A Boom in Teapots. 99 



I specially wanted, that was what was called in the 

 trade black Egyptian teapots. She directed me where 

 I would get them, and they were to send the account 

 to Mrs. Hamilton not later than noon, and she would 

 pay them. She said in that way she would get the 

 same discount for me that they were giving to larger 

 buyers, which she did. 



" This was my first venture to the English potteries, 

 and a very successful one it was. We found that the 

 goods from Mr. Hamilton had been sent off on the 

 day that I had left. Many subsequent visits I had 

 to the potteries, and Mr. Hamilton's house was always 

 my head-quarters, and the connection between the 

 families is still kept up." 



Mr. Robertson contrives to throw a glamour round 

 his friends. One might well be tempted to go into 

 the china and earthenware trade for the sake of 

 making acquaintance with Mrs. Hamilton, or with 

 any one who in her stead may now be lighting up 

 the smoky atmosphere of the potteries with an equally 

 shining example of kindliness, honour, and courtesy. 



The firm of Robertson and McDougall had a 

 steadily improving business. One source of their 

 success is easy to understand. The warehouse was 

 never left without one of the partners superintending. 

 No toil was spared late or early to meet the demands 

 of the place. The strictest economy was observed, 

 and all parties, wives as well as husbands, wrought 

 with a will. 



During this period of advancing prosperity, however, 

 a sad damp was thrown over all David Robertson's 

 hopes and prospects. His wife, having affectionately 



