CAUDLE SERVICE PRESENTED TO THE QUEEN. 139 



without risk of spraining the wrist, they are constructed in 

 a simple capacious form, of flowing curves, broad at the 

 top, and so well poised that a slight and easy movement of 

 the hand discharges the water. A round cheese-holder or 

 dish again generally presents in its upper part a flat space, 

 surrounded by a curved rim ; but a cheese-holder of Wedg- 

 wood's will make itself known by this that the flat is so 

 dead a flat, and the curve so marked and bold a curve ; thus 

 at once furnishing the eye with a line agreeable and well 

 defined, and affording the utmost available space for the 

 cheese. I feel persuaded that a Wiltshire cheese, if it could 

 speak, would declare itself more comfortable in a dish of 

 Wedgwood's than in any other dish." 



In September, 1761, his Majesty George III., who in the 

 previous year had ascended the throne, married the Princess 

 Charlotte of Mecklenburgh Strellitz, and on the occasion of 

 her accouchement in the succeeding year, Wedgwood, having 

 by that time perfected the body and glaze of his fine cream- 

 coloured ware, presented to her Majesty (then of course 

 Queen Charlotte) a caudle and breakfast service of his 

 manufacture, which was most graciously and flatteringly 

 received. This service, which was of course made of the 

 finest and best cream-coloured quality which could be pro- 

 /Luced, was painted in the highest style of the day by the 

 first artists of the works, Thomas Daniell and Daniel Steele. 

 The ground of this service, which was prepared with all the 

 skill the art would then admit of, was yellow, with raised 

 sprigs of jessamine and other flowers, coloured after nature. 

 The Queen received this tribute of an infant art, and was so 

 pleased with it that she at once expressed a wish to have a 

 complete table service of the same material, Wedgwood 

 submitted patterns for the several pieces, "which were 

 approved with the exception of the plate, which was the 

 common barleycorn pattern, then making by all the salt- 

 glaze mauufacturers. Her Majesty objected to the rough- 

 ness the barleycorn-work as it is called and therefore this 

 part was made plain ; on the edge was left only the bands, 



