I know, for the first time such a thing has been done, give as an illustration (on Plate II.) impressions actually printed from this very plate engraved by Hancock a century ago.[81] On the same plate, it will be noticed, is another engraving by Hancock, of a group of children playing at “Blind Man’s Buff,” which collectors will recognise as occasionally occurring on rare examples. On Plates III. and IV. I also give, for the first time, impressions from other copper plates, to which I shall make allusion later on. Among Hancock’s pupils were Valentine Green, the historian of Worcester; James Ross, who earned a considerable local reputation; and, it is believed, Thomas Turner, afterwards of the Caughley china works. In 1769 Hancock purchased from the mortgagees of Richard Holdship the buildings he had erected, and became a partner in the china works; in which he held a sixth share. The partnership, however, did not last long, and in 1774 he was “paid out,” as appears by the following entry:--“Whereas certain controversies, differences, and disputes had arisen between the parties touching the said Robert Hancock’s share of the said stock, it was agreed by indenture, dated October 31, 1774, in order to prevent all such disputes, to purchase from him his share in said stock for the sum of £900, being exactly one-sixth.” Hancock, it is said, left the works in the same year, 1774. The group (Fig. 517) exhibits a selection of the early transfer-printing examples of Hancock’s work and that of his clever contemporaries. [Illustration: Fig. 519.--Worcester Transfer Printing.] A few years before the Chelsea works passed into the hands of Duesbury of Derby, it appears that some of the workmen migrated to Worcester, and this circumstance gave a fresh impetus to the manufacture of porcelain in that city, and enabled the proprietors of the works to produce many exquisite articles after the Dresden and Sèvres schools of art. Some examples of this Chelsea style are shown grouped on Fig. 520. In 1776 Dr. Wall died, and was buried at the Abbey Church, Bath, in which city he had resided for some time for the benefit of his impaired and declining health. Soon after this time the works began to decline; the goods produced were far inferior to those made in former years, and their whole style, body, and finish showed an evident falling off in the management of the works. It is surely not too much to attribute this decadence in a great degree to the loss of the master mind of Dr. Wall. [Illustration: Fig. 520.--Worcester China in the Chelsea style.]