It is not my purpose to give any detailed history of the life and doings of Wedgwood. All who are enough interested will find these in his "Life," by Llewellynn Jewitt, and in that by Miss Meteyard, both of which are full, and are profusely illustrated. What I can do here is to call attention to some of the most distinctive things accomplished by this great potter. Almost from the first, Wedgwood perceived or felt that there were good and bad both in form and decoration; and he set to work to secure perfection in both. While all his life he wished to make, and did make, vases and other works for purely ornamental and artistic purposes, in which the expression of beauty alone was sought, he had that practical sense which taught him to apply his skill and his perception first to the production and improvement of earthen-ware which came into the daily uses of life. Out of this came his "queen's-ware," which soon had such a reputation for form and quality that it went in large quantities all over the trading world. From this it should be known that Wedgwood made the money with which he carried forward those investigations and experiments which at last culminated in his finest works of fictile art. It may as well be said here that even _his_ art-work made him no money, although many of his pieces were reproduced. The fifty copies of the "Portland Vase"--of which more hereafter, and which sold for fifty guineas each--cost him more than he got for them. It is best to say this, because some men and women think that artists are sure to become rich. No man should attempt to be an artist with such an expectation; for, while here and there one is caught on the wave of fashion and borne onward to fortune, the number of these is few. No artist must expect a _speedy_ recognition for good work. Wedgwood would not have been Wedgwood had he not had a foundation for his art-work in his "queen's-ware." Upon this ware a word of explanation may be desirable. He early brought this every-day ware to great perfection, not only of form, but of paste and glaze. It was not painted, but was of a creamy white; and, being at such a small price, it went into very wide use. Having sent some pieces of it as a present to Queen Charlotte, she was induced to order a complete table-service, and to request that it might be called "queen's-ware" thenceforth, as it is to this day. This service was painted in the best style then in vogue by the two chief artists at the works, _Thomas Daniell_ and _Daniel Steele_. One of the most remarkable dinner-services made by Wedgwood was for the Empress Catharine II. of Russia, for her palace near St. Petersburg called _Grenouillière_. It is thus described by Chaffers: