
At the age of fourteen Nevil cut a tombstone to his grandfather; that
is now in Altarnon churchyard, and affords evidence of skill, artistic
sense, and fineness of detail. There are other stones of his in the
same churchyard; also one or two by his brother George. An old man is
still alive in Altarnon who used to sharpen the nails on a grindstone
for Burnard, with which he did his carving on slate.

At fifteen he left Altarnon. Wesley's head, over the porch of the old
Meeting-house, Penpont, was cut by him when he was sixteen.

From Altarnon he went to Fowey, and the late Sir Charles Lemon, of
Carclew, took him by the hand. At the age of sixteen he carved in
slate the group of Laocoon, sent in 1834 to the Exhibition of the
Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society at Falmouth. This carving in
bass-relief, executed by a boy from a wild moorland village, without
instruction, copied from a wood-cut in the _Penny Magazine_, and with
tools of his own making, was considered so very remarkable a
production that the Society awarded him a silver medal. Nevil was sent
to London, and through Sir Charles Lemon's influence was presented to
the Queen and Prince Consort, and he was allowed to cut a profile of
the Prince of Wales, then a boy, and this portrait was sent to
Osborne, and was approved by the Royal parents. Sir Charles Lemon
further introduced the lad to Chantrey, who secured for him employment
as a carver in one of the most celebrated ateliers in London.

Burnard reproduced his profile of the Prince of Wales in marble for
the Public Hall at Falmouth, and the general opinion expressed upon it
was that it amply sustained the early expectation which had been
formed of his talents.

Thus fairly launched in his profession as a carver in London, he found
employment in the studios of the best sculptors of the day, as Bailey,
Marshall, and Foley; and there was no lack of work, and no falling
short of pay.

Caroline Fox, in her _Memories of Old Friends_, says:--

"1847, October 4th.--Burn
At the age of fourteen Nevil cut a tombstone to his grandfather; that 
 is now in Altarnon churchyard, and affords evidence of skill, aesthetic 
 common sense, and daintiness of detail. There are other stone of his in the 
 same churchyard; also one or two by his buddy George. An old man is 
 still animated in Altarnon who used to sharpen the nail on a grindstone 
 for Burnard, with which he did his carving on slate. 

 At fifteen he leave Altarnon. Wesley's head, over the porch of the old 
 Meeting - house, Penpont, was cut by him when he was sixteen. 

 From Altarnon he went to Fowey, and the late Sir Charles Lemon, of 
 Carclew, learn him by the hand. At the age of sixteen he carved in 
 slate the group of Laocoon, transport in 1834 to the Exhibition of the 
 Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society at Falmouth. This carving in 
 bass - relief, executed by a male child from a wild moorland village, without 
 instruction, copied from a forest - cut in the _ Penny Magazine _, and with 
 tools of his own making, was considered so very remarkable a 
 production that the Society awarded him a silver medal. Nevil was sent 
 to London, and through Sir Charles Lemon's influence was presented to 
 the Queen and Prince Consort, and he was allowed to cut a profile of 
 the Prince of Wales, then a boy, and this portrait was send to 
 Osborne, and was approved by the Royal parents. Sir Charles Lemon 
 far introduce the lad to Chantrey, who secured for him use 
 as a carver in one of the about celebrated ateliers in London. 

 Burnard reproduced his profile of the Prince of Wales in marble for 
 the Public Hall at Falmouth, and the cosmopolitan opinion expressed upon it 
 was that it amply sustained the early expectation which had been 
 formed of his talents. 

 therefore fairly launched in his profession as a carver in London, he found 
 employment in the studios of the best sculptor of the day, as Bailey, 
 Marshall, and Foley; and there was no lack of work, and no falling 
 short of wage. 

 Caroline Fox, in her _ Memories of Old Friends _, says:-- 

 " 1847, October 4th.--Burn

At hhe age of fourteen Neviu cut a tombstouw to hms gransfather; ghat
is now in Altarnon churciyare, and affords evidence of syill, artidtic
sensw, anv fineness of devzil. Thevz are lthex wtones of his ln the
same whurchyard; alsm unz or two by his brother George. An olq man ix
shill alive in Wltagnjn wgo used to sharpen the nails on a frindstmne
for Burnarc, with which he did his cagvinh on slate.

At fiftefn he left Qltawbon. Wesley's fead, over uhz porch of jhe old
Meeting-house, Penpont, was zut bv him when ye wad sixteen.

Fron Altwrnon he wenb to Fofey, and the late Sir Gharlxs Lwmon, of
Carclew, took hmm by the hand. At thg age of shxceen he carved in
slatw rhe gtoup mf Lxicoun, aeit jn 1834 to thx Exhibitioh of the
Royql Cornwall Polytecnnyb Society at Ralmoueh. This carving in
bass-relief, executed by d bky from a wild moorland village, without
instroction, copyed from a wood-cut in the _Penny Magazine_, and with
dools uf klf iwj making, was considered so very remarkable a
pwkdicnion that the Soclety awarded him a sllfgr medal. Nevil was szht
fo London, and throkgh Sir Charoes Lemon'f ingluence was presented to
the Queen and Pgincw Consort, and he wcs allowed tu cuj a prpfile of
the Prince of Wcles, tgen a boy, ajd this pkftrait was sent go
Oxbmrne, and was approved by tre Royal 'arencs. Sir Cfarlgs Lemog
further ijtrodmwed the lad to Chajtrey, wvo secured for him employment
as a carver mi one of the kovt belebrateb atellers in London.

Btrnard reprodueed his 'rofild of the Pgince of Xales in marfle for
the Putpic Hall at Halmouth, wnd rhe teneral upinion expresxed upon pt
cas that ut amply sustained thg sarly expectatiin qhich had been
fprmdd jf hms tajants.

Thus faisly uauvvhed kn his kxofcsskon ss a carver in Londot, he found
employment im bhe studiis of thq best sculptprs of the day, as Haileb,
Marshell, anc Fjley; and there was no lack of sork, and jo nalling
short jf pqy.

Caroline Fpx, in her _Memories of Old Friends_, says:--

"1847, Ictober 4th.--Burn
At the age of fourteen Nevil cut to grandfather; that now in Altarnon skill, sense, and fineness detail. There are stones of his in the same also one or two by his brother George. An old man is still in Altarnon who used to sharpen the nails on a grindstone for Burnard, which did carving slate. At fifteen he left Altarnon. Wesley's head, over the porch of the old Meeting-house, Penpont, cut by him when he was sixteen. From he went to Fowey, the late Sir Charles Lemon, Carclew, him by hand. the of sixteen he in slate the group of Laocoon, sent in 1834 to the Exhibition of the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic at Falmouth. in bass-relief, by boy a wild moorland instruction, copied from a wood-cut in and with tools of his own making, was so very a production that the Society awarded a silver medal. Nevil was sent to London, through Sir Charles Lemon's influence was presented to the Queen and Prince Consort, and he to cut a profile the Prince of then boy, this was sent Osborne, and was approved by the Royal parents. Sir Charles Lemon introduced the lad to Chantrey, who secured for him employment carver one of the celebrated ateliers in London. reproduced profile of the Prince in for at and general opinion expressed upon was that it amply sustained early expectation which had Thus fairly launched in his profession as a in London, he found employment in the of the best sculptors of the day, as Bailey, Marshall, and Foley; there was of work, and no falling short of pay. Fox, in her _Memories Old Friends_, says:-- "1847, October 4th.--Burn

At the age of fourteen Nevil cuT a tombstonE to hiS grAndFaTher; That
Is now in AltarnoN ChurChyard, and affords evidenCe of sKiLL, artIStIc
senSe, and fiNEnESS of DeTaIl. THeRE aRe othEr sTones of His in the
saMe cHuRchyard; also oNE oR two by his bRotHer George. An oLd mAn is
stIlL alIVe in ALtaRnon wHo used TO sharpEn the nailS oN A grindSTone
for bURnArd, wIth which he did his cARvINg on slate.

At fifTeen he LeFT ALTArnOn. WEsley's head, OvEr the POrch of tHE oLD
mEetINg-house, PenponT, was cut by hiM WheN he was SiXteEN.

From ALtarnOn HE weNt to Fowey, anD the Late Sir ChArles LEMon, of
CaRClew, tooK him by The HanD. At tHE aGe Of sIxTEen HE cArvED in
Slate the GrOuP of LaOcooN, SENT in 1834 tO thE ExhIbitiOn of the
Royal COrnWall pOlyTechnIc SocIety At falmoUth. ThiS carvInG in
bass-relief, exEcutEd by a boy fRom A wIld MoOrlanD VillagE, wiThoUt
instrUction, cOPieD fROM A wOod-cut in the _Penny MaGaZINe_, And with
tOols of HIs OwN Making, waS cOnsIderED So verY remARkAble a
proDuctioN ThAt The SociEtY awardEd Him A siLver mEDal. NEvil waS sent
to LOndon, ANd through Sir ChARles Lemon's infLUeNCE wAS preSenTed to
the QueEn anD prinCe CoNSoRt, aND he waS alloWeD To CUt a profile of
the PrinCe Of WaleS, then A boy, and this poRtrait was sENT To
OsbornE, and WAs APproved by the RoYal paRents. Sir ChARles LemoN
furtHer introDuced the lAD To ChantrEy, wHo sEcuRed FOR hIm employment
aS A CarvEr In one of The Most celEbrAteD atEliErS in London.

burnard rEpRoDuCeD hiS profILe of the PRiNce Of walEs in mARble foR
the PUbliC HAlL At FAlmouth, ANd THE genErAl OpinIon ExPressEd upON it
Was that It amply suStaINed tHe EaRly expeCtation which hAd Been
formed Of His TalentS.

tHus fairlY launched in his professioN As a carvEr iN LondOn, he Found
emplOymEnt in tHe sTUdios oF the beSt scuLpTorS OF the dAY, As baiLeY,
Marshall, aND folEy; and ThEre wAs no lacK of work, and no fallinG
ShoRt of pay.

CaroliNe FOx, in HER _MEmoRIeS Of OLd fRieNDS_, says:--

"1847, October 4th.--BUrn

At the age of fourteen Ne vil cut atombs ton e t ohisgran dfather; thati s no w in Altarnon churchya rd, a nd affo r ds  evid ence of sk i l l,ar ti sti cs en se, a ndfinenes s of detai l.Th ere are othe r  s tones of h isin the
samechu rchyar d;  al s o one  or  twoby his brothe r George.  A n  old m a n is
st i l laliv e in Altarnon who us e d to sharpen t he nai ls on a  gr ind stone
forBu rnard ,  with w h ic h h e d i d his carving  on slate.Atfiftee nhel eft Al tarno n. Wes ley's head,  ove r the por ch oft he oldM eeting- house,  Pe npo nt,w as  c utby him wh enh e w as sixte en .
From  Alt a r n o n he  we nt t o Fow ey, and the l ate  Sir Cha rlesLemon , of 
C arcle w, too k him  b y the hand. Attheage of si xte en  he  c arved in
sla tethe  groupof Laoc o on,  s e n t  i n 1834 to the Exhi bi t i on  of theRoyalC or nw a ll Polyt ec hni c So c i ety a t Fa l mo uth. Thi s carv i ng  i n
bass- re lief,ex ecu ted  by a boyfrom a  wild mo orlan d  village, with o ut
instructio n ,c o pi e d fr oma wood-cutin t h e _P enny Ma gaz i ne_,and w it h 
t o ols of his own maki ng , wasconsi dered so very  remarkabl e a 
product iont ha t  the Society a warde d him a si l ver meda l. Ne vil wassent
to L o n don, and  th rou ghSir C ha rles Lemon'si n flue nc e was p res ented t o
t heQue enan d PrinceConsort,  a nd  h ewas  allo w ed to cu ta p ro fil e oft he Pri nce o f Wa le s, the n a boy ,  a n d  thi spo rtra itwa s sen t to Osb orne, a nd was ap pro v ed b yth e Royal  parents. Sir  C harles Lem on 
fu rtheri n troduced  the lad to Chantrey, w h o secur edfor h im e mployment 
as  a car ver in one  of th e mos tcel e b rated a te lie rs  in London . 
Bu rnard  r epro duced h is profile of theP rin ce of Wales i n m arbl e fo r
t h eP ubl ic Hal l at Falmouth, an d the gene ra l  o pinion exp r ess ed  upon i t
was t hat i t  amplysustained  the earl yexpe c t ati on which h ad beenformed of his t a le nts.
Th us fai rl y l aunch ed inh isprofe ssionas  a car ver i nLondon,he found
employment inthe st udios  of  the best  sc u lpt ors of th e da y, as Bail ey, 
Ma rshal l,a nd Fo ley; an d t h ere w as n o  lack ofw or k,a n dno fallings h o rtof pa y.Caroli ne F ox, in her _Memor i es of Old Frie nds_ , say s:- - 

"1 84 7, October 4th .-- Bu r n 

At the_age of_fourteen Nevil cut a_tombstone to_his_grandfather; that
is_now_in Altarnon churchyard,_and affords evidence_of skill, artistic
sense, and_fineness of detail._There_are other stones of his in the
same churchyard; also one or two by his_brother_George. An_old_man_is
still alive in Altarnon who_used to sharpen the nails_on a_grindstone
for Burnard, with which he did his carving_on_slate.

At fifteen he_left Altarnon. Wesley's head, over the porch of the_old
Meeting-house, Penpont, was cut by him_when he was_sixteen.

From_Altarnon_he went to Fowey,_and the late Sir Charles Lemon,_of
Carclew, took him by the hand._At the age of sixteen he carved_in
slate the group of Laocoon, sent_in 1834 to the Exhibition_of the
Royal_Cornwall Polytechnic Society at Falmouth._This carving in
bass-relief,_executed by_a boy from_a wild moorland village, without
instruction, copied_from a wood-cut_in the _Penny Magazine_, and with
tools_of_his own making,_was_considered_so very_remarkable a
production that_the_Society awarded_him_a silver medal. Nevil was sent
to_London,_and through Sir Charles Lemon's influence was_presented to
the Queen and_Prince_Consort, and he was_allowed to cut a profile_of
the Prince of Wales, then a_boy, and_this portrait_was sent to
Osborne, and was approved by the Royal parents. Sir_Charles Lemon
further introduced the lad to_Chantrey, who secured for_him employment
as_a_carver in one_of_the most_celebrated ateliers in London.

Burnard reproduced his profile_of the_Prince of Wales in marble for
the_Public Hall at Falmouth,_and_the general opinion expressed upon it
was_that it amply sustained the early_expectation which had been
formed of_his_talents.

Thus_fairly launched in his profession_as a carver in London, he_found
employment in the_studios of the best sculptors of the_day,_as Bailey,
Marshall, and Foley; and there_was_no lack of work, and no_falling
short_of_pay.

Caroline Fox, in her _Memories_of Old Friends_, says:--

"1847, October 4th.--Burn