“As there is nothing in nature but by calcination, grinding, and washing will produce a fixed indissoluble matter, distinguished by the name of virgin earth, the properties of which is strictly the same whether produced from animals, vegetables, or fossills, no other difference arising from the process but that some bodys produce it in greater quantities than others, as all animal substances, all fossils of the calcarious kind, such as chalk, limestone, &c.; take therefore any of these classes, calcine it till it smokes no more, which is an indication that all the volatile sulpherous parts are dissipated, and that the saline are sett loose; then grind and wash in many waters to discharge the salts and filth, reiterate the process twice more, when the ashes or virgin earth will be fit for use; then take of these ashes two parts, one part of flint, or white peble, or clear sand, either producing the same effect, which mix together with water and make into balls or bricks, and burn them in a feirce fire, then grind it fine, and it is ready to be mixed with one third part of its weight of pipeclay, and temper it well, when it is fit to be thrown on the wheel, which, when finished and dry, is to be burned as all other pottery ware till it is transparent and of a fine colour, then to be painted with smalt or zaffer, as it is required to be deeper or paler, and it is ready to be glazed with the following preparation:--Take saltpetre one part, red lead two parts, sand, flint, or other white stones, three parts. To make a glass, melt it well and grind it, to every twenty pounds of which add six pounds of white lead, adding a small portion of smalt to clean the colour; mix it well and glaze the ware, which is done by dipping in the vessell and setting it on to dry, when it must be put in cases and burned as above with wood, till the surface of the ware is clear and shining, and it is finished.” In these specifications we have important materials touching the Bow china works, under which head they will again be referred to. About this time, the Chelsea, Worcester, and Derby, and, a little later, the Plymouth, porcelain works were established. The year in which this specification was enrolled, 1749, is memorable as the year when Josiah Wedgwood completed his term of apprenticeship, and when, consequently, he entered upon that course of work and life which have ever since had so brilliant and so marked an effect upon the potter’s art in this country. At this time, too, there were in Staffordshire a number of very skilful potters, who were, even before Wedgwood’s time, making rapid strides in the art. To some of these I shall refer later on in this work.