COPIES OF THE PORTLAND VASE. 313 



detestable traffic in human creatures ; and the other a cameo 

 of Hope, attended by Peace and Art and Labour, which 

 was made of clay brought from Botany Bay, to which place 

 he sent many of them, to show the inhabitants what their 

 materials would do, and to encourage their industry." The 

 first of the cameos thus alluded to will be familiar to col- 

 lectors. It represents a chained slave kneeling, and with 

 hands clasped, and bears the touching appeal, " Am I not 

 a man and a brother?" The second one, which is repre- 

 sented on the engraving on page 311, is more scarce. A 

 representation of it appears in Stockdale's edition of Philips' 

 " Expedition to Botany Bay," and also in the quarto edition 

 of Darwin's " Botanic Garden." 



In 1790 the first fifty copies of the Portland Yase were 

 issued, and in the same year Josiah Wedgwood published his 

 " Dissertation on the Portland Vase," in which he detailed 

 the results of his observations on the processes employed in 

 its manufacture, and explained his views as to the design of 

 the groups of figures which surround it. 



To the, faithfulness and beauty of the copies of the Port- 

 land Yase, Sir Joseph Banks, the President of the Eoyal 

 Society, Sir Joshua Reynolds, the President of the Royal 

 Academy, and other savans, gave unqualified testimony. 

 The latter, dating " Leicester Fields, 15th June, 1790," said, 

 " I have compared the copy of the Portland Yase by Mr. 

 Wedgwood with the original, and I can venture to declare 

 it to be a correct and faithful imitation, both in regard to the 

 general effect and the most minute detail of the parts. 

 J. REYNOLDS." 



On the 18th January, 1790, Josiah Wedgwood took into 

 partnership his three sons, John, Josiah, and Thomas, and 

 his nephew, Thomas Byerley, the style of the firm being 

 that of " Josiah Wedgwood, Sons, and Byerley." The latter 

 had, I believe, by the terms of agreement, one eighth part 

 as his share in the partnership, which he continued to hold 

 until his death in 1810. The following are the official letters 

 issued by the firm on this occasion : 



