to a more intimate acquaintance with this branch of Natural History.

Immediately after the publication of this volume, a separation of interests took place between the Editors; and the compilation and completion of the second volume, containing the History of British Water Birds, devolved upon Mr. Bewick alone. From various unforeseen obstacles this did not appear until the year 1804. In the Advertisement to the second volume the Editor says, "When the History of British Birds was first undertaken, the splendid museum of the late Marmaduke Tunstall, of Wycliffe, Esq. was obligingly thrown open by his nephew, Francis Sheldon, Esq. (now Francis Constable, Esq. of Burton Constable, in Holderness), with the kindest offer of the use of its abundant stores. During a residence of nearly two months at that little earthly paradise-the secure asylum of its feathered visitors, which were suffered by the late benevolent owner to pick up their daily pittance unmolested-drawings were taken from the stuffed specimens of most of the British species, and many of these were afterwards traced and engraven upon the blocks of wood; but in the progress of the work, so many both dead and living specimens of the birds themselves, (to which stuffed subjects commonly bear only an imperfect resemblance,) were furnished by the patrons of the work, that the necessity

of using several of these drawings was superseded by this more near approach to perfect nature." The Editor also acknowledges his obligations to the Rev. Henry Cotes, Vicar of Bedlington, for his literary corrections.

In this publication it will be found that the drawings are minutely accurate. The peculiar softness of wood engraving has been applied with most extraordinary success in the delineations; the cuts expressing all the natural delicacy of fur, feather, and foliage, in a manner peculiarly happy and beautiful. Indeed, there is a life and spirit imparted to these figures, which will, in all probability, remain unrivalled.

We shall now proceed to the descriptive Catalogue of the principal works, in which the Messrs. Bewick, at different times, have been engaged.

Catalogue.

THE Fables, of Mr. John Gay. Complete in two Parts. With cuts by Thomas and John Bewick.

Newcastle printed for T. Saint, 1779. 12mo.

Select Fables, a new Edition improved.

Is not the Earth

With various living creatures, and the air
Replenished, and all those at thy command

To come and play before thee?

Their language and their ways?

Knowest thou not

They also know,

And reason not contemptibly: with these
Find pastime.

Paradise Lost, b. 8. l. 370.

Newcastle printed by and for T. Saint, 1784. 12mo.

The first edition of this work was published in the year 1776, with a very indifferent set of wood cuts. For the edition of 1784, a new series was engraved by the Bewicks; and the book was printed in a much more respectable form.

A Wood-cut of "The Wild Bull, of the ancient Caledonian breed, now in the Park, at Chillingham Castle, Northumberland," designed and engraved by Thomas Bewick.

Newcastle: printed by Solomon Hodgson, 1789.

Size of the cut 9 in. by 7 in. Only 230 Copies printed. This is the largest wood-cut which Thomas Bewick ever engraved,

с

and is considered his master-piece. The block, from its great size, after very few impressions were taken off, split into several pieces, and remained so until the year 1817, when (with the exception of the figured border) the pieces were adjusted in the nicest manner, and the block so clamped together with iron, as to bear the force of printing, so that impressions may still be taken from it. The border was figured, and about three quarters of an inch in breadth; it was cut upon separate pieces of wood, and put round the block. About six proof impressions were taken off on thin vellum, which are without the name on the block. One of these, late belonging to Mr. Beilby, is now in the possession of the writer, and another has been valued at twenty guineas! The impressions are very brown, and appear as if they had been printed with bad ink.

A Tour through Sweden, Swedish Lapland, Finland, and Denmark. In a series of letters, illustrated with copper-plates, designed and engraved by Ralph Beilby and Thomas Bewick. By Matthew Consett, Esq. who accompanied Sir H. G. Liddell, Bart. and Mr. Bowes, in this Tour.

Stockton: printed by R. Christopher, 1789. Demi 4to. This work may now be considered as a great curiosity, being one of the very few publications which contain any of Thomas Bewick's engravings on copper.

Emblems of Mortality; representing, in upwards of fifty cuts, Death, seizing all Ranks and Degrees of People; imitated from a painting in the Cemetry of the Dominican Church, at Basil, in Switzerland: with an Apostrophe to each, translated from the Latin and French. Intended as well for the Information of the Curious, as the Instruction and Entertainment of Youth. To which is prefixed, a copious Preface, containing an historical Account of the above, and other Paintings on

this subject, now or lately existing in divers parts of Europe.

London: printed for T. Hodgson, in George's-Court, St. John's-Lane, Clerkenwell, 1789. 12mo.

This work, the cuts for which were engraved by John Bewick, reached a third edition; but the first is decidedly the best, being much better printed, and now very scarce. The wood cuts were destroyed by a fire in London.

A Copper-plate of "The Whitley large Ox, belonging to Mr. Edward Hall, of Whitley, in Northumberland. Rising seven years when killed at Newcastle, by Mr. Thomas Horsley, weighed 187st. at the public weighhouse, March 21, 1789." Drawn and engraved by

Thomas Bewick.

Newcastle published and sold by Beilby and Bewick, Newcastle, April 10, 1789.

Size of the print 10 in. by 73 in.

This cut contains a distant view of Tynemouth Castle, &c. It is not so well engraved as the print of the Kyloe Ox next described.

A Copper-plate of "The remarkable Kyloe Ox, bred in the Mull, Argyleshire, by Donald Campbell, Esq. and fed by Mr. Robert Spearman, of Rotheley Park, Northumberland. Six years old, killed July 22d, 1790." Drawn and engraved by Thomas Bewick, 1790.

Size of the print 13 in. by 10 in.

This is a very curious specimen of copper-plate engraving, more especially the minute manner in which the verdure is executed, it being a combination of style, between wood and copper.

The plate was engraved for Mr. Spearman.

A General History of Quadrupeds. The Figures engraved on Wood by T. Bewick.

Newcastle: printed by and for S. Hodgson, R. Beilby