THOMA S BE WICK. 



i93 



So soon as Bewick's friends heard that he was proceeding with the Water 

 Birds he received — as in the case of the first volume — many presents of 

 specimens from which to make drawings. He also acknowledges in the 

 preface to have received literary help from the Vicar of Bedlington, the 

 Rev. Henry Cotes. After Bewick had written his observations on the birds, 

 Mr. Cotes carefully revised the composition, and in some instances, it is said, 

 also made considerable additions to it. Bewick, as we are aware, was able to 

 write remarkably well, but he knew his training had never been specially 

 directed to this employment, and doubtless he was sufficiently engaged with 

 his engraving to prevent him thoroughly thinking out the descriptive matter. 

 " Two heads are better than one," he knew, at such a time, especially when 

 he had been so unexpectedly called upon to take up his pen ; and it is satis- 

 factory that he was sufficiently aware of the desirability of revision to accept 

 Mr. Cotes's assistance. If a similar friend had been found for his Memoir, 

 published in 1862, much of the extraneous matter there would have been 

 omitted, and a volume produced in every way worthy of the man. 



The volume was printed at Walker's office by George Barlow, " who was 

 brought down from London to print Bewick's works, and outshine Simpson 

 (who printed the Land Birds at Hodgson's), which he never could nor did, but 

 was much beholden to Simpson for his knowledge of overlaying the tympan 

 so as to reach the lower parts of the blocks." (" Bewick Collector.") There 

 were 1,000 demy 8vo copies printed, and the price was 12s. ; also 850 copies 

 each on thin and thick royal 8vo, at 15s. and 18s. each; and a number in 

 imperial 8vo, at 24s. 



The engraving on the title-page represents boys playing with toy ships 

 not far from Newcastle. The boys might represent Bewick and his play- 

 fellows when he played truant, and, as he says, amused himself " by 

 making dams and swimming boats, in a small burn, which ran through a 

 place then called the ' Colliers' Close Wood,' till the evening, when I returned 

 home with my schoolfellows." The vignette at the head of the Advertisement 



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