54 MEMOIR OP THOMAS BEWICK. 
one layer of finished blocks, with their faces upward, 
on many of whose maiden lineaments, fresh and 
sharp from the graver, the ink-ball had never been 
pressed. They are all cut on box -wood, which is 
procured from abroad of as large circumference as 
possible, at a great expense, and is paid for by 
weight. This is sawn across, at right angles to the 
cylindrical growth of the tree (I mean as a cucum- 
ber is sliced), in pieces, when finished, exactly the 
thickness of the height of the metallic types, with 
which the blocks are afterwards incorporated in the 
pressman’s form , or iron frame. One surface of 
this block is made extremely smooth, on which is 
traced in hlack and white lines, the figure or de- 
sign ; the white is then cut out, and the black left. 
Though this was the method he took with his 
pupils, of whom he had constantly a numerous 
succession, he had early acquired so ready a facility 
himself, that simply with the graver on little, and 
often no outline, he w'orked the design on the blank 
block at once. His tools, many of his own contri- 
vance and making, were various in sizes and sorts. 
Some, broad gouges for wide excavation ; some 
narrow, for fine white lines ; and some many- 
pointed for parallels, which, either straight or wavy, 
he cut with rapidity, by catching the first tooth of 
the tool in the last stroke, which guided it equi- 
distant with the former. He spoke with great ap- 
probation of the graphic talents of his late brother 
John ; and repeatedly said, that, had he lived, he 
might have attained to greater eminence than him- 
