THOMAS BEWICK. 



25 



and in frequently attending them for their instruction, we got the cuts 

 tolerably well executed as they then appeared in the first and all subsequent 

 editions. Thus, then," concludes Dr. Hutton, " I was the instructor of the 

 very ingenious Mr. Bewick in his branch of engraving, which he has since 

 carried to such a high state of perfection." 



There is some pardonable pride in Dr. Hutton claiming to be Bewick's 

 teacher after the engraver had risen to the most prominent place in his 

 profession. Bewick himself does not explain in his Memoir how the wood 

 and working implements were obtained, and as there is no record of any 

 earlier work on wood done by him, we must give some weight to 

 Dr. Hutton' s relation of the incident. 



Dr. Hutton' s " Mensuration " was illustrated with numerous diagrams, 

 and was completed in 1770. In it appear what are undoubtedly the 

 earliest of Bewick's works, but beyond this fact there is very little interest 

 attached to the volumes. The only cut which gives the mildest indi- 

 cations of promise is that of a diagram on page 42, in which is introduced 

 the spire of St. Nicholas' Church in Newcastle. It is tolerably accurate, but 

 very primitive in its treatment, and the house at the side — so disastrously out 

 of perspective — gives little indication of its being the work of an engraver 

 who was to gain distinction. Two of the copper-plates in the volumes are 

 the work of Beilby (in the dedication and on page 600) ; otherwise the 

 diagrams are understood to be Bewick's workmanship. The " Mensuration " 

 was published in parts by subscription, the first number appearing in 1768. 

 It is now rarely to be met with, but except to those who desire to possess 

 every work undoubtedly Bewick's, the scarcity is no loss. 



" The Ladies' Diary," of about the same date, with which Dr. Hutton 

 was connected, also contains some of Bewick's very earliest work ; but, like 

 those in the " Mensuration," the cuts are diagrams, and exceedingly unin- 

 teresting. The sub-title of the book is " The Woman's Almanack, containing 

 new Improvements in Arts and Sciences, and many entertaining particulars 



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