Chapter VII (3)

+-----------+----------+------------+--------------+--------------+------------+ | |Sold with |Sold without|Cash received,|Cash received,| Debts | | |Discount. | Discount. | London. | Bow. | come in. | +-----------+----------+------------+--------------+--------------+------------+ |1st Quarter|1277 10 9| 211 7 2 | 506 1 11 | 325 0 0 | 1101 13 7| |2nd Quarter|2222 11 8| 200 0 3 | 569 3 11 | 299 10 4 | 1434 10 1| |3rd Quarter|2647 18 1| 385 2 2 | 381 18 11 | 150 4 0 | 2184 6 11| |4th Quarter|1982 3 8| 189 0 0 | 353 5 8 | 77 8 11 | 2429 10 9| | +----------+------------+--------------+--------------+------------+ | Total |8130 4 2| 985 9 7 | 1810 10 5 | 852 3 3 | 7150 1 4| |Disct. 10% | 813 0 0+------------+--------------+--------------+ | | +----------+ Cash received Bow | 852 3 3| | |7317 4 2| „ „ London | 1810 10 5| | +----------+ Sold without Discount | 985 9 7| | Sold with Discount | 7317 4 2| | +------------+ | Total |18,115 8 9| +-----------------------------------------------------------------+------------+

“The following extract will show the actual cash receipts at Bow and London, 1751 to 1755, exclusive of the book debts received during the year, which, as will be seen in the preceding account for 1754, amounted to upwards of £7,000.

“This statement gives us an idea of the steady increase of the business, which had nearly doubled itself in five years.

O.S. 1750–1 £6,573 0 8
N.S. 1752 7,747 4 8
„ 1753 10,114 11 6
„ 1754 10,965 6 3
„ 1755 11,229 15 2

“The next entry gives us the weekly account of biscuit china made at Bow in 1754, and is interesting, as it distinctly informs us that the name of the Bow factory was _New Canton_; the China works being, as Thomas Craft says, on the same plan as that of Canton.”

A WEEKLY ACCOUNT OF BISKET WARE MADE AT NEW CANTON.

1754.
Jan. 5 No Kilns
12 Do.
19 Do.
29 Do.
Feb. 2 Do.
9 Do.
16 Do.
23 2 Kilns 128 15 2
Mar. 2 2 Do. 126 8 11
9 2 Do. 134 9 10
16 2 Do. 147 18 6
23 2 Do. 129 0 6
30 2 Do. 132 14 10
---------
799 7 9

1754.
Apr. 6 2 Kilns 109 4 3
13 2 Do. 140 13 3
20 2 Do. 128 8 6
27 2 Do. 115 3 6
May 4 2 Do. 121 13 3
11 2 Do. 115 16 6
18 2 Do. 128 5 0
25 3 Do. 184 13 8
June 1 3 Do. 177 0 8
8 3 Do. 177 17 6
15 3 Do. 181 14 5
22 3 Do. 177 3 0
29 3 Do. 169 9 1
-----------
1,927 2 7
799 7 9
-----------
Amount one week with another for 19 weeks
is £143 10 0 each week £2,726 10 4

“There is a cash-account book for 1757 and 1758, of receipts and payments of a London branch of the Bow factory, either at St. Catherine’s or in Cornhill: it is balanced weekly. The moneys received are principally from customers, whose names are given, and ready money taken daily, cash received from St. James Street, &c., averaging about £120 per week. The bulk of the money was paid to Mr. Crowther every week, occasionally to Mr. Weatherby.

“Mr. Frye frequently received sums varying from £15 to £30, possibly for expenses at Bow; Mr. Heylin’s name occurs once or twice only for small sums. Other payments are for powder gold and for grain gold for Bow; freight of clay; weekly wages--to Mr. Brown, 18_s._; Mr. Sandys, 12_s._; Hugh Williams, 12_s._; Stephenson, 12_s._; Burnett, 10_s._,--which average about 60_s._ per week.

“The book we now refer to contains memoranda made by John Bowcocke, in 1756; he was one of the managers, or perhaps traveller, for the Bow works. In it we find orders from customers, and many interesting notes relating to the business. We shall have occasion to quote largely from this manuscript, as the items throw considerable light upon the various descriptions of ware made there, among which many will be identified by the curious reader.

“‘1756. Insure £450 on board the _Antilope_: John Cowling.

Mr. Crowther paid Thos. Osborne for an anchor for the ship
_Antilope_ £12 1_s._ 0_d._

2 doz. crimson buttons for Mr. Frye.

_Jany. 29._ Mr. Fogg: a sprig’d sallad vessel, 12_s._; 1 pair
sprig’d boats, 6_s._; 16 cooks, 2_s._ each, abated; a swan; two
harlequins (returned), 7_s._

_March._ Mr. Fahy: 9 gentlemen and ladies, at 9_s._, £4 1_s._
0_d._

Mr. White: 1 small fluter white: 3 pair boys and girls; 1 pair
small fidler and companion; 1 pair tamberines; 1 cook.

Mr. Fogg: 2 doz. odd cups and 2 doz. imag’d small; 2 pair image
ewers; 6 swans; 6 white boars; 6 sprig’d handled cups and 6
cans; 1 pair sauce boats, Mr. Vere’s pattern, 4_s._; 1 pair
large ribbed boats, 4_s._; 1 large dragon milk-pot; 12 dragon
breakfast cups and saucers with good deep colour; 1 sprig’d
upright teapot, 3_s._; 1 sprig’d cream ewer; 24 octagon nappy
plates, partridge pattern; 1 vine-leaf milk-pot.

_March 27._ Mrs. Ann Howard, the Lamb, in Broad Mead, Bristol.
10 round dishes; 2 of each size from the smallest to the
largest, both included; 1 largest octogon dish; 1 next less size
dish; 36 table plates; 12 soup plates; 2 pair rib’d boats; 3
pair flatt salts, without feet; they must all be the bordered
image, blue and pale, as you please.

She has it greatly in her power to serve the factory. I hope
they will be very neat and charged reasonable; I have not told
her any price. Add 1 soup dish, 13, or not above 14 inches over;
12 table plates. Imaged pale blue.

Quy. What’s to be done with white bud sprigs; what quy. of
Cupids and B is wanted white; white floras, &c.

_March 30._ Lent Mr. Frye, cash £8.

_April 22._ Colol. Griffin, Brook Street; 4 small upright pint
mugs to be painted to the very fine landskip pattern, as soon as
possible.

_April 22._ 4 doz. blue plates, Newark pattern; 8 doz. mosaic do.

_April 28._ Lord Southwell: Mr. Heylin has promised him to make
an oval tureen, the image pattern, and to be done in 6 weeks
without fail. Think of the Chinese head for Mr. Weatherby.

_May 4._ Mr. Vanderkist: an enamelled partridge coffee-pot,
9_s._ Mr. White: 1 imag’d cup and 7 sprig’d chocolates. What
is meant by 36 white men with salt-boxes? Mr. Hunter desires
to have some mustard ladles as the cream ladles, only small
boles and long handles; 6 enamelled roses; 2 pr. green leaf
candlesticks; 4 white leaf candlesticks.

Mr. Kentish: mandrill coffee-pot.

Mr. Fogg: 2 swans, wings open.

Mrs. Whitfield to have 1 pr. white branch candlesticks. Mr.
Williams, 1 pr. sporters; 1 enamelled pero, 6_s._ 1 shepherd,
imperial, 7_s._; 1 shepherdess, 9_s._

_May 7._ Quy. whether any Windsor bricks were received at the
glass house, which is charged to the porcelain compy.

Paid Mr. Heylin, Minshull’s draft, £10 10_s._ 0_d._ J. B. paid
Sir Joseph Hankey for Messrs. Weatherby and Crowther, £348
18_s._ 0_d._

Mr. Fahy: 1 pr. of the new shepherd and compn.; 1 pr. Dutch
dancers, 9_s._; 1 gentleman and lady, 18_s._; 1 cook, 7_s._;
1 boy and girl, 12_s._; 1 Paris cries, 6_s._; 1 woman with
chicken, 7_s._

Whether any _bucks_ is wanted? There was 5 pair sent down, and
only 1 pair came back.

Send down what _does_ there is in town, and send down the Bow
books.

_May 28._ Patterns received from Lady Cavendish: a Japan octogon
cup and saucer, lady pattern; a rib’d and scollop’d cup and
saucer, image pattern; a basket bordered dysart plate; a Japan
bread and butter plate.

Mr. Williams: 12 setts blue teas, at 2_s._ 10_d._; a sett
compleat of the second _printed_ teas.

_May 15._ Recd. a pair of birds on pedestals, to be painted for
Mr. Legg, corner of Birchen lane.

Lady Stairs: a compleat sett Dresden sprig, the canister top;
parteridge octogon plates.

Mrs. Whitfield to have 1 pr. white biscuit candlesticks.

_May 20._ Duchess of Leeds: 2 square enamd. and sprig’d desst.
15_s._; 1 blue dolphin-pickle stand, 5_s._; 1 white basin and
cover, 3_s._; the Duke of Argyle’s acct., £20 5_s._ 0_d._

The Duchess of Portland’s acct. to be made out, and wait on the
steward, Mr. Guidon, in Privy Gardens, Whitehall, and will be
paid when her ladyship returns.

_June 18._ Mr. Fogg: 1 pint _printed_ mug, 5_s._; 1 half-pint
do., 3_s._ 6_d._; 1 fine plate, 4_s._; 1 partridge handd. cup
and saucer, 3_s._ 6_d._ Allowed Mr. Fogg. In a Pero’s broken
hat, 1_s._ (Pierrot); in two Turks 3_s._; octogon dysart
partridge plate, 3_s._ 6_d._ Mr. Fogg to know the price of the
best cock plates; 4 pair rib’d boats, at 4_s._, good; 2 pr.
small imaged boats and plates; 6 squirrels; butter tubs; 2 small
dragon milk-pots; 2 do., a little larger; 1 dragon sugar dish.

Mr. Morgan lent me a leaf for the roses; 4 vauses; 1 pair
Minervas of each size.

2 double dozn. of lase and 2 double doz. dysart rose pattern
knife handles; to be mounted and sent in Baxter’s parcel.

_July 24._ Mr. Fogg to have 1 pair of coloured squirrels.

The knife-handles; how many sold of Dresden flowers; and to have
a double dozn. mounted.

Has Mrs. Bernardeau had what she ordered of the wheatsheaf?

To buy a partridge either alive or dead.

To bring down the Chelsea cabbage leaves and bason.

Recd. and gave Mr. Beswick receipt for £107 12_s._ 0_d._ in full
to Sept. 1755, for Weatherby and Crowther. J. B.

Mr. Coleman: harliquin, columbine, and Pero (Pierrot). 1 small
sprig’d round teapot.

Goats, swans, and every other sorts of toys to be sent in
Baxter’s order, flatt drawers to be made on purpose, and each
kept separate.

A plate of the Princess Wales’ pattern, good.

_Aug. 30._ Paid Mr. Heylin’s draft on Mr. Crowther for £13,
and charged Mr. Crowther’s cash acct. with it: quy. how is Mr.
Heylin made Dr. and J. C. Creditor?

_Nov. 29._ J. Bowcocke borrowed of Mr. Crowther for Bow £30.

Mr. Fogg: caudle-cups, white sprig’d and saucers; 3 pr. image
cream ewers, full blue; 4 white leaf candlesticks, 2_s._ 3_d._;
1 set large sprig’d teas, handled; 2 pr. rib’d boats, at 4_s._
6_d._; 1 sprig’d tea pot, 4_s._, good.

Patterns received from Lady Cavendish; a Japan octogon cup and
saucer, lady pattern; a rib’d and scollop’d cup and saucer; a
basket bordered dysart plate; a Japan bread and butter plate. To
be returned in a month, May 28th, 1756.’

“On analyzing these memoranda, although they are but imperfect and necessarily curt, being written only for the writer’s guidance, we are made acquainted with many facts not before disclosed; for example--it has never been suggested that _printed_ china was produced at Bow, yet it is evident that china was decorated with transfer engravings as early as the year 1756, as appears from the following entries:--

“‘One pint _printed_ mug,
One half-pint, do.,
A sett compleat of the second _printed_ teas.’

“The patent which Messrs. Sadler and Green, of Liverpool, proposed taking out as inventors of the process is dated 1756, but they had brought the art to perfection several years before, and had kept it a profound secret. Transfer printing on enamel was in vogue at Battersea before 1755, and the process would be the same on china as enamel. Horace Walpole, writing to Richard Bentley in Sept. 1755, says, ‘I send you a trifling snuff-box, only as a sample of the new manufacture at Battersea, which is done with copper-plates.’ Mr. Binns, of Worcester, has a Battersea enamel watch-case with the tea-party from the same plate as the impressions on china. The _Liverpool Guide_ of 1799 says ‘copper-plate printing upon china and earthenware originated here in 1752, and remained some time a secret with the inventors, Messrs. Sadler and Green. The manner in which this continues to be done here, remains still unrivalled in perfection. As late as 1783, Wedgwood constantly sent his ware to Liverpool to be printed.’

“The proprietors of the Bow works availed themselves of assistance by occasionally sending their china to Liverpool to be printed.[70] All the pieces decorated with transfer engravings, have, without discrimination, been erroneously assigned to Worcester, owing to the want of a thorough investigation of the quality of the body.

“Lady Charlotte Schreiber has a teapot with a transfer portrait of the ‘Prussian Hero,’ the handle and spout ornamented in relief with the enamelled flowers peculiar to Bow; a bowl with prints of the well-known tea-party, and garden-scenes; and two plates, part of ‘a sett of the second _printed_ teas,’ before alluded to, with poultry and leaves. All these are undoubtedly of Bow body, probably decorated at Liverpool.

“Large quantities of blue-painted ware issued from the Bow works, and there are frequent allusions to them in the order-book, for cheap services. On examining the blue pieces, which can be safely assigned to Bow from the nature of the body, there is a peculiarity in the glaze which arises in this way: blue being at that time the only colour that would bear the intense heat of the kiln (_au grand feu_), it is always painted on the biscuit before being dipped in the glaze; consequently portions, however slight, are apt, while the glaze is in a fluid state, to spread over the surface, giving it a blue tinge, especially on large surfaces; the other colours, as well as the gold, are painted _over the glaze_, and set in a kiln of lower temperature, called the reverberatory or muffle kiln. Hence the blue, being _under the glaze_, is imperishable, but the other colours, from frequent use, get rubbed off.

“We find in the order-book the blue Newark pattern; blue dolphin pickle-stand; ‘setts of blue teas.’ A dinner-service was ordered to be ‘blue and pale as you please,’ &c.

“Among the patterns noticed in the same book are white bud sprigs, sprigged tea sets, and Dresden sprigs; partridge services, imaged services, and dragon services, were in great demand; Chelsea cabbage leaf, the lady pattern, and the Princess of Wales’s pattern, white men with salt boxes, mugs painted to the fine landscape pattern, &c.

“Of the figures and groups, only a few are mentioned, such as Minerva of two sizes, Flora, imperial shepherd and shepherdess, the new shepherd and its companion, Cupid, gentleman and lady, boy and girl, fluter, fiddler, harlequin, columbine, and pierrot or clown, tambourine-player, sportsman, cook, Dutch dancer, woman with chicken, Turk and companion, female figure, birds on pedestals, swans, boars, squirrels, buck and doe, goat, and toys of all sorts.

“These short notices of Bow figures, although far from being important examples, will remind many of our readers of similar pieces which have been classed as Chelsea.

“We may also refer to the pair of white china figures of Woodward the actor, and Mrs. Clive, in the costumes as given in Bell’s ‘Collection of Plays.’ A pair of these in the white Bow china, exquisitely modelled and finished, bear the date 1758 stamped in the clay: they are in the possession of a lady whose family has retained them ever since they came from the factory.

* * * * *

“Memorandum-book of John Bowcocke for 1758.

“There is very little to interest us in this book. Bowcocke was at Dublin for the first eight months, receiving consignments of glass and china from the works, which were sold principally by auction. The money taken was remitted weekly to the company.

“‘_Feb. 9, 1758._ Dublin. I went to see Sheridan, in Hamlet.

_April 19._ Lady Freik shew’d me two tureens she brought from
France, moulded from a full-grown cabbage. (A sketch is given.)

_Aug. 22._ At Nottingham. Called on Mr. Rigley; he says he was
used ill about some figure Thorpe sent, not to order, and has
done.

_Sept. 24._ At Bow. Went to hear Mr. John Crowther preach his
first sermon.

_Oct. 16._ Bought a china figure for Mrs. McNally, 4_s._

Painting do., 1_s._ 3_d._

Treating Mrs. McNally, wine, 1_s._

Went to see her home from the play, 1_s._; purl, 2_d._

(This lady was a good customer of the firm: on
referring to the cash-book, we find she paid, on Oct.
16th, £18 13_s._ 9_d._)

_Nov. 27._ At Bow. Observed in the burning of the bisquit ware
that dishes and plates should be burnt in new cases, and only
one in each case, as when two are burnt in one another it is
certain that one is always bad.

All handled chocolates and coffees and handled teas to be burnt
with covers.

_Dec. 26._ Dined with Mr. H. Frye and family at Stratford.’

“In the front of this book is a note in pencil, written in 1866, stating that--

“‘One hundred years since, John Bowcocke died, Tuesday, Feb.
26th, 1765, at 6 o’clock in the evening, of lockjaw. He was
brother to William Bowcocke, of Chester, painter, my mother’s
father.--THOS. BAILEY.’

“In the same collection are two books of pencil sketches by a French artist named De la Cour, of plants, trees, festoons of flowers, rococo scrolls, cane handles, frames, chimney-pieces, landscapes (among which is a view of London), figures, single figures for statuettes, &c. Another book contains coloured engravings by Martin Engelbrecht, of Nuremberg, of a great variety of subjects suitable for painting on china: costumes of various nations, ladies and gentlemen splendidly attired, shepherds and shepherdesses, garden scenes and summer-houses, palaces, birds, animals and insects, hunting scenes, musicians, Chinese figures and scenery, interlaced ornaments, &c. A fourth book, published by Edwards and Darley, 1754, consists of engraved subjects,--Chinese interiors, vases, figures, pagodas, bridges, animals, exotic birds, insects, &c. The Chinese designs are mixed up with _rococo_ scrolls and other ornamental work.”

Enough will have been gleaned from the foregoing regarding the various productions of the Bow Works. One or two noted examples, however, require to be specially named, as being usually associated in the minds of collectors with this manufactory. One of these is a well-known small goat milk-jug which was formerly always attributed to Bow. It bears a bee in relief under the spout which was supposed to be allegorical of the initial B of Bow. Some examples, however, are without the bee. They are occasionally marked with a simple triangle, which, however, has been shown to have been occasionally used at Chelsea; and that the goat jugs were also there made.[71]

The marks attributed to the Bow factory are numerous and varied; and some which are so ascribed have not, I believe, the slightest connection with those works. The following are among the marks, said by one writer or other to belong to Bow, but some of them are very doubtful. Indeed, there is almost an absolute certainty that some of those ascribed to Bow, in reality belong to Chelsea and other places. Some of these marks are incised.

STRATFORD.

The _London Chronicle_ of 1755 contains the following paragraph: “Yesterday four persons, well skilled in the making of British china, were engaged for Scotland, where a new porcelain manufacture is going to be established in the manner of that now carried on at Chelsea, Stratford, and Bow.” From this it is evident that in 1755 a china manufactory, distinct from that at Bow, was carried on at this place. Nothing, however, is at present known as to its history.

KENTISH TOWN.

In the middle of last century John Giles had a small establishment and kiln at Kentish Town, where he finished and burned china, &c., procured in the white from other manufactories. He advertised “to procure and paint, for any person, Worcester porcelain to any or in any pattern;” and here vases and other articles, decorated by himself and by other artists and amateurs, were burned. An interesting reference to this kiln will be found in my account of the Bow china works on another page, where Thomas Craft, speaking of a bowl he had made, writing from memory in 1790, says “about the year 1760:” “I took it in a box to Kentish Town, and had it burned there in Mr. Gyles’s kiln, cost me 3_s._” In 1771 Giles took premises in Cockspur Street, as a sale-room, &c. On the 9th of July in that year the lease of these premises was granted from “George Stubbs, of the parish of St. Margaret, Westmr., in the county of Middx., Esq.,” “to James Giles, of the parish of St. James, within the liberty of Westmr., in the said county of Middlx., china-man,” of “all that messuage or tenement and premises, lately called or known by the name of the Gun Tavern, in the parish of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, in the said county of Middx., situate and being on the north side of a street called Cockspur Street, leading from Pall Mall to Charing Cross, and lately in the tenure or occupation of Susannah Cannon, deceased, together with all ways,” &c., &c., for a term of 21 years, at an annual rental of £110. These premises were held from the Crown, on a longer lease, by Stubbs, so that this was a sub-letting to Giles, who had power to enter upon them on the above date, but to be free from rent until September 29th in consideration of any sums he might lay out in repairs, he covenanting to lay out in improvements and repairs £300, if requisite. The deed, in my own possession, bears the signature and seal of “Geo. Stubbs,” and the attesting signatures of “G. Stubbs. Jos. Mead, his Clerk.”

Giles appears to have become involved soon after this, and was assisted with loans and money and in other ways, by Duesbury, of the Derby china works. This is proved by papers in my own possession, amongst which are several notes of hand, as “Borrowed of Mr. Duesbury five guineas, which I promise to repay on demand. James Giles.” “Paid Mr. Heath a Bill on Mr. Giles, dated Feb. 20, at two months, value £120.” “April 1, James Giles’s note due 4th June, 1777, £50.” “May 29, Jas. Giles’s note due July 12, £50,” etc., etc. Ultimately Mr. Duesbury, on the failure of Giles, took to his stock and entire concern, and the original accounts, &c., connected with this are in my own possession. One of these, the balance-sheet of the estate for 1776–77, is very curious as showing some of the fashionable people with whom he did business:--

JAS. GILES’S ESTATE, CR.

1776. £ _s._ _d._
May 4. By Miss Clarkson’s Bill received 3 8 6
„ Lord Palmerstone’s do. 0 14 6
13. „ Coll. Twisleton’s do. 0 10 6
15. „ Lady Nuneham do. 2 14 6
„ „ Lady Ailesford do. 0 15 0
„ 28. „ Mrs. Nesbitt do. 0 10 6
June 14. „ Duke of Bolton do. 3 4 0
„ 17. „ Mr. Robt. Child do. 2 15 0
„ 10. „ Mr. Duesbury borrow’d 5 5 0
July 23. „ Ditto do. 5 5 0
Aug. 17. „ Ditto do. 3 13 0
1777.
May 17. „ Mr. Buller his Bill 8 19 0
„ 30. „ Dutchess of Ancaster do. 10 1 0
June 14. „ Mrs. Stevens do. 0 11 6
„ „ Mr. Cooper do. 0 9 0
„ „ Mr. Kent do. 2 10 6
July 12. „ Mr. Sheridan, on Acct. 20 0 0
Sept. 8. „ Ditto, in full 3 12 6
-------------
£74 19 0
=============

JAS. GILES’S ESTATE, DR.

1776. £ _s._ _d._
May 11. Jas. Steventon, assisting before, at and
after the Auction at Squibs, 17 days
at 3_s._ 2 11 0
„ Saml. Sanders do., 10 days at 3_s._ 1 10 0
„ Paid Cartage from Berwick Street 0 4 0
„ Hay, paper, nails, &c. 0 3 7
13. Pd. ½ year’s rent to Mrs. Becket 15 0 0
June 5. Steventon and Sanders, 14 days each at
Sale King’s Head, Butcher Row, at 3_s._
each 4 4 0
„ Paid Porterage 0 2 0
July 5. Paid Mrs. Becket ½ year’s Rent in full 15 0 0
Aug. 28. Bill for enamelling sundries to compleat
Stock 25 2 10
1778.
April 30. Paid Debt to Flight & Co. 12 6 2
„ Cost of arrest to do. 2 2 0
„ Paid Debt to Mr. Maiden 0 7 6
-------------
£78 13 1
=============

The £25 2_s._ 10_d._ “for enamelling sundries to complete stock” was thus expended:--

Acct. of Goods Enamel’d to compleat the Stock, and Deld. to Mr.
Duesbury, Augt. 28th, 1776, by Js. Giles.

£ _s._ _d._
48 Shank’d Tea Cups and Saucers, blue edge, at 8_d._ 1 12 0
2 Teapots 4_s._; 2 Milkpots, 3_s._; 2 Slop Basons,
3_s._; do. 0 10 0
2 Sugar Boxes, 4_s._; 2 large Plates, 4_s._; 2 less
do., 3_s._ 0 11 0
2 Teapot Stands, 2 Spoon Trays do. at 1_s._ 0 4 0
12 Plain Handle Teas, 12 Saucers do. at 8_d._ 0 16 0
6 Coffee Cups, 4_s._; 2 Slop Basons, 4_s._; 2 Sugar
Boxes, 4_s._; do. 0 12 0
2 Bread and Butter Plates, 3_s._; 2 Teapots, 4_s._ 0 7 0
12 Handle Teas, 12 Saucers, 6 Coffee Cups, green edge,
at 8_d._ 1 0 0
1 Slop Bason and 1 Sugar Box, do., at 2_s._ 0 4 0
17 Fluted Teas, 1 Coffee Cup, 1 Slop Bason, 1 Sugar
Box, 1 Milk Pot, blue wreath 1 11 6
24 Handle Cups and Saucers, 6 Coffee Cups, and 1
Sugar Box, fruit and flowers and pea-green ground 4 16 0
7 Twig Handle Teas, 6 Coffee Cups, gold Dontell,
at 1_s._ 0 13 0
1 Teapot, 1 Milkpot, do. 0 5 0
12 Plain Handle Cups and Saucers, for Breakfast, do. 0 15 0
1 Slop Bason, 1 Sugar Box, do. 0 5 0
2 Saucers, 1_s._; and 1 Coffee Can, do. 0 2 6
24 New Ribb’d Handle Teas and Saucers, do., at 1_s._ 1 4 0
1 Teapot, 3_s._; 1 Milkpot, 2_s._; 1 Slop Bason,
2_s._ 6_d._; 1 Sugar Box, 2_s._ 6_d._ 0 10 0
1 Stand, 1 Boat, 2_s._ 6_d._; 1 large Plate, 2_s._
6_d._; 1 less, 2_s._ 0 7 0
24 Shank’d Handle Teas and Saucers, 1 Sugar Box,
1 Milkpot, green flower, &c. 1 10 0
2 Chocolates, 2 Saucers, flowers and brown edge 0 4 0
1 Coffee Cup, pink sprigs 0 0 10
1 Table Plate, French blue ring 0 3 0
12 Handle Teas, 12 Saucers, sky-blue and gold 3 0 0
2 Slop Basons, 9_s._; 1 Teapot, 6_s._; 1 Butter Tub
and Cover do., 5_s._ 1 0 0
18 Desert Plates in large birds 3 0 0
-----------
£25 2 10

The “Debt to Flight & Co.,” and “Cost of Arrest to do.,” as entered under the date of April 30th, is thus explained:--

Thomas Flight and Robert Tabor
Against
James Giles.

In the Common Pleas. Hilary Vacation, 1778.

To Debt as pr. Warrant £12 6 2
To Cost of Suit, &c. 2 2 0
-----------
£14 8 2

Received 30th April, 1778, of Mr. James Giles, the above-named
Defendant, Fourteen Pounds, eight Shillings and 2_d._, for the
purposes above mentioned.

Pr. Thomas Vere,
£14 8_s._ 2_d._ No. 15, Southampton Buildings.

One of the assignees of James Giles was Mr. Wm. Randall, who died before Dec. 23, 1779. In the balance-sheet of his accounts, from May 7, 1776 (the date of assignment), to that date, are frequent entries of postage of letters from Worcester; and among the receipts are accounts from Lady Melbourne, Lady Warren, Paul Orchard, Esq., Mrs. Powis, -- Kent, Esq., Lady Jersey, Dutchess Dowager of Leinster, etc. The account is as follows:--

THE ACCOUNT OF THE LATE MR. WILLIAM RANDALL, AS ONE OF THE
ASSIGNEES OF THE EFFECTS OF THE LATE MR. GILES, FROM MAY Y^E 7TH, 1776,
TO DECEMBER Y^E 23RD, 1779.

WILL^M. RANDALL, CRED^R.
1776. £ _s._ _d._
May 7. For a year’s rent of Mr. Giles’ House, due at
Xmas 1775, & paid to Mr. Stubbs 110 0 0
„ For a Bill to Mr. Stubbs, Attorney 5 13 9
„ 31. For a Quarter’s Rent paid to Do., due at
Ladyday 27 10 0
June 26. For a Letter from Worcester 0 0 4
„ 29. For an half-year’s Interest of £200, due April
ye 4th, upon Bond, to Mrs. Twiss 5 0 0
Aug. 21. For a Bill to Mr. Sheppard, Attorney 21 18 6
„ For a Letter f^m Worcester 0 0 4
„ 23. For a Quarter’s Rent, due at Midsummer, paid to
Mr. Stubbs 27 10 0
Nov. 16. For Do. „ due at Michaelmas 27 10 0
1777.
Jan. 15. For an half-year’s Interest, due Oct. 4th,
1776, to Mrs. Twiss 5 0 0
„ 29. For a Letter f^m Worcester 0 0 4
Dec. 13. For a Year’s Rent, due at Michaelmas, and
paid to Mr. Stubbs 110 0 0
1778.
Dec. 28. For Do. „ due at Do. 110 0 0
1779.
For a Letter from Worcester 0 0 4
Dec. 23. For a Year’s Rent, due at Michaelmas, to
Mr. Stubbs 110 0 0

PER CON: D^R.
1776. £ _s._ _d._
May 7. For cash recd. of Messrs. Stubbs--Shop
Account 42 6 6
„ 8. For Do. „ of Lady Warren Do. 11 7 0
„ 9. For Do. „ of Paul Orchard, Esq. Do.
10 10 0
Deducted for China
broken 0 10 6
------ 9 19 6
„ 20. For Do. „ of Mrs. Powis Do. 15 4 0
„ 23. For Do. „ of -- Kent, Esq. Do. 2 10 0
„ -- For Do. „ of Lady Melbourne Do. 15 1 0
„ 31. For Do. „ of Mr. Harris, for a Quarter’s
Rent of the House late Mr.
Giles’, due at Ladyday 35 0 0
June 11. For Do. „ of Lady Jersey--Shop Account 2 14 0
Nov. 16. For Do. „ of Mr. Harris, for an
half-year’s Rent due at
Michaelmas 70 0 0
Dec. 7. For Do. „ of the Dutchess Dowager of
Leinster, Shop Account 32 13 6
1777.
June 17. For Do. „ of Mr. Tho: Jones Do. 0 8 6
Dec. 13. For Do. „ of Mr. Harris, for a Year’s
Rent, due at Michaelmas 140 0 0
1778.
Dec. 28. For Do. „ of Do. „ „ due at Do. 140 0 0
1779.
Dec. 23. For Do. „ of Do. „ „ due at Do. 140 0 0

EUSTON ROAD.

In 1860 Messrs. W. and T. Wills, sculptors, having turned their attention to the production of works of art in terra-cotta, commenced the manufacture at this place. The works produced consist of vases, figures and groups of figures, busts, &c., of a size and character for drawing-room use. The subjects are principally mythological, and are admirably modelled--each piece sent out receiving its finishing touches from the artist’s own hands. In colour, Messrs. Wills’ terra-cottas are a delicate pink and deep rich red. Their names are marked on each piece.

OXFORD STREET.

Among London establishments who, from a long and intimate connection with some of the more eminent of our porcelain works, may almost be considered to be manufacturers, are the following. To these firms the world owes many of the most striking and beautiful of ceramic productions. These have been designed by the firms themselves, and made specially for them; they thus become literally their own productions.

* * * * *

_Mortlocks_; Oxford Street.--This house was established in 1746, by John Mortlock, and has been uninterruptedly continued since that date through five generations, in direct line, of the same family; its head at the present time being, as it was more than one hundred and fifty years ago, a John Mortlock. In the palmy days of the old Rockingham works, John Mortlock was London agent for the goods made there. One speciality of these works, the “Cadogan” teapot, formed on the model of an example of Indian green ware brought from abroad by the Marquess and Marchioness of Rockingham, or the Hon. Mrs. Cadogan, was the means of adding largely to his connection with these works. The first of these was made for the Marchioness of Rockingham; and when the Prince Regent, afterwards George IV., visited Wentworth House, the seat of Earl Fitzwilliam, these teapots were then in use, and were much admired; the prince, who was a great connoisseur in tea, I believe, bringing one of them away with him. On the return of the prince and his suite to town, inquiries were made for them of John Mortlock, who supplied the palace with china, &c. He at once saw that they would come into great repute, and ordered a large quantity, stipulating that his name, MORTLOCK, should be stamped upon them. This was done in place of the word ROCKINGHAM, and they thus passed as Mortlock’s own make; he ordered at one time as much as £900 worth for one season’s consumption. (See “Rockingham Works.”)

When the Nantgarw works were first started, Mr. Mortlock became a large purchaser as well as agent. He regularly took a large quantity of the ware in the white; this he had painted in London, by Webster, Randall, and various other artists, and fired at the enamel kiln of Messrs. Robins and Randall, in Spa Fields. At this time Mortlock was also agent to the Coalport and Swansea works; and Mr. Nore, of Coalport, feeling a jealousy, and finding that the sale of the Swansea and Nantgarw productions interfered with his own, bought up those two concerns, removed their models, &c., to Coalport, and closed them. The firm still retain an agency for Coalport, and also for Messrs. Minton & Co. Mr. Mortlock has special marks for some of the Coalport productions prepared from his designs.

HOXTON.

In 1693 there was “a famous brick-moulder at Hoxton.” Some very interesting particulars are given by Houghton, in his “Husbandry and Trade Improved,” 1693.

HAMMERSMITH.

Houghton, in 1693, thus alludes to the brick works at this place: “Some can make fourteen or 15,000 in a day, some 18,000; but _Nicholas Gooding_, of _Hammersmith_, for a wager of 10_l._, made in one day 22,000 bricks, upon which _Sir Nicholas Crisp_ assisted him to set up, and he is now living at _Hammersmith_, and worth several thousand pounds. His master’s name was _Gosling_, who had three men whom he often encouraged to wagers.”