ii The Wedgwood Family 15 



that is, by firing their ware with the .vapour of common 

 salt at a high temperature. They washed, and levigated, 

 and in various ways prepared the clays, giving the ware 

 a fineness, durability, and solidity, which were entirely 

 new. The ornaments and mouldings were sharp in 

 execution and graceful in design, far beyond the efforts 

 of the Staffordshire potters at that time. 



The Elers discovered a vein of clay, which they found 

 suitable for their purposes, near Bradwell Wood. This 

 clay, carefully levigated, and covered with an excellent 

 glaze, yielded a red ware, like the Etruscan or Japanese ; 

 hard and compact in texture, and admirable in design. 

 The Elers, besides their red ware, also produced an 

 Egyptian black, by the mixture of Manganese with the 

 clay before it was fired. They were thus the precursors, 

 or, it may be, the originators, of the fine black bodies 

 of Josiah Wedgwood and other Staffordshire manu- 

 facturers. 



The Elers conducted their operations with perfect 

 secrecy. No strangers were admitted to their pottery. 

 The windows were blinded. Only the stupidest work- 

 men were employed to turn the thrower's wheel. Even 

 idiots were preferred, while those workmen who appeared 

 more than ordinarily skilful were sworn to secrecy. 

 They were locked up while at work, and were carefully 

 examined when they left the premises. 



These measures excited the prying inquisitiveness 

 of the Burslem potters. The men were foreigners ; any- 

 thing was lawful against foreigners. They manufactured 



