LETTER FROM JOSIAH WEDGWOOD. 221 



" The pipes you mention are not to be made. The plugs sent 

 with the model are meant only to shew that there are to be holes in 

 the Cisterns to fit Cocks or Lead Pipes of the size of the plugs sent. 

 They had not any. notion of our Clay shrinking, and therefore sent 

 those wood pegs for us to make the holes with ; and where there is 

 any shouldering in the pegs (as I think there is in some of them), 

 the holes should have the same sort of shouldering as that peg 

 would make by thrusting it into the Cistern when made. 



" Another thing is necessary for you to observe respecting the 

 wood model sent. It was intended as a core, or model, for us to 

 form the vessel upon, and they want to have the cisterns, when 

 finish' d, to be of the same shape and size on the inside as the model 

 is on the outside. Tor, as I mention'd above, they had no idea of 

 our clay shrinking, and so thought, if they furnish'd us with a 

 model to work our clay upon of the size they wanted it, that w d be 

 an unerring rule for us. Eut they are not nice in respect to the 

 size ; for half an inch, or even an inch, larger or less than the model 

 will do. 



" I think the best method of making your mould will be to chop 

 and make their model rough on the outside, and then coat it with 

 plaister, making the coat as thick as you think will be sufficient to 

 allow for shrinking that is, if you think it will shrink 4 inches, 

 then you coat it 2 inches thick, taking care to preserve the form 

 of the vessel. And you must likewise allow for shrinking in the 

 size of the holes ; for the pegs sent with the model are the real size 

 of the cocks which are made for these cisterns. 



"I shall be glad if what I have said above may sufficiently ex- 

 plain this matter to you. I should have wrote this sooner, but 

 expected to have been with you in time for the execution of this 

 order. 



"Messrs. B and !"s* bills shall be discounted here another 

 time. 



"I should have sent some glass, but have had some difference 

 with the man about the price ; however, I intend to send some on 

 Friday; and in the meantime I wish Joseph TJnwin would buy 

 some Gullet f for them to go on with. 



* " B and F " would probably be Messrs. Boulton & Fothergill, of the 

 Soho Works, Birmingham, with whom Wedgwood was in many ways 

 connected. 



t Oullctt is broken glas^ which was much bought and used by potters. 



