THOMAS BEWICK. 



45 



Mr. Gregson had spoken out kindly and decidedly for his pupil when there 

 seemed a fear that the negotiations for the apprenticeship would fall through, 

 and in many other ways had testified his kindly interest in the boy's welfare. 

 Here then was testimony, and substantial testimony, that his confidence was 

 not misplaced, and when he hurried to inform Bewick's parents of the success 

 of their well-beloved boy and his much-thought-of pupil, no wonder, as 

 Bewick says in his old-fashioned way, the "feelings and overflowings" of his 

 teacher's heart "can be better imagined than described." 



The volume in which these cuts were first published was dedicated by Gay 

 to William, Duke of Northumberland, as " New Fables invented for his 

 amusement." There are two parts, the first with fifty fables and the other 

 with sixteen, the second part being the fables left by Gay after his death. 

 Besides the Hound and the Huntsman, there are several other cuts which 

 surpass in merit the remainder of the sixty-six illustrations to the Fables. 

 At p. 158 the vulture, sparrow, and other birds are excellent, the cock 

 possesses the same stately character as does the domestic cock in the 

 "History of British Birds;" the dog and fox, p. 153, the jackal and the 

 leopard, p. 204, are faithful drawings ; and the vignette used in pp. 81 and 94 

 is unmistakably like Bewick's later work. The bull and mastiff, p. 36, 

 possess much force of action, the sentiment of the bull enraged at the 

 barking of the dog being thoroughly good ; the shepherd's dog and wolf, 

 p. 59, are full of well-defined character; and the landscape background of the 

 Ant in Office, p. 169, is a noteworthy study from nature. The four cuts 

 besides the Hound and the Huntsman, for which the premium is also said to 

 have been given, are not now known, but it is likely they were among those 

 here mentioned. 



Besides the works already described as having been executed during his 

 apprenticeship, there were several done by Bewick towards the end of that 

 period. A few engravings on wood and copper were made for the headings 

 of bills and invoices, but they have no artistic value. The cuts in the small 



