IO2 Josiah Wedgwood CHAP. 



Newchapel; and as I always edify full as much in 

 that man's company as at church, I promise myself to 

 be much wiser the day following. It is an old adage 

 that a man is either a fool or a physician at fifty, and 

 considering the opportunities I have had with the 

 Brindleys and Bentleys of the age, if I am not a very 

 wise mortal before that time, I must be a veritable 

 blockhead in grain." 



In answer to a letter of Bentley's on Projectors in 

 March 1767, Wedgwood replied : " I most cordially 

 join in your benevolent sentiments respecting Pro- 

 jectors, but do not allow either of your exceptions, for I 

 think Mr. Brindley THE GREAT. The fortunate, money- 

 getting Brindley may be an object of pity and a real 

 sufferer for the benefit of the 'public. He may get a 

 few thousands, but what does he give in exchange ? 

 His Health, and I fear his Life too, unless he grows 

 wiser, and takes the advice of his friends before it is 

 too late. 1 



"The other Projector (Wedgwood himself) you are 

 pleased to compliment with an exception, is very 

 sensible of how much he owes to your partiality, but he 

 is in no danger of making a Plunk, or what would be 

 esteemed a Fortune by any other than a little Country 

 Manufacturer ; and as to his projections those at least 

 that are sacred to Mammon he would rather not hear 

 them named seriously. Do you think, my friend, that 



1 Wedgwood was right. Brindley died of Diabetes at the com- 

 paratively early age of fifty-six. 



