xxi Wedgwood's Personal History 285 



other private friends of Priestley. Wedgwood subscribed 

 twenty-five guineas a year ; and the subscription was 

 continued, after Wedgwood's death, by his son Josiah 

 to the end of Dr. Priestley's life. 



Wedgwood, notwithstanding his declining health, 

 continued to take some interest in science. In 1790 

 he sent his last paper to the Philosophical Transactions. 1 

 It related to a mineral substance which had been sent 

 to him from New South Wales. It consisted of pure 

 plumbago or black lead. With this mineral Sir Joseph 

 Banks had sent him some clay from the same colony, 

 which he found to be of excellent quality. Webber 

 modelled a medallion from it, representing the figure 

 of Hope standing on a rock, with three typical personages 

 before her, exquisitely finished. 



Wedgwood was still far from well. He went to 

 Buxton and Blackpool for the benefit of his health. 

 He again suffered from spectra in his eyes. He was 

 seized with asthma, and the pain in his amputated limb 

 greatly affected him. On his return home, he amused 

 himself with his garden, accompanied by his daughters. 

 His grounds were laid out in the most beautiful manner ; 

 and everything, except their owner, was bright and 

 cheerful. Downes, the gardener, was most successful 

 in his production of hot-house grapes, and a bowling- 

 green was laid down for the use of his neighbours, 

 though his wooden leg prevented his playing with them. 



Guests still came to Etruria Hall, and were hospitably 



1 Philosophical Transactions, vols. 74 and 76. 



