iv Partnership with Harrison & Whieldon 35 



the beginning of the year 1759, in my partnership with 

 Mr. Whieldon, for the improvement of our manufacture 

 of earthenware, which at that time stood in great need 

 of it, the demand for our goods decreasing daily, and 

 the trade being universally complained of as being bad 

 and in a declining condition. 



"White stoneware (viz. with salt glaze) was the 

 principal article of our manufacture ; but this had been 

 made a long time, and the prices were now reduced 

 so low that the potters could not afford to bestow 

 much expense upon it, or make it so good in any re- 

 spect as the ware would otherwise admit of; and with 

 regard to elegance of form, that was an object very little 

 attended to. 



" The article next in consequence to stoneware was 

 an imitation of tortoise-shell, but as no improvement 

 had been made in this branch for several years, the con- 

 sumer had grown nearly tired of it; and though the 

 price had been lowered from time to time in order to 

 increase the sale, the expedient did not answer, and 

 something new was wanted to give a little spirit to the 

 business. 



" I had already made an imitation of Agate which 

 was esteemed beautiful, and made a considerable im- 

 provement, but people were surfeited with wares of these 

 various colours. These considerations induced me to 

 try for some more solid improvement, as well in the 

 body as the glazes, the colours, and the forms of the 

 articles of our manufacture. I saw the field was 



