xviii Death of Bent ley 241 



on the ware which he afterwards made. Bentley after- 

 wards went to Etruria with his wife, and spent a few 

 pleasant weeks there, but derived no permanent benefit, 

 for on his return to London he became worse than usual. 

 Wedgwood had no idea that his partner was so ill, and 

 continued his correspondence to the end. But to his last 

 letter there was no reply. Bentley died on the 26th 

 November 1780, at the age of forty-nine. 



There were universal lamentations at his death. 

 Mr. Griffiths wrote to Wedgwood: "Turnham Green, 

 25th November. My dear Sir Our poor friend yet 

 breathes, but alas ! it is such breathing as promises but 

 a short continuance. Almost every hope seems to have 

 forsaken us ! I dread the thought of what will be the 

 contents of my next ! Adieu. E. G." 



There is no record of the disease of which Bentley 

 died. It may have been of apoplexy, as he often com- 

 plained of his head. Wedgwood was on his way to 

 Turnham Green when he heard of his friend's fatal 

 illness. Bentley was buried in a vault within Chiswick 

 Church. Many friends gathered together at his funeral. 

 They deplored the sudden death of one who was so 

 bright, so gifted, and so intelligent. Wedgwood, who 

 was almost overwhelmed by his loss, had a tablet 

 erected over his remains by Scheemaker the sculptor. 



Sam Boardman, his partner at Liverpool, wrote : 

 " 31st December 1780. It would be hard to submit to 

 this fate of Providence were we not convinced that some 

 wise end is answered by every event in Life, and that 



R 



