318 THE WEDGWOODS. 



much upon the same principle as the treaty with France, which, if 

 it takes place, will be very injurious to the china manufacturers of 

 this country. I believe this is a business brought forward by 

 Mr. "Wedgwood for the importation of his pottery; it will be 

 greatly in his favour." 



And another, written on the 14th of March, immediately 

 after the Privy Council meeting, gives the following interest- 

 ing account of the business : 



"When we waited on the lords yesterday at the Privy Council 

 the purport of the business was as follows. My Lord Hawksbury 

 began in saying that an offer had been made from Saxony to admitt 

 our pottery into their country, providing we woud allow the impor- 

 tation of their porcelain here at a certain duty of about 12 per cent. 

 The first question his lordship asked was, wether such a treaty 

 woud affect the manufactorys here ? Our answer was, it woud be 

 very injurious, and that we had already felt the very bad effect of 

 the French treaty. Second question was, wether we exported any 

 goods to France since the treaty, or any before ? The answer was, 

 no. Third question was, wether our trade had diminis d or increased 

 since the treaty ? The answer was, the returns at present was 

 nearly the same, but had not the treaty took place with France, 

 the returns woud a been very much enlarged. The last question 

 was, how many people did we think there was employed in the 

 different manufactorys. Mr. Flight gave in, I think, about 110, 

 and Turner's partner 107, besides painters & gilders, which might 

 together make near 200, besides the gilders in town employ d on 

 their wares ; I gave in about 130. After all this my Lord Hawks- 

 bury said he had nothing more to say on the business at present. 

 I am very much afraid that this treaty will take place, and I shoud 

 suppose Mr. "Wedgwood has been the principal promoter of it, for 

 most undoubtedly it will be a very advantageous thing to the whole 

 of the Staffordshire ware manufacturers ; and when the lords come 

 to see the many thousands of people that are employed in their 

 works, I am afraid the few hundreds that are in the china works 

 will have but little weight. I think it a great hardship on the 

 china makers that the potters shoud come under the same descrip- 

 tion. I shoud suppose something more will be said on the business 

 very soon. "Wether it is ment to be brought through the House or 

 no I cannot tell." 



The treaty having been concluded, produced, despite the 



