THOMAS BEWICK. 



139 



by the gloomy aspect of political matters in England, and hoped in the land 

 of the ' 4 incomparable Washington " to find laws and liberties more to his 

 taste. In a letter dated October 4th, 1794, given in the appendix of his 

 Memoir, he thanks his correspondent (now unknown) for the opinion sent 

 on America, and proceeds : — 



" Before I get the Birds done, I have no doubt of matters being brought to such 

 a crisis as will enable me to see clearly what course to steer. My fears are not at 

 what you think will happen in America : it is my own much-loved country that I 

 fear will be involved in the anarchy you speak of ; for I think there is not virtue 

 enough left in the country gentlemen to prevent it. I cannot hope for anything good 

 from the violent on either side ; that can only be expected from (I hope) the great 

 majority of moderate men stepping manfully forward to check the despotism of the one 

 party and the licentiousness of the other. A reform of abuses, in my opinion, is 

 wanted, and I wish that could be done with justice and moderation ; but it is because 

 I do not hope or expect that will take place in the way I wish it that makes me bend 

 my mind towards America." 



This proposal of emigrating in the will-o'-the-wispian chase of sounder 

 political government appears to have sunk out of Bewick's calculations. As 

 affairs at home began to bear a more hopeful aspect, nothing is heard about 

 what perhaps was only written in the flush of political strife, and without due 

 consideration of all the results attendant on the carrying out of such a scheme. 



From the letter quoted, and from the general tone of his remarks on the 

 Government, it is evident that Bewick was an intense Liberal in politics, 

 though far from being what is now called Radical. He believed in universal 

 education, in simplifying parliamentary elections, and in freedom for pisca- 

 torial pursuits. The principle of Land Bills is contained in his belief that 

 "as an act of justice due to the industrious farmer, he ought, on entering 

 upon his lease, to have his farm valued, and, when his lease is out, valued 

 again ; and whatever improvements he may have made, ought to be paid for on 

 his leaving." His remarks on the country with which the British Government 

 has so much trouble read like paragraphs from a newly published journal. 



t 2 



