94 



THOMAS BEWICK. 



Bewick's character, but meanwhile will learn under what circumstances the 

 compilation was commenced. 



In a reply to the charge referred to, Bewick wrote to the Monthly Magazine 

 in 1805, giving the following narrative : " From my first reading, when a boy at 

 school, a sixpenny ' History of Three Hundred Animals,' to the time I became 

 acquainted with works on Natural History written for the perusal of men, I 

 never was without the design of attempting something of this kind myself ; 

 but my principal object was (and still is) directed to the mental pleasure and 

 improvement of youth ; to engage their attention, to direct their steps 

 aright, and to lead them on till they become enamoured of this innocent 

 and delightful pursuit. Some time after my partnership with Mr. Beilby 

 commenced, I communicated my wishes to him, who, after many conversa- 

 tions, came into my plan of publishing a ' History of Quadrupeds,' and I then 

 immediately began to draw the animals, to design the vignettes, and to cut 

 them on wood, and this, to avoid interruption, frequently till very late in the 

 night ; my partner at the same time undertaking to compile and draw up the 

 descriptions and history at his leisure hours and evenings at home. With the 

 accounts of the foreign animals I did not much interfere ; the sources where I 

 had drawn the little knowledge I possessed were open to my coadjutor, and he 

 used them ; but to those of the animals of our own country, as my partner 

 before this time had paid little attention to natural history, I lent a helping 

 hand. This help was given in daily conversations, and in occasional notes 

 and memoranda which were used in their proper places." In his Memoir 

 Bewick gives substantially the same story, though in different words. He 

 adds also that Beilby being a cautious and thinking man, and wishing to 

 be more satisfied as to the probability of such a publication paying for the 

 labour, he desired to have the advice of others, and the partners consulted 

 Solomon Hodgson, the editor and printer of the Newcastle Chronicle, who gave 

 it as his opinion that such a work would be certain of success. As has 

 been noted, Bewick's first idea for the Quadrupeds was possibly aided 



