XIV 



Portraits, Medallions, Artistic Work 151 



For this discovery, Wedgwood took out a patent 

 the only patent he ever registered. He had a dislike 

 to patents, for the defence of patents against pirates 

 required the expenditure of more money than they 

 were worth. His object was to go ahead, and keep in 

 advance of the pirates by his new improvements and 

 discoveries. It was more by the advice of his friends, 

 than from his own unbiassed judgment, that he took 

 out this special patent. He was content with the 

 advantages he had already acquired, and was better 

 pleased to see thousands made happy by following him 

 in the same career of industry, than he could be by 

 any exclusive enjoyment for himself. He was opposed 

 to patents on another account ; because, in most cases, 

 while they tied up the hands of our own countrymen, 

 they laid the discovery open to any foreigners who 

 might think it worth their while to take them up, and 

 propagate them to their own advantage, and to our loss. 

 Nevertheless, Wedgwood took out this his only patent, 

 and he was afterwards called upon to defend it. 



Of the " first fruits of Etruria "formed by Wedg- 

 wood on the potter's wheel, and the wheel turned by 

 Bentley some were deposited in the foundation of 

 Etruria Hall, and the rest were sent to London, but not 

 for sale. When the vases were called for by the public 

 in large quantities, a work was established at Chelsea 

 under the direction of Bentley, who collected a large 

 number of artists for their preparation. An immense 

 number of the vases were sold, both at home and 



