68 MEMOIR OP THOMAS BEWICK. 
and entered that naked but neat little town early 
the second morning; alighting at the Eagle — fit 
sign to a visitor of the king of bird-engravers. 
“ In my haste to find his lodging, I passed it ; 
hut stumping behind, with his great cudgel, he 
seized me ardently by the arm before I was aware, 
exclaiming, 1 I seed ye from tha window, and 
kenned yer hack and gait, my kind friend.’ I found 
him in very good lodgings facing the fountain - 
comer of the superb Crescent, nearly opposite the 
Old Hall ; and, after the fervid raptures of again 
meeting, we settled down into our usual chit-chat. 
There were three windows in the front room, the 
ledges and shutters whereof he had pencilled all 
over with funny characters, as he saw them pass to 
and fro, visiting the well. These people were the 
source of great amusement : the probable histories 
of whom, and how they came by their ailings, he 
would humorously narrate, and sketch their figures 
and features in one instant of time. I have seen 
him draw a striking likeness on his thumb-nail, in 
one moment ; wipe it off with his tongue, and in- 
stantly draw another. He told me that, at water- 
ing-places, if his name were known, he was pestered 
with people staring at him, and inflicting foolish 
questions ; and he cautioned me always in public to 
to call him the ‘ old gentleman.’ We dined occa- 
sionally at the public table ; and one day, over the 
wine, a dispute arose between two gentlemen about 
a bird ; hut was soon terminated by one affirming he 
had compared it with the figure and description of 
