other person, not attached to him by relationship, I 

 am induced (from the idea that it will be gratifying to those who knew 

 him, to peruse this memorial), to present it for publication to the Natural 

 History Society. 



Was born at Cherry Burn in the Parish of Ovingham, in Northumber- 

 land, on the 10th, or 11th of August, 1753; he always kept his birth- 

 day on the 12th, but had reason to believe it occurred on one of the two 

 previous days. His grandfather, Thomas Bewick, of Birches Nook, 



near Bywell, married Agnes, daughter of Arthur, of Kirkheaton. 



After giving him five children she died, and was buried at Ovingham, 

 in 1756 ; he was buried at Bywell. John was their fourth, and only 

 male child ; he lived at Cherry Burn, and rented a land-sale colliery at 

 Mickley ; he had two wives ; the first, Ann Topping, died childless, 

 and was buried at Ovingham ; the other, Jane, daughter of Thomas 

 Wilson, of Ainstable, in Cumberland, had eight children, of whom 

 Thomas, the subject of this memoir, was the oldest. John Bewick, an 

 eminent engraver in his day, was the fifth ; he died, unmarried, on the 

 5th December, 1795. 

 From the Paiish Register at Ovingham, I find that " Thomas, son of 



