46S MEMOIR ON THE 



have been hid during the time of war or 

 revolutions j but thefe pieces are beautiful 

 merely becaufe the owners of them thought 

 ofconceaHng only the moft valuable, v?ith 

 a view of fmcling them again when the 

 troubles were over. If they are highly 

 valued, it is not on account of their having 

 acquired any fuperior quality in the bofom 

 of the earth, but becaufe their ancient 

 beauty is preferved. There are forae con- 

 noilfeurs alfo in China, w'ho give a high 

 price for the moft trifling utenfils employed 

 by their emperors in remote ages. All 

 the change made in porcelain by lying long 

 in the earth, refpeds its tints and colouring. 

 This mark of antiquity is obferved alfo in 

 marble and ivory ; but fooner than In porce- 

 lain, the varnifli and enamel of which retard 

 the progrefs of moifture. 



A method has been lately difcovered of 

 imitating the ancient porcelain, or at leaft 



that 



