xxi Wedgwood' s Personal History 277 



his health did not permit him to stay long in this 

 neighbourhood. Your sons liked the country so well 

 as to make a second visit, and I was really glad to see 

 them, as I can assure you that their behaviour was 

 such as to give universal satisfaction. You will prob- 

 ably have heard of them since their return to Borne. 

 . . I most sincerely wish you a continuance of health 

 and success in your noble efforts in propagating a good 

 taste in our country. Yours ever, etc., WM. HAMILTON." 



After his return to England, before settling down to 

 business at Etruria, young Wedgwood made a home 

 tour. Josiah Wedgwood wrote to Lord Auckland, 

 then ambassador at Madrid (5th July 1789) : "My son 

 has been at home nearly six months. He is now on a 

 tour of discovery in his own country Wales, the west 

 of England as far as the Land's End along with a Mr. 

 Hawkins, an excellent mineralogist of Cornwall, with 

 whom he became acquainted abroad, otherwise he 

 would gladly have embraced the opportunity of thank- 

 ing you for your friendly notice of him." 



After his return from the Land's End, young Josiah 

 began to be of use to his father in the business at 

 Etruria. He conducted the correspondence in the 

 absence of his senior, and made himself acquainted 

 when in London with the various commercial and 

 manufacturing affairs of the home factory. It was in a 

 manner necessary for him to do this, as John Wedg- 

 wood, his father's relative and partner (so far as the 

 useful wares were concerned), died in the course of the 



