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THOMAS BEWICK. 



cause to be thankful for the honours he received and the influence he had 

 attained. His admirers were numbered by thousands ; his patrons had now 

 no need to beg influential people " to make him known;" his " History of 

 British Birds " (1797) placed the corner-stone in the temple of his fame; and 

 in 1798 he was in the proud position of the most popular artist-engraver of 

 the day. 



An interesting letter, published in the Newcastle Natural History 

 Society's Transactions, 1878, from John Bewick to Thomas, dated London, 

 June 1 6th, 1790, gives an account of what London people thought of the 

 volume of the Quadrupeds. John says : — 



" Since I wrote last I have been with my good friend Mr. Sharp, who has shown 

 your work to the famous Mr. Barry, painter, which pleases him so much that he 

 wishes to have a dozen copies more. Mr. Sharp (and several of my friends) wish to 

 know whether they can have the animals printed in a copy without the letterpress 

 with the names only. I could sell a great many in London. I think it would answer 

 your purpose well to do it. I have not a book left, and between twenty and thirty 

 bespoke, so that I wait with the greatest impatience to hear from you. Mr. Ord, of 

 Bradley, hearing the work was in London, and impatient to see it, sent Matthew to 

 me for three copies which I let him have, though I suppose this number has been sent 

 to Bradley for Miss Simpson. I shall have the opportunity, through Mr. Sharp, to 

 introduce your royal paper copy to the first artists in London. The general cry 

 here with people that wish you well is, 'Why does not he come to Town ?"' 



This is a remarkable letter in several ways. It shows that besides working 

 as an engraver, John also assisted his brother by acting as agent for the sale 

 of his works. It gives the opinion of Barry on the Quadrupeds, and proves 

 how early and rapidly the book made its way among the artists of the 

 metropolis ; and it states the general cry of those best able to assist 

 Bewick to have been, " Why does not he come to Town ? " — a cry which 

 the artist must have found some difficulty in answering to the satisfaction of 

 his friends, but which did not move him from his firm resolve not to leave 

 Northumberland. 



