40 
MEMOIR OF THOMAS BEWICK. 
as ‘ look at the old fool, he thinks there’s nobody 
has sic bairns as he has.’ In short, my eon and three 
daughters do all in their power to make their parents 
happy.” 
Mr Bewick was naturally of the most persevering 
and industrious habits. The number of blocks he 
has engraved is almost incredible. At his bench he 
worked and whistled with the most perfect good hu- 
mour, from mom to night, and ever and anon thought 
the day too short for the extension of his labours. 
He did not mix much with the world, for he pos- 
sessed a singular and most independent mind. In 
the evening, indeed, when the work of the day was 
finished, he generally retired to a neighbouring 
public-house, to smoke his pipe, and drink his glass 
of porter with an old friend or two, who knew his 
haunt, and enjoyed the naivete and originality of his 
remarks. But he luxuriated in the bosom of his fa- 
mily ; and no pleasures he could enjoy in the latter 
stage of his life, were equal in his esteem to the ster- 
ling comforts of his own fireside. lie died, as he 
had lived, an upright and truly honest man ; and 
breathed his last after a short illness, in the midst of 
his affectionate and disconsolate offspring, at his re. 
sidence in West Street, Gateshead, on Saturday 
November 8. 1828 in the 76th v«ar of his age. His 
