COLERIDGE AT CRESSELLY.

163

ingly well. He likes the scheme, takes very long rambles, and writes a great deal. He proposes my going to Ireland. Perhaps I may; in short, I will do anything rather than be confined by the cold as I have heretofore been.'

6

The next letter is from St. Clears, Carmarthenshire, and is dated Nov. 15. It relates principally to clothing and success in sporting: When I have a little burst of good sport, how much I long to have you with me; but there is nothing worth travelling half so far for. Let me hear often. . . Coll desires to be very kindly remembered. We do vastly well together.'1 A fortnight later, and the old life weariness has returned. I was, indeed,' he tells his brother, glad of sight of the old scribble last night. I have been here (Cresselly) since Tuesday.. The two first days I enjoyed myself very much, but since Thursday my spirits and strength, without any assignable cause, have entirely failed me. Shooting is become an intolerable bore and fatigue, and, cocks being scarce, I don't think I can continue above two or three days longer in the country. If Sally could foresee any convoy, she would remain here some weeks longer, and I much wish her to do it, as she is very happy and much enlivened! As to myself, God knows what I can do. I am going with Tom Allen to have a day to-morrow, and I shall be rejoiced beyond measure if I can shake off the slough of despondency which now hangs about me. Coleridge is all kindness to me, and in prodigious favour here. He is quite easy, cheerful, and

quoted, 'in the event of our travelling together, that you should yourself be at ease with me, even as you would with a younger brother, to whom, from his childhood, you had been in the habit of saying, “Do this, Col, or don't do that." All good be with you.'- Cottle's Reminiscences, p. 450.

1 Thos. W. to J. W., Nov. 15, 1802. Mayer MSS.

takes great pains to make himself pleasant. He is willing, indeed desirous, to accompany me to any part of the Globe; and I dont know what else I can do to mitigate the weariness of life but travel. I adhere to my regimen strictly, but have left off Sulphat, as I took a little too much and suffered for it. Coleridge is astonished at my pertinacious regularity and abstemiousness; says if Wordsworth had a quarter as much control over himself he would be in perfect health instead of great hypochondriacism. But my constitution is incorrigible, and I am weary to death of my unavailing efforts. Coleridge has expressed a strong desire to spend a fortnight at Gunville. You are certainly a great favourite of his; he always desires to be most kindly mentioned to you. I have assured him of a hearty welcome.'1

Strange to say, whenever this tædium vitæ was at its worst, the mania-for such it really was-of acquiring more and more landed property returned. Two days after this last letter he sees an advertisement in the

Morning Post' relative to the speedy sale of Manors and Farms in Dorsetshire, and forthwith he employs Miss Frances Allen, his brothers' wives' sister, to copy it out in the letter he sends: 'I have got Fanny to copy an advertisement out of the "Morning Post" of a late daté. Samways2 knows the place, and says there is abundance of game there: Pheasants, Ducks, and Snipes all the year round, Cocks plenty, and stay late. Fine bottom of alders and springs; most excellent fishing. I am very eager about it, as its proximity to Gunville is inestimable. If it prove at all desirable in the above points, I am determined to give a good price. My

1 Thos. Wedgwood to Josiah Wedgwood, Gunville, Nov. 28, 1802. 2 His servant.

ESTATES IN WALES.

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dear fellow, I am in a temper of mind to risk all on a single throw. I am trying to rent something in this county, to come to when the winter is at the hardest. I am just returned from a 3 hours beat, and have seen but 1 cock. Yet I am better than when I wrote my last jeremiad. I shall stay here about a week longer, and you may direct your next here. What I request of you is to take a ride to the spot, and get what information you can, without your name appearing, and give me as particular account as you can, particularly as to sporting advantages, for I care not how ugly the country be. I shall be glad to hear that the house is tolerable, and the country warmer than Gunville, and that the trees are not bent over and shorn by the S.-west. I need not say that time presses, as I expect many competitors. Unless your account be very discouraging, I shall immediately come over to Gunville with Coll. . . . I am applying here about Temple David, which is to let, perhaps sold; and about Trewerne, which has the Tave washing the garden, and was some time ago to be let. I shall go to Keswick to see Mr. and Mrs. Luff, if my spirits keep up at all. . . . Forgive my last, and believe me ever and ever yours, T. W.' Miss Allen's portion of the letter draws a pleasant picture of Miss Sarah Wedgwood,' as also of Coleridge: We are in hopes that Sally2 may be induced to remain with us after the departure of her brother and Mr. Coleridge. She is at present wavering, and a favourable letter from Kitty3 will turn the balance in our favour. My father is wonderfully pleased with her, and is nearly,

1 and 2 The youngest surviving daughter of Josiah Wedgwood the elder. 3 Miss Catherine Wedgwood, second daughter of Josiah Wedgwood the elder.

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COUNTRY EXCURSIONS.

if not quite, as great a favourite as Mrs. Darwin with him. I cannot tell you what pleasure her company has given us all, and more so as I am nearly certain she likes her stay here. . . . Yesterday all the party except Tom walked to North Down to stay till tomorrow. I walked part of the way with them, and will engage they feel no fatigue, as Mr. Coleridge was in one of his pleasantest moods. To day they mean to show Mr. Coleridge the rocks below Pembroke and dine with E. Leach."

1 November 30, 1802. Mayer MSS.

VARIETY OF WEDGWOOD'S WORKS.

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CHAPTER VI.

Variety and Perfection of the elder Wedgwood's Works-The later Modellers-Theed, Westmacott, and Wyatt-Porcelain made at Etruria-Beauty of its Painting-Difficulties and Hindrances of Foreign Commerce-Imports into Italy prohibited-French Prohibition-Frankfort Fair-The Barberini Vase again lent by the Duke of Portland-A Copy sent to the Republic of France—Acknowledgment of its Receipt by the Minister of the Interior-Mr. Byerley's two eldest Sons educated in Germany-—Mr. Josiah Wedgwood's Removal from Stoke House, Cobham, into Somersetshire and Dorsetshire- Non-resident in Staffordshire twenty Years-Need of the Master's Eye-Mr. Byerley not a trained Artist or Potter-Deficiency in Taste of new ornamental Goods-Mr. Wedgwood's Life at Gunville-Field Sports, Planting, Farming-Turnip Husbandry and Improvement in Breed of Sheep-Agricultural Associations-Sir Joseph Banks Cranbourn Chace - Its Disfranchisement proposed — Evils generated by Waste and Forest Rights-Eastbury-Josiah Wedgwood Sheriff of Dorsetshire-Prejudices of County Nabobs-Illustrious Visitors to Gunville-Simplicity and Retiredness of Life-Letter to a Governess-Difficulties with Workmen at Etruria-Contest about a Book of Mixtures-The Greatbaches and Hackwoods-The young Byerleys at Etruria-Wild proceeding of the second Son-A Cadetship procured for him through the Interest of Lord Auckland-Mr. Byerley's Honesty of Purpose-Afflicting Sentiments-The Hollands -Childhood of Sir Henry Holland-Related to the Wedgwoods and the Darwins-A few Facts worth preserving-Foreign Apprentices and Commissions.

Ar the date of the elder Wedgwood's death the works at Etruria were in their highest state of efficiency. Except experimentally on a few occasions, the manufacture of porcelain, distinctly as such, had not been introduced, although many of the new bodies invented and brought to perfection by the great potter, as those of jasper and