THE POTTER'S ART. 



himself with all his characteristic ardour to a series of experiments 

 on the fabrication of an improved pottery. 



13. In order to remove them more effectually from popular inter- 

 ference and observation, the Elector had established Bottger and 

 Tschirnhausen in the chateau of Albrechtsburg at Meissen. They 

 were there abundantly supplied with artisans to work under them, 

 and with all that was necessary for a porcelain laboratory and 

 workshop. Bottger was liberally afforded all that could render 

 life agreeable, except liberty. A carriage was provided for him, 

 and he was allowed to visit Dresden and the neighbourhood at his 

 pleasure, but an officer always accompanied him, never for a 

 moment losing sight of him, lest he should escape, carrying with 

 him his inestimable secrets. 



The first result of their labours, which were still prosecuted 

 under the strict surveillance of government, was merely the pro- 

 duction of articles of earthenware, composed of a red and compact 

 paste, differing, however, in nothing which was essential from the 

 pottery of Spain, Italy, and France. 



In 1706, the King of Sweden, Charles XII., entering Saxony, 

 the King of Poland, Elector of Saxony, fearing that Bottger 

 should be seized and carried away with his secrets, had him 

 conducted with Tschirnhausen and three principal artisans, 

 Hitter, Romanns, and Beichling, to the fortress of Konigstein, 

 where they were strictly imprisoned, but supplied with a 

 laboratory, where they were allowed to prosecute ther labours 

 under rigid surveillance. Bottger is related to have lost none of 

 his gaiety and animal spirits here. He amused his leisure hours 

 and those of his companions in captivity in various ways, and 

 among others, by the composition and recitation of verses. 



Notwithstanding all the precautions which were observed for 

 their safe keeping, Ritter and the others managed to form a plan 

 of escape. 



14. In 1707, after remaining a year at Konigstein, Bottger and 

 Tschirnhausen were reconducted to Dresden, and established in a 

 new laboratory which had been prepared for them on the Jungfer- 

 bastei. Here they continued to prosecute their labours, all their 

 researches being directed still to the discovery of the means of 

 producing a pottery such as that which came from China. Their 

 labours were incessant, and their spirit indefatigable ; and it is 

 related as an example of the untiring spirit of Bottger, that when 

 it was considered necessary to watch the oven day and night for 

 three or four successive days, he never left them himself, and kept 

 his assistants awake by his inexhaustible fund of anecdote, and the 

 gay and frequent sallies of his conversation. 



It was said, that at this time some of the firing processes which 

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