DRAWBACKS TO THE POTTERS* ART. 141 



'' The uncertain element of fire is the great enemy that the 

 potter has to struggle with all his life. * It is more especially 

 formidable to him if he ventures to make vessels of any 

 extraordinary size, such as some of those which are necessary 

 for the use of the dining-table. Hence so few European 

 manufactories of porcelain can be supported in the produc- 

 tion of large vessels without the revenues of a prince. Mr. 

 Wedgwood experienced all these vexations when he first 

 began to make this earthenware for the table. Disasters 

 after disasters ; the labour and expense of a month destroyed 

 in a few hours ; one kiln pulled down and another erected ; 

 that, again, found deficient, and to be altered. A fatal mis- 

 take removed, another was discovered elsewhere. Thus it 

 was not only after a considerable time, but with very heavy 

 losses, that he accomplished this point, which has bestowed 

 so many benefits on the neighbourhood he lived in, and given 

 such extension to the national commerce. This is the cream- 

 colour, or Queen's ware, now universally used in these king- 

 doms, and in every part of Europe where it is not shut out 

 by the jealousy of the sovereign. Its introduction was very 

 rapid. Under the auspices of the powerful patroness it had 

 obtained, it found its way at once to the tables of persons of 

 fortune, and was very soon afterwards universally adopted. 

 The other manufacturers immediately took up the making of 

 it, and building on the experience of the inventor, they were 

 enabled to do so without the losses and vexations he had 

 endured. 



" This event was very soon followed by a great improve- 

 ment of the forms of the vessels in use, and the addition of 

 many others that have given taste and conveniency to the 

 economy of the table. This first melioration of the forms in 

 general use belongs exclusively to Mr. Wedgwood, and is a 

 decisive proof that his mind was capable of comprehending 

 whatever had relation to the work he had in hand. The fact 

 is, that the models of everything his manufactory produced 

 were originally formed by himself, with the same ideas of 

 fame and reputation as must possess the mind of every 



