396 THE WEDGWOODS. 



Josiah Wedgwood has for its companion an interesting 

 group of portraits of Mr. Francis Wedgwood and nine of 

 his workmen, whose average term of servitude with the firm 

 was at that time more than fifty-four years. This truly 

 interesting group bears an. inscription worthy of being pre- 

 served. Here it is : 



"Etruria Jubilee Group of Francis "Wedgwood, Esq., and nine 

 workmen, whose average time of servitude is 54J- years, November, 

 1859. From a photograph by John Emery. Front row, sitting, 

 from left hand of group, Moses Brownsword, Enoch Keeling, Francis 

 Wedgwood, Esq., "William Stanway, Thomas Mason. Rear row, 

 standing, from left hand of group, James Boulton, "William Adams, 

 John Adams, John Finny, Benjamin Lovatt." 



Of these workmen all but Thomas Mason are still living, 

 and still work in their old rooms, at their old, old occupa- 

 tion, where now they have been engaged for more than sixty 

 years. Born in the village, commencing work when mere 

 children, they have continued through the " seven ages " on 

 the spot which gave them birth, and there, when their sands 

 are run, they will rest not where the " rude forefathers 

 of the hamlet sleep," for the hamlet is, as I have shown, 

 of comparatively modern formation, but with their fellow- 

 labourers in Wedgwood's field of industry. 



No stronger testimony, surely, could be given to the 

 kindly excellence of the Wedgwoods as employers than that 

 which this group affords showing, as it does, the master 

 surrounded by a number of his workmen who have been 

 faithful servants for so many years. It is interesting to 

 note that in the person of one of these men, William Stan- 

 way, an absolute link with the great Josiah is kept up. 

 This man began to work at Etruria the very year of Josiah 

 Wedgwood's death (1795), and has remained there ever 

 since a period of sixty-nine years. 



