THE EARLY POTTERIES OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 61 



as "an engine or new method for the more expeditious 

 working the said flint stone, whereby all the said hazards 

 and inconveniences attending the same will effectually be 

 prevented." It is stated that in the making of " white 

 pots," flint stone is "the chief ingredient," and that the 

 method hitherto used in preparing it " has been by pound- 

 ing or breaking it dry, and afterwards sifting it through 

 fine lawns, which has proved very destructive to mankind ;" 

 and this invention is to obviate it, and is as follows : The 

 flint stones are first wetted, then crushed as fine as sand 

 by two large wheels, of the bigness and shape of millstones, 

 ! of iron, and made to turn upon the edges by the power of 

 a water-wheel. This material is afterwards conveyed into 

 large circular iron pans, " in which there are large iron 

 balls, which, by the power of the water-wheel above* named, 

 are swiftly driven round : in a short time the operation is 

 concluded, and by turning a tap the material empties itself 

 into casks." 



The next one, by the same Thomas Benson, taken out in 

 1732, was described as 



" A new. engine, or method for grinding of flint stones, being the 

 chief ingredient used in making of white wares, such as pots and 

 other vessels, a manufacture carried on in our county of Stafford, 



I and in some other parts of this our kingdom ; that the common 

 method hitherto used in preparing the same hath been by breaking 

 and pounding the stones dry, and afterwards sifting the powder 

 through fine lawns, which hath proved very destructive to mankind, 

 occasioned by the dust suckled into, the body, which being of a 



- ponderous nature, fixes so closely upon the lungs that nothing can 

 remove it, insomuch that it is very difficult to find persons to 

 engage in the said manufacture, to the great detriment and decay of 

 that "branch of trade, which would otherwise from the usefulness 

 thereof be of great benefit and advantage to our kingdom ; that by 

 the petitioner's invention the flint stones are sprinkled with water, 

 so that no dust can arise, then ground as fine as sand, with two 

 large stones made to turn round upon the edges by the power of 

 a wheel, worked either by wind, water, or horses, which is after- 

 wards conveyed into large stone pans, made circular, -wherein are 

 placed large stone balls, which, by the power of such wheels are 



