204 



THOMAS BEWICK. 



and, after mentioning the dissolution of partnership between Beilby and 

 Bewick, proceeds to say : — 



" We are sorry to learn from private information that an alliance so honourable 

 to the parties and so beneficial to the public was dissolved upon not the most friendly 

 terms. Mr. Bewick, we understand, has purchased Mr. Beilby's interest in the 

 concern, but, through a disagreement with the other partner or his executors, the 

 first volume has for some time been out of print and is not likely to be republished. 

 We cannot but consider this as a public loss." 



These remarks aroused the full strength of Mrs. Hodgson's ire, who, 

 though "eminent for her integrity, benevolence, and intelligence," seems 

 thoroughly to have lost her good temper, and she sent a letter to the editor, 

 giving her view of the matter. This letter the editor did not insert or notice 

 (he had the excuse that no letters were appearing in his publication), and 

 Mrs. Hodgson forwarded it to the " Monthly Magazine," where it was published. 

 After referring to the article on Bewick's works, and allowing that — 



" It is the lot of all editors to be imposed on by correspondents at a distance," 

 she says she is prepared to send documents " by which you [the editor] will be 

 convinced that Mr. Bewick was neither the original projector nor author of either 

 the ' History of Quadrupeds ' or of the first volume of the ' History of Birds.' Mr. 

 Bewick," she proceeds, " was employed merely as the engraver, or wood-cutter, and 

 that he should be held up in the article now under consideration as the first and 

 sole mover of the concern, together with the insidious use which has been made to 

 me of your remarks on the subject, by a friend of Mr. Bewick's, leave no doubt in my 



mind from what source you have had the communication My late husband 



paid his proportion, or share, of expense both to the person who compiled and 

 arranged the letterpress of the work, or in other words, the author's charge for his 

 labours, as he did for the expense of the wood engravings — therefore, both equally 



belong to me I shall conclude with observing that I have used every 



endeavour in my power to have the ' History of Quadrupeds ' put to press, and if 

 the public has sustained a loss by the book having been so long out of print, I have 

 the satisfaction to say I am not to blame. — (Signed) Sarah Hodgson, widow and 

 executrix of Solomon Hodgson. Newcastle-upon-Tyne, June 16, 1805."* 



This is an essentially feminine letter : the composition of one unaccus- 



* The "Monthly Magazine," 1805, vol. xx.,p. 5. 



