102 



THOMAS BEWICK. 



Tunstall wanted fifty impressions taken, but this order was not executed, as 

 nothing like that number of copies is known to exist of those taken off before, 

 by a most unhappy accident, the block was split. The details of this occur- 

 rence are full, but the evidence is conflicting. The point, however, to be 

 established involves the material question of the number printed of the finest 

 of Bewick's larger works, and it is hoped that a careful, if lengthy, considera- 

 tion of the various statements will not be unacceptable. 



Bewick, having drawn and engraved the block, proceeded one Saturday 

 to Solomon Hodgson's office, then in Union Street, Newcastle, in order 

 to take off some early proofs. The engraving was completed in the 

 middle of a week in the summer of 1789, and Bewick had called on the 

 Friday with the block to have proofs pulled. But Hodgson being the 

 printer of the Newcastle Chronicle, had that day all his presses filled with 

 newspaper work, and was compelled to ask Bewick to come at another time ; 

 the cut being laid aside. On Saturday afternoon, as related in a letter by 

 John Bell, published in the " Bewick Collector," Bewick again called to have 

 the proofs taken, and Bell's father, who was foreman to Hodgson and the 

 actual man who printed the impressions, 



"Mentioning some fine parchment, which he had that day received from 

 London, to make some plans of estates on, he being also a land surveyor, it was 

 got out and a skin cut into six pieces ; and he (Bell), Bewick, and Hodgson went to 

 the printing-office where the six impressions, afterwards said to be on vellum, 

 were printed off, together with the same number on paper." 



And the letter goes on to relate — 



"When the impressions were taken off, Hodgson, from the size of the cut, 

 wanted to know where it was to be put until Monday, when the quantity wanted 

 was to be printed. Bewick, taking the cut, laid it upon the stone imposing-table 

 and the parties left the office. On Monday morning, when the office was opened, 

 the cut was found to have split, the sun, for the most part of Sunday, having acted 

 upon it through the window." 



This is from a letter dated May 20th, 1840. In another, written also by 



