xiii Wedgwood's Artistic Work 145 



pair which he now possessed. Among the visits which 

 they paid was one to their Majesties the King and 

 Queen, in order to present some bas-reliefs which the 

 Queen had ordered, and to show some of their recent 

 improvements in the manufacture of vases. The 

 interview was satisfactory in every respect. Bentley 

 wrote from Chelsea to his Liverpool partner (17th 

 December 1770): "The King is well acquainted with 

 business, and with the characters of the principal 

 manufacturers, merchants, and artists ; he seems to 

 have the success of our manufactures much at heart, 

 and to understand the importance of them. The Queen 

 has more sensibility, true politeness, engaging affability, 

 and sweetness of temper, than any great lady I ever 

 had the honour of speaking to." 



Wedgwood, however, did not rely much upon 

 Eoyal Favours. He depended mostly upon himself 

 and his constant efforts to improve his manufactures. 

 He would not tolerate indifference or idleness. Every- 

 thing must be done in the best style. " In my first 

 essays upon vases," he said, "I had many things to 

 learn myself, and everything to teach the workmen, 

 who had not the least idea of beauty or proportion in 

 what they did." When he went through his workshops, 

 and found a plate, a teapot, or a vase or candlestick, 

 not properly made, he would take up the stick on 

 which he usually leaned, and break it to pieces, saying, 

 " This won't do for Josiah Wedgwood ! " 



With him the ruling motive was intense persever- 

 L 



