In the same year Coffee left Derby, and engaged himself with Sir Nigel Gresley, Bart., and Mr. Adderley, at their china works at Burton-on-Trent,[22] and immediately wrote as follows to Mr. Duesbury:--“Burton on Trent J 4 1795, Sir,--My being your Debtor makes it my Duty to inform you immediately of my arrival here and likewise of my engagement with Sir Nigel Gresley and Mr Adderley lest you should suppose that I had forgot the Obligation I lie under to you--but am extremely sorry to understand that you meant to injure me respecting my Business as that would totally deprive my honest intention of paying you, the mode of which I shall be happy to submit to your own satisfaction when I wait on you, I intend as soon as possible.--I am sir your h servant, W. COFFEE.” To this Mr. Duesbury returned a manly letter, denying the imputation, asking for the name of Coffee’s informant, and assuring him that he has only to make the mode of repayment quite convenient to himself. In the same year the father of Coffee thus wrote:--“London Sepr 9th 1795, Sir,--My Son since He left you has been at Work near your Manufactory for Sir Nigel Gresley which He says He inform’d you of at the time--having finished all there was to do there He is now return’d to London and out of Employ. As I was very sorry for his leaving you and severely reflected on Him for it--He now assures me that He shou’d be extremely happy to serve you again--for a constancy if you thought proper under an Article for a Term of Years--at the lower rate of 18 or 17 Shillings pr week--He gave Sir Nigel the greatest satisaction both in His behaviour and in His Business--as a proof of which Sir Nigel has offer’d to give Him the best of Characters at any time it shou’d be requir’d of Him--therefore Sir you cou’d be satisfied in that respect at any time you pleas’d--hoping whatever may have happen’d at any time disagreeable your goodness will forget--Your condescention in favouring me with an Answer directly will much oblige Sir Your most humble Servant WILLIAM COFFEE P.S. He is wiling to repair or do what work you think proper. I will attend Mr Ligo hopeing your kind Answer.” The result was that Coffee returned to Derby; worked at the china factory as of old; and afterwards commenced business on his own account in Derby. Here he produced terra-cotta figures of considerable merit and in tolerable variety. Of these, a wolf, a lion, a dog, and others are strikingly good. He stamped his productions with his name, “W. COFFEE, DERBY,” and occasionally the number, or the date. He also gave lessons in modelling, and turned his attention to oil-painting and sculpture. His statue of Æsculapius, on the roof of the Infirmary at Derby, was his principal work. It was executed in or about 1810.