514 
S T A 
adjacent villages are said to have flocked with astonishment 
to see the immense volumes of smoke which, on casting in 
the salt, arose from what they termed the “ Dutchmen’s 
ovens.” A capital improvement was afterwards made by 
Mr. Astbury, in the body of the ware itself, by using 
pounded flint along with the clay. But the salt glaze being 
still very imperfect, and the ware itself unskilfully executed, 
it was beginning about the year 1760, to be supplanted by 
an importation of a finer manufacture from Frome, when 
Mr. Wedgwood began his famous improvements. His first 
great production was a very superior kind of earthen-ware 
for the table, now known by the name of queen’s ware, 
which, from its neatness and elegance of execution, and 
excellent qualities, soon came into general estimation and 
use. Continuing his experiments, Mr. Wedgwood invented 
five other distinct species of earthen-wares, varying in their 
qualities, but all admirably adapted for the different uses, 
and possessing properties which the art was thought hitherto 
incapable of producing. These different kinds of ware are 
now in universal demand; aud being fashioned by the 
industry and ingenuity of the manufacturers, into an infinite 
variety of forms, both for ornament and use, constitute 
nearly the whole of the present fine English earthen-wares 
and porcelain, which are become the source of a most 
extensive trade, and may, without doubt, be ranked among 
the most important manufactures of the united kingdom. 
According to the evidence of the late Mr. Wedgwood before 
the two houses of parliament, in 1785, the manufacturing 
part alone of the pottery business in Staffordshire, then gave 
bread to 15,000 or 20,000 people; but this according to 
him, was a small object, when compared with the immense 
quantity of employment which it created for other classes 
of workmen in different parts of the kingdom. After the 
year 1785, the pottery trade increased to a still greater extent, 
but received a severe check, and greatly declined during the 
late war, more especially by the interruption of our trade 
with .America, to which much of our earthen-ware was 
annually exported. The manufacture of glass is most con¬ 
siderable in the vicinity of Stourbridge, where a variety of 
very lofty and spacious glass-houses have been erected. 
Wolverhampton, and the many populous villages in its 
neighbourhood, are distinguished for their manufacture of 
locks, which are esteemed equal to any in England: 
buckles, steel toys, and particularly watch chains, are also 
among the noted productions of this town. The staple 
manufacture of Walsall and its neighbourhood, consists 
chiefly of shoe buckles and clasps, to which may be added, 
saddlers’ ironmongery. Vast quantities of nails are made 
in many of the country parishes in this neighbourhood, 
women and children being employed in it, as well as men. 
Wolverhampton and Bilston produce a variety of plated, 
lacquered, japanned, and also some enamelled goods. At 
Darlaston and Wiilenhall, and the adjoining country, to¬ 
bacco and snuff boxes are finished in various ways. At 
Stafford, the manufacture of shoes, both for home consump¬ 
tion and exportation, is very considerable. The hat manu¬ 
facture is carried on at Newcastle and Burton, and in some 
other towns in the county, on a large scale. Tin and brass 
are among the productions in Staffordshire; and there are 
several smelting and brass woiks near the copper mines, 
particularly at. Stone aud Whiston, Oak-Moor, and near 
Cheadle. The cotton manufactures at Rocester, Fazeley, 
Tamworth, Burton, and Tutbury, are very considerable. At 
Shirley Wich, between Stone and Heywood, there is a 
manufacture of salt, obtained by boiling brine, which is 
pumped from wells. At Leek, the silk trade is carried on 
to a considerable extent, and the tape manufacture at Cheadle 
and Teyn. Most of the raw w’ool grown in this county is 
sent to the stocking and clothing districts; and the woollen 
manufactures here are hence comparatively trifling ; and the 
making of linen is mostly confined to private families for 
domestic use. The trade of Staffordshire consists in the 
exportation of its rude and manufactured produce, and the 
importation of the raw materials, and of various articles of 
domestic consumption. Both its trade and manufactures 
S T A 
have been greatly advanced by the extensive system of inland 
navigation, which at once connects this county not only 
with the metropolis, but with the Severn, the Mersey, and 
the Humber, and the three corresponding ports of Bristol, 
Liverpool, and Hull. The Grand Trunk canal, after crossing 
Cheshire, enters this county near Lawton, near which is the 
Harecastle tunnel. It thence proceeds by the Potteries, Stone, 
and Weston, through many other intermediate towns and 
villages, following nearly the course of the Trent, and at last 
entering it at Wilden in Derbyshire. From the Grand Trunk se¬ 
veral branches strike off different ways, and from thence again 
proceed a number of smaller canals, intersecting the county 
in all directions. The Staffordshire and Worcestershire 
canal strikes off at Heywood, and running by Penksidge and 
Wolverhampton, joins the Severn near Bewdley. The Co¬ 
ventry and Oxford canal leaves the Grand Trunk at Fradley 
heath; and from this the Fazeley canal branches off to 
Birmingham. The Wirley and Essington canal leaves the 
Grand Trunk to the east of Lichfield, and joins the Birming¬ 
ham canal on the one hand, and the Staffordshire and Wor¬ 
cestershire on the other. The public roads in Staffordshire 
are in general good, but the private ones are very indifferent. 
The bridges, tunnels, and other buildings of the kind, are 
numerous, and many of them of great merit as works of art. 
A county gaol and bridewell, a shire hall, and lunatic asylum, 
have been erected within a few years, in the county town, 
Stafford, upon a magnificent scale. Staffordshire, among the 
Britons, belonged to the Cornavii; among the Romans, to 
the province of Flavia Caesariensis; and during the Saxon 
heptarchy, formed part of the kingdom of Mercia. The two 
Roman military ways. Walling-street and Ikenild-street, pass 
through the county. The Roman slations in it that are 
known, are Pennocrucium near Stretton, and Etocetum at 
Wall, near Lichfield. In the civil wars of Charles I. Staf¬ 
fordshire was considerably engaged; and in this county 
Charles II. lay concealed after the battle of Worcester. 
Population returns in 1811:— 
Houses.57,040 
Inhabitants. 295,153 
Families employed in trade and manufactures 34,01] 
-in agriculture.18,361 
Other families . 10,165 
In 1821, the population amounted to 171,668 males, 
169,362 females. 
STAFFSIO, a village of Sweden, in Sudermania, near 
Nykioping, with large iron-works, where cannon are made 
for export. 
STA'FFTREE, s. A sort of ever green privet. 
STAF1SBERG, a large and neat village of the Swiss 
canton of Berne ; 14 miles south-south-east of Berne. 
STAG, s. [H. Tooke pronounces it the past participle of 
the Sax. j-tigan, to ascend; a name well applied, he says; 
the raised and lofty head of the animal being the most strik¬ 
ing circumstance at the first sight of him.] The male red 
deer; the male of the hind. 
To the place a poor sequestered stag. 
That from the hunter’s aim had ta’en a hurt. 
Did come to languish. Shakspeare. 
A colt or filly; also a romping girl. North. Grose. 
STAGBACH, a township of England, in Herefordshire 
2 miles west-south-west of Leominster. 
STAGE, s. [estage, Fr., stagie, Teut. from stijen , 
elevare. Kilian.] A floor raised to view on which any 
show is exhibited; a raised floor of temporary use.—I have 
seen the whole front of a mountebank’s stage, from one end 
to the other, faced with patents, certificates, medals, and great 
seals, by which the several princes of Europe have testified 
their esteem for the doctor! Tatler .—The thealre; the place 
of scenic entertainments.—One Livius Andronicus was the 
first stage player in Rome. Dry den .—Knights, squires, and 
steeds must enter on the stage. Pope .—Any place where 
any thing is publicly transacted or performed. 
When we are born, we cry that we are come 
To this great stage of tools. Shakspeare. 
A place 
