202 



THOMAS BEWICK. 



Bewick, as we have seen, was considerably troubled by Beilby's defection 

 at the critical time when the second volume of the Birds wasstill unfinished, 

 yet he did not dismiss the long-established friendship without a word of regret, 

 and he generously continues : — 



" On the other side of this account, I called to my remembrance the many 

 obligations I owed him for the wise admonitions he had given, and the example he 

 had set me, while I was only a wild and giddy youth. These I never could forget, 

 and they implanted so rooted a respect for him that I had grudged nothing I could 

 do to promote his happiness." * 



In April, 1798, and during the following months, Bewick busied himself 

 with new engravings for the Quadrupeds, and visited many neighbouring 

 districts ; Woodhall, Barmton, and Darlington being among the places to 

 which he went to make sketches of animals. After the fourth (1800) edition 

 of the Quadrupeds was published, his whole time was taken up in preparing 

 the second volume of the Birds. Swarley's Club, however, he appears to have 

 continued to visit, and there, " by way of unbending the mind after the 

 labours of the day," he and a number of " staunch advocates of the liberties 

 of mankind " debated the great questions then agitating the whole world. 



Bewick's children were now beginning to have a personality of their own, 

 and we learn with what keen pleasure Bewick entered into their sports and 

 pastimes, one of his greatest delights being to be present at any meeting of 

 the younger folk, and be a witness of the enlivening dances in which they 

 took part. " And when his own daughters aided the grace of the female part 

 of the company, the circumstance gave additional zest to the natural feelings 

 of the father." f 



Bewick had a quick ear for music, and he enjoyed listening to the strains 



* Ralph Beilby, after separating from Bewick, became a watch-glass and clock-work manufacturer. In many 

 ways Beilby was a clever man : his literary compositions and his engravings on metals have been noticed ; he was 

 also a great lover of music, and occasionally performed in public ; he was one of the promoters of the Literary and 

 Philosophical Society of Newcastle, still a flourishing institution, and he was always highly esteemed by his con- 

 temporaries. He died on January 4th, 1817, at the age of seventy-three. 



t " British Quarterly Review," 1845, vol. ii. 



