xxi Wedgwood's Personal History 279 



Wedgwood, for many long years, was much troubled 

 by his wooden leg. It was always in the way, and 

 often interfered with his health. By preventing him 

 taking exercise, he thought it made him bilious. He 

 was often prevented walking, except on crutches, even 

 to serve his most noble customers. When he was 

 requisitioned to serve as an overseer of the poor in 

 the parish of St. Ann's, Soho (in which his warehouse in 

 Greek Street was situated), on the advice of J. Balgeny, 

 his counsel, he declined the office on the ground that 

 he did not live in London, and also because of " having 

 been deprived of a leg, and being obliged to use a 

 wooden one." His pleas were admitted. 



Dr. Darwin again wrote to Wedgwood when writing 

 his Botanic Garden. "If you wish the speech of Hope * 

 longer, send me what materials you would have added, 

 as suppose 



" Here future Newtons shall explore the skies, 

 Here future Priestleys, future "Wedgwoods rise. 



Now, in return, remember you are to send me a drawing 

 of Cupid Warming a Butterfly." 



On the 22nd of February 1*789, Dr. Darwin wrote 

 to Wedgwood : " Herewith you will receive the Botanic 

 Garden, of which I am the supposed, not the avowed 

 author. I intend to scold you for not making Derby 

 on your way to and from London. This I shall, how- 



1 "Hope " was modelled by Webber. 



