THOMAS BEWICK. 



63 



ment in making the statement. Bewick was essentially a social, lovable 

 human being, not a cold, ascetic philosopher. He never could have been 

 happy by himself; he required some one to talk to, even though it was only 

 to have an occasional contention. 



Bewick must also have known that it was better for his art that he should 

 have taken apprentice-pupils. Had he worked entirely alone, much, perhaps 

 most, of his experience would have been lost. It is a truism to say that in 

 imparting knowledge to his pupils he greatly increased his influence and 

 power for good. His apprentices did not all become great or known men, but 

 Clennell, Johnson, Nesbit, and Harvey, with several others, were artists who, 

 in their various lines, acknowledged, and through their works showed, the 

 strong influence Bewick possessed over them. It is possible that Bewick 

 personally might have had more freedom from worry and trouble of various 

 kinds if he never had had apprentices, but there cannot be a shadow of a 

 doubt it was better for his art, and for succeeding generations, that he allowed 

 his attainments to be a special example for others while they were yet forming 

 their style, and with his precepts of experience guided their taste and skill. 



Everything was at last satisfactorily settled, and " Beilby and Bewick" 

 was now the name of the house previously and always honourably known by 

 Ralph Beilby' s name alone. Beilby was thirty-four years old, a prudent, 

 "canny" man, and a keen man of business; not niggardly when the occasion 

 arose for judicious dispensation of charity, and yet quite able and willing to 

 control his more youthful partner at times when his easily aroused sympathy 

 might have brought about unpleasant complications. 



Some time previously to the settlement of the partnership Beilby had 

 received an apprentice into his workshop, and, as a premium had been paid, it 

 was agreed — to make the partners equal — that Bewick should also find a 

 youth to take as an apprentice. Thus it was that one event brought on 

 another, and it proved almost a necessary result of the partnership that 



