362 THE WEDGWOODS. 



and contributed to procure him the esteem of scientific men at home 

 and throughout Europe. His invention of a thermometer for mea- 

 suring the higher degrees of heat employed in the various arts, is of 

 the highest importance to their promotion, and will add celebrity to 

 his name. At an early peridd of his life, seeing the impossibility 

 of extending considerably the manufactory he was engaged in on 

 the spot which gave him birth, without the advantages of inland 

 navigation, he was the proposer of the Grand Trunk Canal, and 

 the chief agent in obtaining the Act of Parliament for making it, 

 against the prejudices of the landed interest, which at that time 

 stood very high, and but just before had been with great difficulty 

 evercome in another quarter by all the powerful influence of a noble 

 duke, whose canal was at that time but lately finished. Having 

 acquired a large fortune, his purse was always open to the calls of 

 charity, and to the support of every institution for the public good. 

 To his relations, friends, and neighbours, he was endeared by his 

 many private virtues ; and his loss will be deeply and long deplored 

 by all who had the pleasure of knowing them intimately, and by 

 the numerous objects to whom his benevolence was extended : and 

 he will be regretted by his country as the able and zealous supporter 

 of her commerce, and the steady patron of every valuable interest 

 of society." 



The opinion of one who knew him well is as follows : 



"Mr. Wedgwood, for many years prior to his death, in the 

 virtuous exercise of benevolence enjoyed the highest luxury, the 

 most delightful pleasure in which the human mind can participate. 

 Each Martinmas he sent to certain persons in Shelton, Cobridge, and 

 Eurslem, for a list of the names, and a full statement of the peculiar 

 circumstances, of poor persons in each liberty likely to require assist- 

 ance during the winter ; and for supplying them with comfortable 

 bedding, clothing, coals, and some food, he always furnished adequate 

 funds. His purse was ever open to the calls of charity, to the ame- 

 lioration of misery, and the patronage of every philanthropic insti- 

 tution ; and his name will go down to posterity with the highest 

 claims on their gratitude for being a true friend to mankind. He 

 had intrinsic merit on a true basis, and needs no tralatitious ascrip- 

 tion of excellence. He was a truly industrious potter ; he followed 

 the openings of business suggested by the different experiments of 

 himself and other potters ; he pushed every successful trial to a 

 considerable extent; and his success in business enabled him to 



