THOMAS BEWICK. 



About six weeks after his return from Wycliffe, Bewick sent one or two 

 presents to his friends there, in token of the kindness with which he had been 

 treated. The following characteristic and interesting letter was sent at the 

 same time, for the use of which the author has to thank the Rev. Mr. Buckley, 

 of Middleton Cheney; it is addressed to "Mr. Jno. Goundry Wycliffe (with 

 a small parcel p. favour of Mr. G. Cosh)," and is dated from Newcastle, 

 28th October, 1791 : — 



" Friend John, — A hurry of Business, since my arrival in Newcastle, has long 

 prevented me from writing to you, but I cou'd not resist the present opportunity of 

 sending you these few lines by Mr. G. Cosh who is so obliging as to take the trouble 

 of delivering them to you — he has also taken a letter from me to Mr. Collier. I have 

 herewith sent you a stamp for marking your linen, which please to accept off as a 

 trifle sent in remembrance of your civility during our short acquaintance at Wycliffe 

 — Be so obliging as to give your Father the Razor herewith sent, with my best 

 wishes and kindest respects to him — I cou'd think of nothing else to send him and 

 whether it may be a good one or a bad one I cannot tell but it will never be sharp 

 enough to cut the thread of friendship that I have for him — I was really grieved 

 when I bid him farewell, and I am now affraid it will be the last time of my ever 

 seeing him again, as I find all things are to be sold at Wycliffe — I wish I had stayed 

 a while longer as I did not get my business completed. I was in hopes of seeing 

 you all again in the ensuing spring if the Library and the Museum had not been 

 disposed off — but I have not now any hopes of having that pleasure — I am now very 

 busily employ'd in cutting the Birds from the drawings which I made while I was 

 with you — I cou'd soon have them all done if I was not taken off with other Jobs — 

 Give my best respects to your Bro' & Sister at the Mill, your Bro^ & Sister Copeland 

 & all enquiring friends — Compt? to M' Jn? Porter & Wife — and when you write to 

 me, which I hope you will do at your leisure, inform me how your father is in health, 

 also your Nephew Tommy, he seems rather tender— any news or particulars from 

 Wycliffe will always be interesting to me — the remembrance of every thing that 

 passed at Wycliffe is as clearly before me as if I was now looking at it. I can 

 imagine that I hear Robin singing in the Mill, old John Baylis riding upon the 

 Poakes & poor old Kitty Wycliffe talking about Clocks and Sun Dials, &c. — I am, 

 friend John, Yours, &c, Thomas Bewick. — P.S. I have not yet forgot your works 

 of diff.' colour' d wax but have not been able yet to get them." * 



* This letter was in a copy of Bewick's Quadrupeds, Second Edition, 1 791, in the original binding, having on 

 the fly-leaf the following inscription by Bewick, in an oval, very beautifully written : — The Gift of Thomas Bewick to 

 John Goundry, 1 791. 



