NOBLE COMMERCIAL PRINCIPLES. 219 



" There is another mistake that gentlemen who are not acquainted 

 with the particular difficulties of an art are apt to fall into. They 

 frequently observe that a handsome thing may be made as cheap as 

 an ugly one. A moment's reflection would rectify this opinion. 



"The most successful artists know that they can turn out ten 

 ugly and defective things for one that is beautiful and perfect in 

 its kind. Even suppose the artist has the true idea of the kind of 

 beauty at which he aims ; how many lame and unsuccessful efforts 

 does he make in his design, and every part of it, before he can 

 please himself? And suppose one piece is well composed and 

 tolerably finished, as in vases and encaustic paintings, for instance, 

 where every succeeding vase, and every picture, is made not in a 

 Mould or by a Stamp, but separately by the Hand, with the samo 

 attention and diligence as the first, how difficult must it be to 

 preserve the beauty of the first model ? 



"It is so difficult that without the constant attention of the 

 master's eye, such variations are frequently made in the form and 

 taste of the work, even while the model is before the workman, as 

 totally change and degrade the character of the piece. 



" Beautiful forms and compositions are not to be made by chance, 

 and they never were made nor can be made in any kind at a small 

 expence ; but the proprietors of this manufactory have the satisfac- 

 tion of knowing, by a careful comparison, that the prices of many 

 of their ornaments are much lower, and of all of them as low as 

 those of any other ornamental works in Europe, of equal quality 

 and risque, notwithstanding the high price of labour in England, 

 and they are determined rather to give up the making of any article 

 than to degrade it. They do not manufacture for those who estimate 

 works of ornament by their magnitude, and who would buy pictures 

 at so much a foot. They have been happy in the encouragement 

 and support of many illustrious persons who judge of the works of 

 art by better principles ; and so long as they have the honour of 

 being thus patronised, they will endeavour to support and improve 

 the quality and taste of their manufactures." 



This admirable and noble principle it was which actuated 

 Wedgwood throughout his career, and which enabled him 

 to produce so many, and such exquisite, specimens of art; 

 and this principle it was which made him so scrupulously 

 careful that none but the most perfect examples should 

 leave his manufactory. 



