ix Founding of Etruria 87 



public taste, as well as for the extension of British 

 commerce. 



We have already referred to the accident on the 

 road to Liverpool, which first led to Wedgwood's 

 acquaintance with Dr. Turner, and through him, with 

 Bentley, and have related how the friendship thus 

 formed rapidly led to an almost brotherly intimacy. 

 When Wedgwood purchased the Eidgehouse estate, 

 he urgently requested Bentley to come over to Burslem 

 and confer with him and his wife as to the laying out 

 of the property. 



"My Sally," wrote Wedgwood, 15th September 

 1766, "says your fat sides require a good deal of 

 shaking, and she would recommend a journey on horse- 

 back, not in the coach, to Burslem. She is half angry 

 with me for coming home without you ; but your last 

 letter hath brought her into a little better temper, as 

 she expects not only the pleasure of seeing you here in 

 a little time, but likewise a jaunt to Liverpool in con- 

 sequence of your visit. Besides, she will not fix upon a 

 spot for either house or gardens, nor even the stables, 

 'till you have viewed and given your opinion of the 

 premises ; so now, my dear sir, you are invited to the 

 Kidgehouse estate in the quality of a Capability Brown." 



The invitation was accepted, but Bentley did not 

 " shake his fat sides " by riding on horseback, but by 

 using the machine, or coach. He inspected the estate, 

 and the site of his probable dwelling. It had been 

 arranged towards the close of the year that Bentley 



