200 THE WEDGWOODS. 



accompanied with marks of surprise that he did not avail 

 himself of that privilege, he has said that he was content with 

 the advantages he had, and better pleased to see thousands 

 made happy and following him in the same career, than he 

 could be at any exclusive enjoyment." 



This principle actuated him throughout the whole of his 

 career, and this and his other noble qualities it is, as well as 

 his intrinsic merit as a producer of wares unapproached for 

 excellence by any other, that has cast such a halo around 

 his memory. The patent of which I have just spoken was 

 granted on the 16th of November, 1769. As it is the only 

 one which he ever applied for, and as, on this ground, as 

 well as for the important matter which it contains, it pos- 

 sesses considerable interest, I here give the specification 

 entire which Wedgwood duly enrolled, after it had been 

 drawn up by himself. 



" To all to whom these presents shall come, I, JOSIAH WEDGWOOD, 

 of Burslem, in the County of Stafford, Potter to Her most Excel- 

 lent Majesty the Queen, send greeting : 



" WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third 

 did, by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, 

 bearing date the Sixteenth day of November, in the tenth year of 

 His reign, give and grant unto me, the said Josiah Wedgwood, His 

 especial licence, that I, the said Josiah Wedgwood, during the term 

 of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might use, exercise, 

 and vend within England, Wales, and town of Berwick- upon - 

 Tweed, my Invention for * The Purpose of Ornamenting Earthen 

 and Porcelaine Ware with an Encaustic Gold Bronze, together with 

 a peculiar species of Encaustic Painting in Various Colours in 

 Imitation of the Antient Etruscan and Roman Earthenware ; ' in 

 which said Letters Patent there is contained a provisoe obliging me, 

 the said Josiah Wedgwood, under my hand and seal, to cause a 

 particular description of the nature of my said invention, and how 

 the same is to be performed, to be enrolled in His Majesty's High 

 Court of Chancery within four calendar months after the date of 

 the said recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same (relation being 

 thereunto had) may more fully and at large appear. 



"Kow KNOW YE that, in compliance with the said provisoe, I, 

 the said Josiah Wedgwood, do hereby declare that my said inven- 



