to his anxious wife all the particulars of his illness, and concluded with the consoling intelligence, that "he could that day pronounce him out of danger." As soon as he could travel he delighted his family and friends with his presence in Liverpool. No sooner had Mr. Chaffers arrived at home than he set to work with his new materials, and soon produced articles that gained him much reputation, as was frankly acknowledged by the great Wedgwood, to whom Mr. Chaffers presented a tea set of his chinaware, and who, on looking at one of the cups, admiring the body, and examining the colours used in decoration, exclaimed, "This puts an end to the battle. Mr. Chaffers beats us all in his colours and with his knowledge; he can make colours for two guineas which I cannot produce so good for five!" But of how short duration was this distinguished progress. The sad tale of the sudden death of this eminent citizen remains to be told. Podmore, his favourite foreman, was seized some years after the events narrated with a malignant fever, without hope of recovery. The unfortunate sufferer sent a message declaring "his wish to see his dear master once more before their final separation." Mr. Chaffers, a man of full and sanguine habit, most imprudently complied, and shortly after took the fever, to which he fell a victim. He was interred in the old churchyard of St. Nicholas, near the grave of his faithful servant. It is said that when Mr. Wedgwood heard of the sudden death of Mr. Chaffers, like a generous competitor he exhibited sincere regret, and acknowledged that he must ultimately have yielded the palm to his rival in certain branches, from his superiority as a chemist, his profound knowledge of the art of compounding colours, and their more economical preparation. This unfortunate event, by taking away both master and principal assistant, put an end to the prosecution of the trade, and was the commencement of the breaking up of that branch of the art which Mr. Chaffers had mainly brought to such a high state of perfection. A great number of the potters ultimately emigrated to America, whilst many of the best hands transferred themselves to the service of Mr. Wedgwood, or were hired by other Staffordshire manufacturers. There is a portrait of Mr. Chaffers by Caddick. Mr. Chaffers's private residence was at the corner of Dale-street and Old Haymarket, now pulled down. Of the specimens produced by this eminent N Chaffers 1750 66 potter I have several in my collection of English pottery, one of which is a pepper box of the hour-glass shape, painted in blue enamel colour with a chequered border at top and bottom, and the name, Richard Chaffers, 1769," round the waist of it. So well known was the ware of Mr. Chaffers in the American Colonies, that it was a common saying of a person who was angry that "He's as hot as Dick's pepper box," alluding to those made by Mr. Chaffers, who exported a very large quantity of his manufacture to the then English colonies. Another piece is a tea cup, painted with a figure and landscape, after the style of India china, which, for cleverness of manipulation in the throwing, the almost eggshell thinness of its sides, the compact solid body, with the smoothness of the glaze, and the deep richness of the brilliant colours, may be compared, without any fear of disparagement, with the large punch bowl of oriental make that stands beside it-the identical bowl that Mr. Chaffers kept as a pattern for his workman to copy from. It was preserved in his family until recently presented to me, along with the pepper box and tea cup, by his grandson, John Rosson, Esq., of Moor Hall, near Ormskirk, whose mother was the daughter of Mr. Chaffers, and who related to me many of the particulars of his career. Other pieces in my collection are a tea pot, tea caddy, and a cream jug, painted with figures and landscapes, after the Chinese style; also a large punch bowl, painted with flowers and festoons, presented to me by Miss Mather, of Mount-pleasant; also a quart jug having a portrait of Frederick the Third, King of Prussia, on each side of which are trophies of war: in the inside are painted a war trophy and sprigs of flowers, and at the bottom is the Prussian Eagle. This was given to me by Charles Chandos Pole, Esq., a descendant of one of the early Liverpool families, whose grandfather was the member of Parliament to whom the letter was addressed in favour of Messrs. Sadler and Green, the inventors of printing on pottery. In March, 1761, commenced one of those strongly contested elections for members of Parliament, for which Liverpool has long been notorious. The candidates were Sir William Meredith, Bart., Sir Ellis Cunliffe, Bart., and Charles Pole, Esq., and from the poll and squib book, published after the election was over, and printed by John Sadler, we find that 102 potters voted for Sir William, all of whom gave plumpers, which carried the election. Indeed, they could do this whenever they were so minded, the pottery trade at that time being the most staple manufacture in the town. Amongst the songs on that occasion was one for the craft of the clay, entitled : THE POTTER'S SONG. To the tune of " Ye mortals whom fancy," &c. ADDRESSED TO THE PLUMPING POTTERS. Ye true hearted fellows, free plumpers and men, CHORUS. And thus sings the parent of liberty's cause, If my son you would be, Like Britons undaunted-like Britons be free! Tranquility, heightened by friendship's supply, And thus, &c. Regained-now preserve the true blessing of choice, Sir William's our member -Squire Charley may moan. : The next works on the Brow were those of Pennington, whose father, John Pennington, was a maltster, and married a Miss Johnson, of Everton, by whom he had three sons-James, John, and Seth. His oldest son, James, had a pottery in Copperas Hill; John, the second son, carried on a large "bank," near the corner of Upper Islington and St. Anne's street. Seth, the youngest, had pot-works on Shaw's Brow, which were very large, extending as far as Clayton-street, which were carried on with great spirit; and, requiring more help to conduct it, he took as a partner, Mr. Part, but the connection did not last long. Here he produced china, of which the larger pieces, such as vases, punch bowls, &c., have often been sold for oriental make, and, indeed, are almost of an equal quality with that renowned material. I have several specimens of this ware. This group is part of a set of chimney ornaments, which I purchased at the latter end of last year from Miss Pennington, of Everton-terrace, who is the only child of Mr. Pennington now alive, and kept them as relics of her father's manufacture. But, prior to his making of china, Mr. Pennington was celebrated for his punch bowls, of which he made many very large ones, the earliest of which has in the inside a ship in full sail, and underneath is written, "Success to the Monmouth, 1760." The outside is ornamented with birds, a butterfly, and trees, done in bright yellow and green. was presented to me by Mrs. Twentyman, of Duke street. Another punch bowl has a subject on the outside, two sailors, one sitting on the stock of an anchor and holding in one of his hands a punch bowl, in the other a It sword; the other sailor sits astride a barrel, whilst between them is a large chest or box, on which is written "Spanish Gold." Inside the bowl is a ship in full sail, and underneath is "1779, success to the Isabella ;" the whole done in blue colour. The largest punch bowl I have seen is one made at this manufactory; it is 20 inches in diameter, and stands 9 inches high. The ornaments are painted in blue colour. It has on the outside a landscape, with horses and trees, a church in the distance, and in the foreground two bridges, on which stand two men fishing in the water below. In the inside of the bowl is a group, consisting of ships and boats, surrounded by a deep border of trophies of warlike instruments, flags, swords, drums, trumpets, &c., arranged in six groups, which are divided by different kinds of shot, namely, chain, crescent, arrow, or triangle, shell with fusee burning, cross or bar, and grape shot, under which is written, "Success to the Africa trade. George Dickenson." The description given with this bowl is as follows: |