THOMAS BEWICK. 



247 



you will forward the accompanying note by the two penny post. I am sorry I can- 

 not perform my promise of sending you a few more prospectus's, but will take an 

 early opportunity of sending you something instead which I hope you will do me 

 the favour to accept. 



" When I had the pleasure of seeing you, you mentioned your having an inten- 

 tion of sending to the Continent for some Vellum of excellent quality : as I should 

 very much wish to have some of it I will be glad if you will let me know if you can 

 supply me, & the price. I have now nearly finished a large Wood-Cut (12 inches 

 by 9) & it would be very desirable to have a few printed upon vellum. I am 

 ~D r . Sir Your obliged & ob 4 , Thomas Bewick. Gateshead, Newcastle, Nov. 1, 1828."* 



It will be observed that this letter possesses a most pathetic interest, 

 from the fact that it was written on the day he took the "Waiting for Death" 

 to be proved, and that in a week from its date the writer had passed over to the 

 majority. The hands that had scarcely been idle since 1767, when he began 

 his apprenticeship, were in these few days folded together at rest, and for the 

 last time. There is nothing in the letter but hopeful looking forward to the 

 duties in which he had been so long engaged ; anxiety to send his corre- 

 spondent " something which I hope you will do me the favour to accept ; " 

 and tidings of what he considered his great undertaking, the engraving on 

 different blocks of the Old Horse "Waiting for Death." 



Thomas Bewick died at half-past one o'clock on the morning of the 8th 

 November, 1828, being at the time seventy-five years of age. On the Satur- 

 day (the date of the letter inserted above) he had, as stated, taken the "Wait- 

 ing for Death " block to be proved ; on the Sunday he became unwell, on the 

 Monday he was worse, and he gradually sank, though he remained to the 

 end " in full possession of his fine and powerful mental faculties in quiet and 

 cheerful resignation" until he died.f He was buried beside his wife, " My 

 Bell," his brother, sister, and parents, at Ovingham, on Thursday, the 13th, 



* On the outside is the address, " Mr. W. Pickering." The letter is now in the possession of Professor Corfield, 

 and for the use of it here, as well as for other assistance, the author is greatly obliged. The communication is entirely 

 in handwriting, and not on an engraved bill-head, although the invoice statement commences it. The price noted 

 is interesting, showing the sum Bewick charged to the trade. 



t Dovaston, in the Magazine of Natural History, vol. iii. p. 104, 1830. 



