60 KINGSBRIDGE 



During the time he was engaged on the manufacture 

 of china-ware, his ever active mind seems to have been 

 busied with other things as well, and he appears to 

 have been sought, and much esteemed by the savans of 

 the day. 



Smeaton, the builder of the Eddy stone Lighthouse, was 

 an inmate of his house while the lighthouse was in pro- 

 gress ; Dr. Wolcot (Peter Pindar) was a frequent guest 

 for days together; Sir Joseph Banks, Captain Cook, and 

 Dr. Solander, were his guests just before the famous 

 " Voyage Round the World," and also on their return ; 

 Earl St. Vincent was his attached friend; and he was 

 looked up to by all as a man of such large understanding, 

 such varied and extensive knowledge, and such powers 

 of intellectual conversation, that, as Lord St. Vincent is 

 said often to have remarked, " whoever was in Mr. 

 Cookworthy's company was always wiser and better for 

 having been in it." 



He carried on considerable experiments to discover a 

 method by which sea-water might be distilled for use on 

 board ship ; he was also an accomplished astronomer, and 

 an ardent disciple of Izaac Walton. 



In 1780, Cookworthy, then seventy-five years of age, 

 died in the same house, in Notte Street, Plymouth, which 

 he had occupied from the time of his first starting in 

 business; and a touching testimony to his character was 

 given by the "Monthly Meeting" of Friends. He was 

 interred, with every mark of respect, at Plymouth; and 

 his memory is still warmly cherished in the locality. 



As is well known, his china, which has become scarce, 

 is eagerly sought after, and produces the most extravagant 

 fancy prices. A few pieces, at an auction, will bring people 



