ENOCH WOOD. 105 



who was five years his senior, and who, it is fair to presume, 

 was also an apprentice, having probably been bound to his 

 father during his lifetime. Richard, however, unlike his 

 thoughtful brother, appears to have left his employment, 

 and enlisted as a soldier. A fragment of an interesting 

 little memorandum in the handwriting of the late eminent 

 potter, Enoch Wood, which I saw, and copied, at Hanley, 

 gives an interesting reminiscence of the boyish days of 

 Josiah Wedgwood. It was written in 1809, and appears to 

 read thus (it refers to a piece of early porcelain made by 

 Littler) " This was given to E. Wood by Wm. Fletcher in 

 Jany., 1809. He informs me he remembers it being made 

 by Mr. Wm. Littler,* at Longton, near Stoke, about 55 

 years ago say in the year 1754. It has never been out 

 of his possession during that time, and is highly valued. 

 This Fletcher says he used to work at the Churchyard works, 

 and made Balls f for two of the Throwers at the same time, 

 namely, Kichd. Wedgwood and Josiah Wedgwood, both of 

 whom worked in one room for their father, who was the 

 owner of the works. William Fletcher, within named, was 

 in my employ during part of the last years of his life, and 

 said he was about the same age and size as Josiah Wedg- 

 wood, and generally had his old cloaths, because they fitted 

 him well. E. Wood." " Fletcher was a < Stouker 'J by 

 trade. I gave him a pint of ale to show my handlers the 

 old way of 6 Stouking.' He did so, and the men gave him 

 a few pence, with which he bought more ale and got tipsy, 

 and took a cold, and never recovered, but died soon after, 



* Although only stated to be made by Littler, this piece was doubtless 

 the joint production of William Littler and Aaron Wedgwood, his 

 brother-in-law. These two potters having observed how closely in some 

 respects the fine " white stone ware approached to porcelain," united 

 their skill and means to prosecute experiments in the manufacture of 

 "china." Their experiments were eminently successful, both in the 

 body and in the liquid glaze discovered by Wedgwood j but heavy losses 

 were the result, and the work was given up. The information they had 

 gained was afterwards imparted to Josiah Wedgwood by his relative. 



t Balls of clay ready for throwing. 



't A u stouker " was the man who formed the handles of vessels. 



