1 66 Josiah Wedgwood CHAP, xiv 



between this place [Etruria] and Newcastle. I got 

 some knowledge of the gentlemen on Tuesday morning, 

 and sent some of my people in pursuit of them, 

 who brought me in two of the robbers ; a third 

 is brought in this morning, and we have sent out 

 in pursuit of two more. Those we have in custody 

 have confessed various robberies, and those of their 

 accomplices." At Stafford, where the robbers were 

 tried, two of them were sentenced to be hanged, 

 and the others were acquitted for want of sufficient 

 evidence. 



In May 1778 Wedgwood's brother-in-law, the Eev. 

 Mr. Willett, died after a loDg illness. He was calm, 

 serene, and sensible to the last moment. Wedgwood 

 wrote to his friend Bentley : " The decline and weak- 

 ness of old age afford but a melancholy prospect to 

 those who feel themselves approaching just to the same 

 state ; and from the observations I have made, I find 

 the oldest men, philosophers, nay, even Christians, and 

 the firmest believers, cling as fast to this wicked 

 world, as younger folks and those who have their 

 doubts concerning futurity. Well, since it is so and 

 will be so, let us, my dear Bentley, enjoy and diffuse 

 amongst our friends every real happiness within our 

 power, and not torment ourselves with useless anxieties, 

 nor waste an hour of the very small portion of time 

 allotted to us here. I know those are your sentiments, 

 and I will endeavour to make them more and more those 

 of your ever affectionate friend, Jos. WEDGWOOD." 



