DISCOVERY OF THE ELERS* SECRET PROCESS. 95 



which they guarded their secret, a potter of Burslem named 

 Astbury determined to discover their process, and accordingly 

 took means to do so. To accomplish his end he is said to 

 have assumed the garb and manners of an idiot, and then 

 sought the hovel of the Elers, and with every^ appearance ot 

 vacant idiotcy made it understood that he was willing to 

 work. Here he " submitted to the cuffs, kicks, and unkind 

 treatment of masters and workmen, with a ludicrous grimace, 

 as the proof of the extent of his mental ability. When food 

 was offered to him, he used only his fingers to convey it to 

 his mouth ; and only when helped by other persons could 

 he understand how to perform any of the labours to which 

 he was directed. He was next employed to move the treadle 

 of an engine lathe, and by perseverance in his assumed 

 character he had opportunity of witnessing every process, 

 and examining every utensil they employed. On returning 

 home each evening he formed models of the several kinds 

 of implements, and made memoranda of the processes, 

 which practice he continued a considerable time (nearly two 

 years is mentioned), until he ascertained that no further 

 information was likely to be obtained, when he availed 

 himself of a fit of sickness to continue at home, and this 

 was represented as most malignant, to prevent any person 

 visiting him. After his recovery he was found so sane that 

 Messrs. Elers deemed him unfit longer to remain in their 

 service, and he was discharged, without suspicion that he 

 possessed a knowledge of their manipulations." The infor- 

 mation he had thus surreptitiously and dishonestly acquired, 

 he soon turned to such good account that the Elers, " mor- 

 tified at the fact that their precaution had been unavailing, 

 and disgusted at the inquisitiveness of the Burslem potters " 

 (for another potter named Twyford had also discovered their 

 secret), found that their trade was fast leaving them, and 

 removed at once from the neighbourhood. Astbury com- 

 menced business on his own account, and soon became a 

 "man of mark/' and took journeys to London to sell his 

 wares and to procure orders. On one of these journeys, it 



