LETTERS OF THOMAS BENTLEY. 269 



London stock, so far as related to the partnership of Messrs. 

 Wedgwood and Bentley, was sold at Christie's, the sale 

 occupying twelve days. 



And here, at the close of Bentley's life, let me introduce 

 one or two of his letters, to show the care he bestowed on 

 the details of the business in which he had become a partner, 

 and the easy style of his correspondence. The first letter I 

 shall give is a most interesting one, from its allusions to 

 medallions, to the Empress of Eussia's service, and other 

 matters, and I therefore give it entire. It is addressed 

 " To Mr. Josiah Wedgwood, at Etruria, near Newcastle, 

 Staffordshire." 



"London, July 30, 1774. 



MY DR. FRIEND, 



" I have rec d from Mr. Hodgson 20 India Bonds, which 

 with Interest & Premium due upon them, amount to 

 2070 15s. 11(7., and have given him a Receipt for them on your 

 Account. He says they are very safe security for 3 pr. Ct. 



"We have now almost no Company, & are .busy arranging 

 Things in our New House, & winding up the Bottoms of the 

 llussian Service, which I hope will be all finish' d about the latter 

 end of next Week. 



"I have very great Satisfaction in seeing all our Medallions, 

 Bas-reliefs, &c., before me at once, a Sight I never could gratify 

 myself with before. They can now be seen by others ; & I shall 

 now be able to tell what we have, & what we want, in a few 

 Minutes. 



"This, I should think, must considerably promote the Sale of 

 them. 



" I shall give you a List of what we want to compleat the Sets, 

 &c., & I can now correct some Errors, and fill up Vacancies in the 

 Catalogue against another Edition. 



"CLASS 1. 



" Mr. Wood writes for these Things ; but we want a great many 

 good Bracelets, when you have setled your Composition. 



" CLASS 2. 



"No. 1. Continence of Scipio. I know you wait for the 

 Book, which I will send down with y e other Books at Chelsea. 



