BLACKWOOD'S
THOMAS BEWICK, ENGRAVER ON WOOD.
When reputations have been gained, still it often happens that few are really acquainted with the grounds on which they rest. Most people have heard of the name of Bewick. Yet inquire of the many upon what foundation the fame of this name is built, and, nine times out of ten, the answer shall be, "upon the excellence of his wood engravings." Even so. Ask what sort of excellence, and, upon the second interrogatory, the catechumen is at a nonplus. We shall be excused if we devote a few pages to the genius and works of Bewick.
Thomas Bewick was born in the year 1753, at Cherryburn, in the parish, and near the village, of Ovingham, one of the few places in Northumberland which can boast of having given birth to a man of pre-eminent talent. He was educated, together with his younger brother John, at Ovingham school, then conducted by the Reverend Christopher Gregson. At the age of fourteen, he was apprenticed to the late Mr Ralph Beilby, engraver at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. At this time, it is said, he rarely omitted a Sunday's visit to his father at Cherryburn, a distance of about fourteen miles. Sometimes, on his arrival, he would find the river Tyne too deep to be forded. On such occasions he would shout his inquiries across the water, and contentedly return home. He seems to have early turned his attention to that peculiar branch of his art for which he has since become so celebrated. In 1775, he obtained a premium from the Society of Arts for his wood engraving of the "Old Hound." The position of the huntsman's house in this little cut betrays some faint traces of his genius. This success probably incited him to the more eager prosecution of this species of engraving. The result was, that the first edition of the History of Quadrupeds was published by Mr Beilby and himself, for they had now become partners, in the year 1790. This was the spring of his reputation. In 1795, Mr William Bulmer, the well-known printer, published the Traveller and Deserted Village of Goldsmith, and the Hermit of Parnell, with woodcuts by Thomas and John Bewick. The beauty and novelty of the engravings strongly attracted public attention. Many, indeed, were at first sceptical as to the possibility of such effects being produced from wood. Amongst the incredulous was said to have been his late Majesty, who was only convinced of the truth by actual inspection of the blocks. In 1796, the Chace of Somerville was published in a similar manner; and, in the same year, Mr Bewick lost his younger brother and coadjutor John, who died of consumption. He was now rapidly rising to celebrity; and in the year 1797 was published the first volume of his History of British Birds, containing the Land Birds. This, perhaps, is the best of his works. There is a little anecdote connected with this publication. In one of the tail-pieces, Bewick's strong delight in satirical humour led him a little too far across the debateable land of decorum. Unconvinced, however, and inconvincible did he remain, until a considerable number of impressions had got into circulation. He was then compelled to have the offending part in the remainder of the
