32 



THOMAS BEWICK. 



small cuts of objects whose titles commence with the letter opposite. Each 

 letter has one or two illustrations, according as it had been found easy or 

 difficult to obtain subjects ; the birds are, as a rule, superior to the quadru- 

 peds, the Lark being especially good, though the Elephant and the Ass 

 possess considerable animation. 



Another miniature book which Bewick is thought to have illustrated is the 

 " New Invented Horn Book," containing twenty-four very small cuts not 

 unlike those of the Lottery Book. The " Child's Tutor and Entertaining 

 Preceptor" — Saint (three editions) — also possesses sixteen very primitive 

 designs, of which Garrett — a personal friend of Bewick — wrote, " Engraved 

 in the first year of Bewick's apprenticeship, though he was afterwards 

 ashamed to own them." These books are in all cases entered in modern 

 catalogues as containing the works of Bewick. The difficulty in deciding if 

 they really are his has been mentioned ; but from the fact that Bewick in his 

 Memoir says that his master received orders for cuts for children's books 

 chiefly from Saint, and as these illustrations possess merits vastly superior — 

 poor as they are in execution— to anything of the kind contemporaneously 

 published, they may be safely placed amongst the engraver's earliest labours. 



The Sow and the Peacock. " Select Fables" of 1776 and 1784. 

 From the original block engraved by Thomas Bewick. Lent by the Rev. Mr. Pearson. 



