xvii Wedgwood and Flaxman 211 



prologue to Henry ike Fifth, ' Then should the warlike 

 Harry, like himself, assume the port of Mars, whilst 

 Famine, Sword, and Fire (leashed in like hounds) crouch 

 for employment at his heels.' 



"My wife and self desire our best compliments to 

 Mrs. Wedgwood, Miss, and the young gentlemen ; and I 

 have the honour to remain, sir, your most obliged and 

 humble servant, J. FLAXMAN. 



" P.S. I am much obliged to you for the order given 

 that the egg teapot should be delivered to me, but the 

 gentleman who officiates for Mr. Byerley says it will 

 not hold water ; so that I shall be glad if you will let 

 rne have one as soon as more are made, as Mrs. Flax- 

 man has deferred writing to her friend for some months 

 with intention to send a teapot at the same time." 



Flaxman was perhaps happiest in his beautiful 

 designs of children romping, skipping, playing blind- 

 man's-buff, and other groups of them. Flaxman, ad- 

 dressing Wedgwood from Wardour Street, October 28th, 

 1782, writes: "According to the desire you expressed 

 in the last letter you favoured me with, I have designed 

 some groups of children proper for bas-reliefs, to deco- 

 rate the sides of teapots. Nos. 1 and 2 are intended 

 to go entirely round a teapot of a flat shape, except 

 where the handle and spout interrupt them. I have, 

 therefore, made separate stories for each side. The 

 first is Blindman's - Buff ; the second is the Game of 

 Marbles. Nos. 3 and 4 are the Triumph of Cupid, to be 

 disposed in a similar manner on the sides of round and 



