140 THE WEDGWOODS. 



marking the compartments ; and being approved by her 

 Majesty, the pattern was called Queen's pattern" The ware 

 was at once named by Mr. Wedgwood QUEEN'S WARE, and 

 he received the Queen's commands to call himself by the 

 proud distinction of " Potter to her Majesty." On the 

 service being completed the King gave Wedgwood his 

 immediate patronage by ordering a similar service for him- 

 self, but without the bands or ribs. This alteration in 

 pattern was " effected to the entire satisfaction of his 

 Majesty," and some little alterations being made in the 

 forms of some of the other pieces, it was called the " Royal 

 Pattern." 



The patronage thus given, and which was continued in 

 the most liberal and gratifying manner, was of incalculable 

 benefit to Wedgwood, to the district around him, and indeed 

 to the whole kingdom, for it opened up a source of wealth 

 to thousands of people, and was the means of extending 

 commerce to a marvellous extent. Orders for the new kind 

 of ware flowed in upon him in a regular and constantly 

 increasing stream, and at prices which were then considered 

 liberal, or even high. It is recorded that at this period he 

 received at the rate of fifteen shillings per dozen for table 

 plates, and for other pieces a proportionate price. The tide 

 of fortune which had thus set in upon him was immensely 

 increased by his subsequent inventions, and ultimately, as 

 will be seen, swept him from his small manufactories at 

 Burslem to the colony he established a few miles off at 

 Etruria. The other most usual form of plate in his Queen's 

 ware, was " the Bath or Trencher, from its resemblance to 

 the wooden platter; " and this was succeeded by the concave 

 edge, and other varieties. 



These successes were not gained without heavy and severe 

 losses, but the mind of Wedgwood overcame them all, as it 

 would have done any amount of obstacles which might have 

 been placed in his way. A most interesting document, 

 written in the reign of George III.,, which is now before me, 

 thus speaks of some of these difficulties : 



