Of OXFORDSHIRE. m 



Slure of this tranfparent Earthen-ware in England, like that of 

 China, is the glazing of the white Earth, which hath much puz- 

 zel'dthe Projeclor, but now that difficulty alfo is in great meafure 

 overcome. 



$j. He hath alfo caufed to be modelled Statues or Figures of 

 the faid tranfparent Earth (a thing not done elfewhefe, for China 

 affords us only imperfect, mouldings*) which he hath diverfified 

 with great variety of colours, making them of the colours of Iron, 

 Copper, Brafs, and party-colour' d, as fome Achat-ftones. The con- 

 siderations that induced him to this attempt, were the Duration 

 of this hard burnt Earth much above brafs, or marble, againft all 

 ^z'rand Weather', and the foftnefs of the matter to be modelled, 

 which makes it capable of more curious work, than ftones that are 

 wrought with chifels, or metals that are caft. In (hort, he has fo 

 far advanced the Art Plaslick., that 'tis dubious whether any man 

 fince Prometheus have excelled him, not excepting the famous Da- 

 mophilut, and Gorgajm of Pliny n . 



88. And thefe Arts he employs about materials of Engli/b 

 growth, and not much applyed to other ufes ; for inftance, He 

 makes the ftone Bottles of a Clay in appearance like to Tobacco-pipe 

 clay, which will not make Tobacco-pipes, though the Tobacco-pipe 

 clay will make Bottles ; fo that, that which hath lain buryed and 

 ufelefs to the Owners, may become beneficial to them by reafon of 

 this manufacture, and many working hands get good livelyhoods ; 

 not to fpeak of the very considerable y^tf?* of Engli/fr Coyn annual- 

 ly kept at home by it. 



89. About Nettle-bed they make a fort ofbrickfo very ftrong, 

 that whereas at moft other places they are unloaded by hand, I 

 have feen thefe (hot out of the C art after the manner of ftones to 

 mend the High-ways, and yet none of them broken ; but this I 

 fuppofe muft be rather afcribed to the nature of the Clay, than to 

 the skjll of the Artificer in making or burning them, and Should 

 therefore have been mention'd in the Chapter of Earths. 



90. At Caverftjam, near the Right Worfhipful Sir Anthony 

 Cravens (and at fome other places) they make a fort of brick 

 22 inches long, and above fix inches broad, which fome call 

 Lath-bricks^ by reafon they are put in the place of the Laths or 

 Spars (fupported by Pillars') in Oafts for drying mault, which is 



ttut.Hifi-lib.^.cap.\1. 



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