v Wedgwood begins Biisiness for Himself 47 



money, time, and labour, it is true ; but he would not 

 be baulked. The improvement of pottery became his 

 passion; and at length success crowned his indomit- 

 able efforts. 



He spent his evenings, and a considerable portion of 

 his nights, in scheming and designing the works of the 

 succeeding day. Like Napoleon, he held that nothing 

 was "impossible." After contriving everything, he 

 declared that it " must be done," let what might stand 

 in the way. His workmen began to believe in him; 

 and eventually succeeded in fulfilling his strongly- 

 desired objects. They helped him with his kilns, his 

 drying pans, his tools, and the other apparatus which 

 he contrived from time to time, to carry out the 

 improvements in his new manufactures. His decision 

 of mind was ready to encounter and overcome any 

 situation of difficulty, while his indomitable persever- 

 ance and unfailing resource communicated themselves 

 to his subordinates and inspired them with a genuine 

 interest in their work. 



But it was not his evenings only that occupied his 

 mind with designing and contriving the methods of 

 work for the ensuing day. He contracted a habit of 

 thinking during the night over all that had occurred 

 during the day that had passed ; and of all that he had 

 to accomplish in the coming day his kilns, his tools, 

 his wares, or his models. He usually surmounted his 

 difficulties before the return of the morning, when he 

 was up and ready to go on with his labours. When 



