376 THE WEDGWOODS 



Catherine, Sarah, and Mary Anne, who all, I believe, died 

 unmarried. 



At the time of Josiah Wedgwood's death, the sole partners 

 in the firm were himself, his son Josiah, and Thomas Byer- 

 ley Mr. John Wedgwood,the eldest son, having previously 

 withdrawn from business, and become a banker in London. 

 The active business management at this time devolved 

 mainly on Mr. Byerley, whose experience and skill were 

 of great value. In 1800 the partners were, however, the, 

 brothers Josiah and John Wedgwood, and Thomas Byerley, 

 which arrangement continued, as I shall relate, until the 

 death of the latter in 1810. 



That Mr. John Wedgwood, familiarly called " Jackey" 

 by his father, took at one time an active and confidential 

 part in the manufacture at Etruria, is proved by the fol- 

 lowing fragment of a letter from his father, the Great 

 Josiah, by which it will be seen that the mixing the most 

 " ticklish " part of the potter's art was entrusted to him 

 during his father's absence. The letter runs thus, and is 

 extremely interesting as showing the care which Wedgwood 

 bestowed on the details of the business, even when away 

 from home : 



" Mr. Wood wrote to you last night to get some of the Cameos of 

 fine white Clay made as soon as possible, of proper subjects, for 

 inlaying from the size of the Statues to the small Gems ; but if you 

 have not a sufficient quantity of fine Clay, proved to be good, then 

 to begin with the Bracelet sizes & less. 



" I have now rec d the tryals, 1332, which you apprehend to be 

 over-fired. They are just the reverse, & only want more fire to 

 make them excellent. The Gems made of. this body sho d be fired 

 in the very topmost sagar of the Bisket oven, with only a thin Disk 

 or Bat over them to prevent their being discolour'd by the flame. 

 I suppose it works pretty well ; & as I think it will agree pretty 

 well with the common Bisket, you may wash a few Batts for the 

 Medusa heads, Diomeds, &c., to try if it will answer, & by that 

 means you may get up an assortment sooner than you can if you 

 wait to have Clay enough all of the same kind. But this will not 

 do for those Statues where Arms, &c., are to be added ; for those it 



