VIII 



Wedgwood appointed Queens Potter 79 



thousand workmen employed in manufacturing useful 

 and ornamental wares, and besides the home consump- 

 tion, an annual export takes place to the amount of 

 nearly 200,000. This surely is greatly to the credit 

 of the industry and enterprise of Staffordshire. 



Wedgwood eventually did what Lord Gower and his 

 other friends had so strongly advised him to do : he 

 opened a warehouse in London for the exhibition of his 

 Queen's ware, Etruscan vases, arid other useful and 

 artistic works. He had before a small storehouse in 

 Cateaton Street for shop and exported goods ; but in 

 August 1765, he hired an establishment in Newport 

 Street, which he afterwards removed to Greek Street 

 for larger accommodation ; and there his brother John 

 exhibited his works to numerous admiring visitors. In 

 fact, his showrooms were as much crowded as exhibi- 

 tions of the Eoyal Academy. 



Wedgwood also hired works at Chelsea, where he 

 employed enamellers, modellers, and artists. He was 

 under the necessity of frequently visiting London, to 

 superintend their important operations. His mind 

 was thus constantly occupied, what with his own 

 special responsibilities at Burslem, his efforts to im- 

 prove the roads and canals through Staffordshire, and 

 his endeavours to advance the manufacture of vases 

 and earthenware. When asked whether he had read the 

 review of Mr. Priestley's work, he answered : " Indeed 

 the truth is, I have scarcely read anything at all, or 

 thought of anything at all, but potmaking and navigat- 



