44 



THOMA S BE WICK. 



For some years the Society for the Encouragement of Arts (London) had 

 offered prizes or premiums for the most successful specimens of the "Polite 

 Arts," among them being engravings on wood. The competition was 

 announced by the Society in the following manner : — " For the best engraving 

 on wood or type metal for illustrating books, and capable of being worked off 

 with the letterpress, twenty guineas. One or more specimens of the engrav- 

 ing, united with the letterpress, to be produced on or before the first Tuesday 

 in February, 1775. N.B. The representations of animals, plants, and 

 machines, or proper designs for head or tail-pieces of chapters for the 

 decoration of books, are the designs desired to be produced in claim for this 

 premium." 



Beilby had been so satisfied with the cuts for Gay's Fables that he sent 

 the Hound and the Huntsman, it is said, with four others, to the competition. 

 Bewick's name was honestly attached to the works by his master (some- 

 thing of the same kind is springing up amongst modern employers of 

 skilled labour), and the result was that Bewick was awarded the second prize 

 of seven guineas as the designer of the five cuts. The twenty guineas were 

 not always awarded in one prize. The successful competitors in the 1775 

 examination were, as shown in the register of the premiums and bounties 

 given by the Society under Awards for the Polite Arts, 1775, "Engraving 

 on wood : Mr. William Coleman, £j 7s. ; Mr. Thomas Bewick, £y 7s. ; 

 Mr. Thomas Hodgson, £6 6s." Bewick was offered a gold medal (it could 

 not have been very large) or the seven guineas in cash, and preferring the 

 ready money, he received it a few months after becoming a journeyman, but 

 before he had left Beilby' s workshop. The seven guineas Bewick gave to his 

 mother, and he remarks, " I never in my life felt greater pleasure than in 

 presenting it." " On this occasion," he further says, "amongst the several 

 congratulations of kind neighbours those of the Rev. Mr. Gregson, my old 

 master, stood pre-eminent. He flew from Ovingham, where the news first 

 arrived, over to Eltringham, to congratulate my father and mother." 



