428 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



every known liquid, adapts it for mortars, and many different kinds 

 of chemical vessels."* 



The following description of the process used in manufacturing 

 the earthenware, was communicated to Dr. Aikin, by a person on 

 the spot. The practice has varied in but a trifling manner since 

 that time. A piece of prepared mixture of clay and ground flint, 

 dried and prepared to a proper consistence, is taken to be formed 

 into any required shape and fashion, by a man who sits over a ma- 

 chine called a wheel, on the going round of which he continues form- 

 ing the ware. This branch is called throwing ; and, as water is 

 required to prevent the clay sticking to the hand, it is necessary to 

 place it for a short time in a warm situation. It then undergoes 

 the operation of being turned, and is made much smoother than it 

 was before, by a person called a turner; when it is ready for the 

 handle and spout to be joined to it, by the branch called handling. 

 Dishes, plates, tureens, and many other articles, are made from 

 moulds of ground plaster ; and, when finished, the whole are placed 

 carefully in saggars, and taken to the oven. The ware, when re- 

 moved from the oven, is called biscuit, and the body of it has much 

 the appearance of a new tobacco-pipe, not having the least gloss 

 upon it. It is then immersed or dipped into a fluid generally con- 

 sisting of sixty pounds of white lead, ten pounds of ground flint, 

 and twenty pounds of stone from Cornwall, burned and ground, all 

 mixed together, and as much water put to it as reduces it to the 

 thickness of cream, which it resembles. Each piece of ware being 

 separately immersed or dipped into this fluid, so much of it adheres 

 all over the piece, that when put into other saggars, and exposed 

 to another operation of fire, performed in the glossing kiln or 

 oven, the ware becomes finished by acquiring its glossy covering, 

 which is given it by the vitrification of the above ingredients. En- 

 amelled ware undergoes a third fire after its being painted, in order 

 to bind the colour on. 



A single piece of ware, such as a common enamelled tea-pot, a 

 mug, jug, &c. passes through at least fourteen different hands, 

 before it is finished : viz. the sliprnaker, who makes the clay ; the 

 temperer, or beater of the clay ; the thro wer, who forms the ware; 

 the ball-maker and carrier; the attender upon the drying of it ; 

 the turner, who does away its roughness; the spoutmaker; 

 the handler, who puts to the handle and spout ; the first, or bis-' 



* Ai kin's Manchester. 



