304 THE WEDGWOODS. 



myself, I must conclude till better informed that recourse was 

 had to violent measures at first, before any legal and proper appli- 

 cations were made for redress of the grievances complained of. 

 But, however this may have been (for it will avail nothing to 

 enter into a dispute upon tne subject at this time), let me now 

 beg of you who are approaching to manhood, and who, by your 

 future behaviour, must stamp the character of the potters of the 

 rising generation ; let me entreat you, as you value your own 

 reputation and happiness, and the welfare of your country, 

 never to harbour a thought of following the fatal example which 

 has been set you by men who have so greatly mistaken their own 

 and your real interests. But when you labour under any real 

 grievances, make your case known in a peaceable manner to some 

 magistrate near you, or to your employers, who are best acquainted 

 with your situation ; and I have not a doubt of your meeting in 

 this way with a speedy and effectual redress, which it would be 

 impossible to procure for yourselves by the measures you have 

 lately seen pursued, or any illegal ones whatever. 



"Before I take my leave, I would request you to ask your 

 parents for a description of the district we inhabit when they first 

 knew it ; and they will tell you that the inhabitants bore all the 

 marks of poverty to a much greater degree than they do now. 

 Their houses were miserable huts ; the lands poorly cultivated, and 

 yielded little of value for the food of man or beast ; and these disad- 

 vantages, with roads almost impassable, might be said to have cut 

 off our part of the country from the rest of the world, besides render- 

 ing it not very comfortable to ourselves. Compare this picture, which 

 I know to be a true one, with the present state of the same country. 

 The workmen earning near double their former wages; their 

 houses mostly new and comfortable; and the lands, roads, and 

 every other circumstance bearing evident marks of the most pleasing 

 and rapid improvements. From whence, and from what cause, has 

 this happy change taken place ? You will be beforehand with me 

 in acknowledging a truth too evident to be denied by any one. 

 Industry has been the parent of this happy change. A well-directed 

 and long- continued series of industrious exertions, both in masters 

 and servants, has so changed for the better the face of our country, 

 its buildings, lands, roads, and notwithstanding the present unfa- 

 vourable appearances I must say, the manners and deportment of 

 its inhabitants too, as to attract notice and admiration of countries 

 which had scarcely heard of us before ; and how far these improve- 

 ments may still be carried on, by the same laudable means which 



