156 Josiak Wedgwood CHAP. 



He was greatly influenced by the advice of his lady 

 friends. While producing his pyramidal flowerpots, he 

 consulted Miss Fothergill, the eminent botanist's sister, 

 as to their ornamental decoration. She was almost as 

 good a botanist as her brother. " I speak from experi- 

 ence in Female taste," he wrote to Bentley, " without 

 which I should have made but a poor figure amongst 

 my pots, not one of which, of any consequence, is 

 finished without the approbation of my Sally." 



Wedgwood was also greatly indebted to Mrs. South- 

 well for her excellent hints about the decoration of his 

 ornamental flowerpots. " She is a charming woman," 

 he wrote to Bentley ; " I am more and more in love 

 with her every time I see her ; and having such a mis- 

 tress in the science of flowerpot-dressing, I hope our 

 future productions will show that I have profited ac- 

 cordingly." He was also helped by older and more 

 illustrious patrons : Lady Dover and Lady Teignham 

 were ladies of great taste, and cheerfully assisted Wedg- 

 wood in his efforts in flowerpot and brooch decoration. 



To forward his views as to decorative improvement, 

 he requested Ehodes to advertise again, and invite any 

 hands that had been employed in painting figures, 

 flowers, jars, or other decoration on china, to apply to 

 him in Little Cheyne Eow, Chelsea, where they would 

 find profitable employment. "What has become," he 

 wrote to Bentley, " of your scheme for taking in girls 

 to paint? Have you spoken to Mrs. Wright? Mr. 

 Coward, too, said he could tell you of some fan-painters. 



