76 Josiah Wedgwood CHAP. 



counter and overcome. It' not helped by the assiduity 

 of his workmen, he is put to constant anxiety and ex- 

 pense. Sometimes the labour of a month is destroyed 

 in an hour. The kiln has to be pulled down, and 

 another erected in its stead. That, too, may be found 

 imperfect, and has to be altered at a considerable loss. 



Yet Wedgwood's troubles were to a considerable 

 extent alleviated by his many encouragements. " I 

 have just had the honour," he said (7th August 1765), 

 " of a visit from the Duke of Marlborough, Lord Gower, 

 Lord Spencer, and others, over my works. They 

 seemed much interested and pleased, and wonder that 

 I have not a warehouse in London where patterns of 

 all the sorts I make may be seen." Indeed Wedg- 

 wood's works were an institution in the county; and 

 men of the highest rank were proud of his industry and 

 enterprise. 



The Queen was greatly pleased with the breakfast 

 service when presented to her. She was so much 

 gratified with this tribute of an infant art that she at 

 once expressed a wish to have a complete table service 

 of the same material. Wedgwood submitted patterns 

 of the several pieces of ware, which were amended and 

 finally approved. It was her unsolicited desire that 

 the service should bear the name of " The Queen's 

 Ware," and that the manufacturer should be appointed 

 " Potter to Her Majesty." 



Under this powerful patronage, the ware found its 

 way at once to the tables of persons of rank and 



