196 THE WEDGWOODS. 



to the slave trade, to remark, that one of the most suc- 

 cessful of Wedgwood and Bentley's smaller productions or, 

 rather, one which took fastest hold on the popular mind 

 was a small medallion, on which was represented a chained 

 negro kneeling in a supplicating attitude, and having above 

 him the words, " AM I NOT A MAN AND A BROTHER." This 

 medallion was produced of various sizes and in a variety of 

 ways, and has been, in later days, constantly copied in one 

 form or other for purposes of illustration. 



In 1768, as I have shown, Thomas Bentley became the 

 partner, after being the Liverpool agent, of Josiah Wedg- 

 wood ; and from this point the future of his short history 

 for he lived but twelve years to enjoy his new and useful 

 sphere of life will be best mixed in with my narrative as it 

 proceeds. 



In January, 1768, it appears from one of Wedgwood's 

 letters, in which he discusses the elevation of the " Useful 

 Works," the " Black Works " may probably have been 

 completed, and both the more extensive manufactory and 

 the mansion were soon afterwards commenced, and were so 

 rapidly carried forward that by November the hall was up 

 "plinth high," and in the following year, or 1770, were 

 both finished. Throwing aside its previous name of " Ridge 

 House," Wedgwood, with that refinement of tase and feeling 

 which characterised his every action and thought, named 

 his newly-acquired estate, with its manufactory and hall, 

 " ETRURIA " a name to which, for purity of taste, beauty 

 of execution, and excellence of body, its productions, under 

 his fostering care, eminently entitled it. 



The ETRURIA WORKS were in those days as, indeed, 

 with but few exceptions, they are now the most extensive 

 in existence. Planned with the master-mind of Wedgwood, 

 with his practical and practised eye to direct every part, the 

 arrangement of the new manufactory was the most complete 

 of its kind which the world had yet seen : and the world was 

 not long in acknowledging the debt of gratitude which was 

 owing to its founder. No sooner were the works " set in 



