[136] The word ‘china’ is used in this sense, I think, by no other European nation. [137] See, however, for the Portuguese merchants who sold porcelain in France, the note on page 230. [138] The Abbé Raynal, writing about 1770, says that connoisseurs divide Oriental porcelain into six classes--‘_truitée_, _vieille blanche_, _de Japon_, _de Chine_, _le Japon Chiné et la porcelaine des Indes_.’ [139] Marryat’s extracts are unfortunately often carelessly quoted; nor is it easy in all cases to control them by reference to the originals. [140] August II. certainly bought a collection of porcelain from the Bassetouche family for 6750 thalers. It would be interesting to know of what wares this collection consisted. The only further additions until quite recent times have been to the European department. [141] The tradition of the ‘dinner-service’ made in China for Charles V., and presented by him to Moritz of Saxony (or, as others say, captured from him by that prince), belongs to the same category of stories as that of the crusader’s cup. No such commission as this was possible at so early a date, and there is nothing in the Dresden collection that could be connected with such a service. [142] ‘Menez-moi chez les Portugais Nous y verrons à peu de frais Des marchandises de la Chine ... de la porcelaine fine,’ etc.--Scarron, _Paris Burlesque_. [143] In 1689 Madame de Sévigné notes the quantity of Oriental porcelain imported at L’Orient. [144] Are we to identify these with some huge Imari vases, now in the Louvre, with coats of arms bearing the French lilies and the label of Orleans? Some similar vases, with the same arms, have lately been seen in dealers’ shops in London. [145] The catalogues of Gersaint and of some other early French collections may be found at South Kensington. [146] Passeri, writing in 1752 in favour of the then neglected majolica, claims that ‘la parte brutale dell’ uomo sarà a favor delle porcellane, ma l’intellettuale e raziocinativa giudicherà a favor delle nostre majoliche.’ [147] Recent researches in the archives of Venice have proved that Oriental porcelain was comparatively abundant in Venice at the beginning of the sixteenth century. Dr. Ludwig has shown me extracts from the inventory of the property of a rich ‘cittadino’ who died in 1526, in which can be distinguished plain white, blue and white, and porcelain decorated with red, green, and gold. [148] It is quite possible that Palissy may have tried his hand at this problem. M. Solon has suggested that in the many years’ labour at Saintes (when attempting especially to imitate ‘the cup with white enamel’) Palissy was really seeking to make porcelain.