CHINA WARE MADE AT ETRURIA. 381 



country Mr. Byerley had worked incessantly and earnestly 

 at the business, and had succeeded in maintaining for it its 

 high position ; but the exertions and anxieties overpowered 

 him at length, and he sank. He "was a grave, reserved, 

 but kind being, and those who knew him learnt to appreciate 

 his goodness, and to love as well as reverence the dignified 

 urbanity that characterised his deportment." He was 

 devotedly attached to his uncle, the Great Josiah ; and many 

 circumstances which have come to my knowledge show that 

 attachment to have been mutual. 



On the death of Mr. Byerley, the business was carried on 

 by Josiah Wedgwood alone, until Martinmas, 1823, when he 

 took his eldest son Josiah (the third of that name) into 

 partnership, the firm being carried on under the style of 

 " Josiah Wedgwood and Son." Four years afterwards, 

 at Martinmas, 1827, the other sons having been taken into 

 partnership, the style was altered to that of " Josiah Wedg- 

 wood and Sons." 



In November, 1841, Josiah Wedgwood, senior, of Maer 

 Hall, retired from the business, and it was carried on by his 

 sons until the following April, when Josiah Wedgwood, 

 junior, also retired. The style of the firm, however, con- 

 tinued to be, as it is to the present day, " Josiah Wedgwood 

 and Sons." 



The manufacture of china, which had, for reasons already 

 given, never been attempted by the Great Josiah, was com- 

 menced at Etruria about the year 1808 or 1809, in the time 

 of Mr. Byerley, who considered that it would be an advan- 

 tageous addition to the works ; but was only carried on for a 

 very few years, probably only nine or ten, and then finally 

 discontinued. The china ware thus made was of extremely 

 good quality, both in texture of body, in colour, in glaze, and 

 in decoration. It was not made to any great extent, and is 

 now very scarce. In Mr. Gladstone's possession is an 

 excellent specimen a coffee mug, the ground of a small 

 pattern, in blue, with Chinese figures in tablets, in red and 

 other colours. Examples also occur in other private col- 



