Bewley: and after spending about a week there, he went to pay another last or parting visit to his friend Dr. Burney, and there, at his house in St. Martin’s Street, London, he died, on the 5th. of Sept. 1783. He was for many years one of the writers of the Monthly Review, and the articles he furnished for that respectable publication were thought not inferior to the productions of the very ablest of his associates. How many articles he furnished for that work is not known, except, perhaps, to the Editor. The review of _PRIESTLEY’S History of Electricity_, (as was before observed,) of _WHITEHURST’S Inquiry into the original State and formation of the Earth_, and of _Sir JOHN HAWKINS’ History of Music_, are understood to have been drawn up by Mr. Bewley. The last mentioned article is said to have been much admired at the time by the late celebrated Dr. _Samuel Johnson_. Mr. Bewley was sometimes denominated _The Philosopher of Massingham_, and with as much propriety, it was supposed, as _Hobbes_ was styled _The Philosopher of Malmsbury_. The branches of knowledge in which he was said chiefly to excel were those of _Anatomy_, _Electricity_, and _Chemistry_. He had naturally a fine ear, and was particularly fond of music; and was not only an excellent judge of composition, but also a good performer on the violin. He cultivated the art and science of music as a relief from severer pursuits, and applied to it in the hours of relaxation, with that ardour which characterized all his undertakings. A love for every liberal science and an insatiable curiosity after whatever was connected with them, were his predominant passions. So strongly and lastingly did they operate, that he desired some books might be brought to him on the very evening before he died, when the excruciating pains of his disorder had a little abated; and though unable to read himself, he listened to what was read, and drank in knowledge with his wonted eagerness, and, —“with his latest breath Thus shewed his ruling passion strong in death.” He was a remarkably warm friend, and an excellent husband: and withal of so benevolent and peculiar a turn of mind, that he would not willingly hurt a worm; nor would he, it seems, cut a living twig from a shrub or tree, because he did not know, (as he would say) but the operation might occasion pain. Many will probably affect to smile at this, under an idea of their own fancied superiority, whose characters, nevertheless, would bear no comparison with that of William Bewley, not to say as _scholars_, and _philosophers_, but even as _men_, and _members of society_. In short, he appears to have been a very _good_, as well as a very wise and great man. {192} SECTION V. _Of the ANIMALS_, _and particularly the BIRDS of this country_.