1 62 Josiah Wedgwood CHAP. 



him from Spen Green. His old surgeon Dr. Bent 

 removed his disease which was, it seems, a liver 

 affection and he was able before long to resume his 

 usual business career. 



Wedgwood was not only troubled with his eyes, but 

 with his artificial leg. He could not attend a meeting 

 with Boulton and Keir at Birmingham because of some 

 injury to his pin leg. Wedgwood wrote to Athenian 

 Stuart one of his intimate friends that he was able 

 to go abroad again, though, he added, " I am not fond 

 of doing so in frosty weather, being not so expert a 

 footman as I have been, and a slip or accident to my 

 better leg might lay me up for good and all" 



His business avocations never interfered with Wedg- 

 wood's love for his family. In April 1771 was born 

 his fourth and last son, Thomas. To amuse his children, 

 he bought a barrel organ, which played many tunes. 

 " The organ arrived safe," he wrote to Bentley, " and a 

 most joyful opening of it we have had. About twenty 

 young sprigs were made as happy as mortals could be, 

 and danced and lilted away. It would have done your 

 heart good to have seen them. I wish we had had your 

 sprightly niece with us; but give my love to her. When 

 we send the organ to town again, it shall be sent 

 to Chelsea for a week or two, for her amusement." 



Sir William Hamilton, British Ambassador at 

 Naples, a great friend and promoter of art, published a 

 series of splendid volumes on Etruscan, Greek, and 

 Eoman antiquities, from which Wedgwood copied 



