246 THE WEDGWOODS. 



of earthenware, and to the public." In addition to this, he 

 made out and presented a " Case of the manufacturers of 

 earthenware in Staffordshire," setting forth the advantages 

 that would be derived from throwing open the use of the 

 raw materials, and the disadvantages which an extension 

 of the monopoly would entail, not only on the manufacturers, 

 but on the public at large. 



These " reasons " are so ingenious, and the " case " so 

 carefully made out, that I give them to my readers entire, 

 as I am, I believe, the first to bring them into notice in 

 connection with any account of the porcelain works of this 

 kingdom. The following are the " reasons " why the exten- 

 sion of the term of Mr. Cookworthy's patent, by authority 

 of Parliament, would be injurious to landowners, to the 

 manufacturers of earthenware, and to the public : 



" It would be injurious to the landowners, because by means of 

 this monopoly materials of great value would be locked up within 

 the bowels of the earth, and the owners be deprived of the power of 

 disposing of them ; for the present patentee and his assigns have 

 contracted with one gentleman that he shall sell these materials only 

 to them, and that they shall purchase such materials only from htm, 

 during the term of ninety-nine years. 



" It would be injurious to the manufacturers of earthenware ; be- 

 cause, notwithstanding the mechanical part of their manufactory, 

 their execution, their forms, their painting, &c., are equal, if not 

 superior, to those of any other country, yet the body of their ware 

 stands in great need of improvement, both in colour and texture ; 

 because the public begin to require and expect such improvement ; 

 because without such improvement the sale of their manufactures 

 will probably decline in favour of foreign manufacturers, who may 

 not be deprived of the use of the materials that their countries pro- 

 duce for the consideration in this case is not whether one manu- 

 facturer or manufactory shall be supported against another, but 

 whether the earthenware manufactories of Great Britain shall be 

 supported in their improvements against those of every other 

 country in the world ; because the materials in question are the 

 most proper of any that have been found in this island for the 

 improvement of the manufactures of earthenware ; and because no 

 line lias leen drawn, or can le drawn, with sufficient distinctness, 



