48 Josiah Wedgwood CHAP. 



his friend Brindley, the engineer, had a difficult problem 

 to solve, he lay in bed for one, two, or even three days, 

 until he had effectually designed his plan, and then he 

 would rise and carry out his work, from memory only ; 

 but Wedgwood could not leave his workmen for days 

 together. He must rise, proceed to the works, and 

 superintend their daily operations. 



But he felt the inconvenience of this custom of 

 thinking during the night in the advanced period of his 

 life ; because if any matter of business occupied his 

 mind before he went to rest, it was sure to deprive him 

 of sleep for the greater part of the night. Wedgwood 

 had always a very active mind ; but this activity 

 eventually proved an obstacle to his bodily health, 

 which was never very robust nor vigorous. 



One of Wedgwood's early friends was Matthew 

 Boulton of Soho, near Birmingham. Wedgwood was 

 accustomed to supply Boulton with vases, snuff-boxes, 

 and other articles to be mounted by the mechanics of 

 Birmingham, and made ready for the market. On one 

 occasion Boulton wrote to Wedgwood that he admired 

 his vases so much that he " almost wished to be a 

 potter " ; but he was satisfied with mounting in metal 

 the vases which Wedgwood had made. 



Boulton was a man of great practical genius, as 

 well as an excellent organiser. By his skill and energy 

 he had completed and organised a splendid manufactory 

 at Soho, which was the admiration of every man of 

 business. Wedgwood, knowing this, had consulted 



