136 Mr. Atkinson's Sketch of the late T. Bemck. 



John and Jane Bewick, of Cherry Burn," was baptized on the 19th of 

 August, 1753. He was sent to school at an eai-ly age, as a day scholar, - 

 to the Rev. Christopher Gregson, at Ovingham, the predecessor to 

 the present worthy incumbent Mr. Birkett, to whose early instructions 

 many of the young men of the northern counties (myself, I am proud 

 to say, among the number) are so deeply indebted. Such a feeling it 

 was which pervaded the bosom of Mr. Bewick towards his early pre- 

 ceptor, and led him not only to speak of him at all times in terms of the 

 siiicerest gratitude and respect, but, at a later period to engrave a pro- 

 file shade of him for the illustration of a memoir of himself, intended to 

 contain likenesses of his friends. 



In the interval of his studies at Ovingham, his time was a good deal 

 occupied in assisting his father at Mickley : he still, however, found 

 leisure to execute several drawings, in a manner sufficiently spirited to 

 attract the attention of his parents, and induce them to bind him at the 

 age of 14 to Mr. Beilby, of Newcastle, as an engraver. This cii'cum- 

 stance, eventually so interesting, took place on the 1st October, 1767. 



During his servitude he paid weekly visits to Cherry Burn, except 

 when the river was so much swollen as to prevent his passage of it at 

 Eltringham, when he contented himself by vociferating his inquiries 

 across the stream, and then returned to Newcastle. 



The first wood cut he did, was the representation of a George and 

 Dragon, for the bar bill of a public house : the second was of a similar 

 nature for the Cock Inn, then one of the best in town, at the Head of 

 the Side ; these were executed in the early part of his apprenticeship, 

 arid though considered wonderful productions at that time, they are 

 rude and unfinished when compared with his later efforts. While with 

 Beilby he was ofen employed in engraving clock faces, which I have 

 heard him say, made his hands as hard as a blacksmith's, and almost 

 disgusted him with engraving : he also cut an immense number of steel 

 watch seals. 



. About this time his master was engaged in cutting the diagrams for 

 Hutton's Mensuration (4to. ed. Newcastle, 1770), and was assisted in 

 it by young Bewick, who blocked them out for him j but by a simple 



