A EAEE WEDGWOOD SET 353 



To W . E. Darwin 



April 2, 1894. 



I have hunted through Jewitt * and Meteyard for any 

 notice of the Nelumbium pattern in vain which is curious, 

 as it is certainly noteworthy from its direct reference to the 

 ' Botanic Garden,' and to one of the most striking passages 

 of that work (if I remember aright). 



I cannot guess who designed it, but I see no reason to 

 doubt the current view, that it was in compliment to old 

 Erasmus, and had reference to some marriage in the family. 

 Curiously enough Mrs. Horace was here on Friday, and seeing 

 a plate on the wall, at once recognised it, as having been made 

 in reference to some family wedding. I did not take much 

 notice of what she said, as I had not then received your note. 



The pattern includes all three kinds of the Water-lily 

 mentioned in the ' Botanic Garden,' with their several leaves, 

 flowers and fruit. It might be worth while to accompany 

 the exhibited piece with a copy of the passage in the ' Bot. 

 Garden ' that has reference to the pattern. 



I commiserate with you on your having to lend, for I do 

 not see how you can safeguard against accidents. The three 

 superb cases of Antarctic Birds that I lent to the Naval 

 Exhibition were returned not only smashed all of them 

 but some of the birds had to be reset up ! They paid for 

 the damage a goodly sum to the man in Piccadilly. 



Shall I send you a copy of the passage in the ' Bot. 

 Garden ' ? No doubt ' Erasmus ' was consulted if he did 

 not originate the pattern. I know that Josiah consulted 

 Erasmus as to his Etruscan and Egyptian patterns. 



P.S. I find in Chambers' Biographical Dictionary that 

 Erasmus married his second wife in 1781, and that the 

 ' Bot. Garden ' was published in' the same year. So it is 

 very possible that the service was a wedding present, and if 

 so a very appropriate one. 



This, if tenable, hypothesis fixes its date of manufacture. 



1 Llewellynn F. W. Jewitt (1816-86), antiquarian. He learnt wood- 

 engraving before he was twenty-one, and executed nearly all the drawings for 

 London Interiors, and also contributed with pen and pencil to the Pictorial 

 Times and the Illustrated London News. He had for a time the management of 

 the illustrations for Punch. He was chief librarian at the Plymouth Public 

 Library 1849-63, and the editor of the Derby Telegraph 1853-68. He estab- 

 lished the Reliquary, and was the author of many books, including The Life 

 of Eliza Meteyard, The Wedgwoods, Ceramic Art of Great Britain, and several 

 handbooks on coins, antiquities, &c. 



