xni Wedgwood 1 s Artistic Work 139 



for no one else. But that, you know, is a superfluous 

 engagement, as we have renounced those narrow selfish 

 views, and are to let our improvements take a free 

 course for the benefit of our brethren and our country." 



We give another passage from one of his letters to 

 Bentley : " I would propose for this winter's sale of vases 

 four species only, viz. Blue Pebble, Variegated Pebble, 

 Black Etruscan, and Etruscan Encaustic. These, with the 

 variations of sizes, forms, and ornaments, gilding, vein- 

 ing, bas-reliefs, etc., will produce business enough for 

 all the hands we can possibly get together. . . I shall 

 be glad to have your thoughts upon this subject. 

 You'll easily observe the foundation of my arguments is 

 money-getting. Take that away, and they all drop to 

 the ground. Instead of this, if you substitute Fame 

 (and my bosom begins to glow with a generous warmth 

 at the idea) I say if instead of money-getting you 

 substitute Fame and the good of the manufacture at 

 large for our principles of action, then we should do 

 just the contrary of what I have been recommending. 



"Make all the good, fine, and new things we can 

 immediately, and so far from being afraid of other 

 people getting our patterns, we should glory in it, throw 

 out all the hints we can, and if possible have all the 

 Artists in Europe working after our models. This 

 would be noble, and suit both our dispositions and 

 sentiments much better than all the narrow, mercenary, 

 selfish trammels the coats of mail we are forging for 

 our reluctant hearts, to case and hamper them in their 



