Manufactures,’ edited by Robert Hunt. After this introduction to the Society of Arts and the British Association, Mr. J. M. Blashfield, Digby Wyatt, and Owen Jones, by their designs and favourable influences, brought the geometrical floor tile with its many colours, in combination with the encaustic floor tile, into extensive use in the rebuilding of churches, noblemen’s mansions, and other public buildings. “In August, 1840, he commenced making buttons and tesseræ with six presses, and continued progressing until December, 1841, when twenty-five presses were at work; September 5, 1842, sixty-two presses at work; and at March, 1844, ninety presses at work, with ninety women and one hundred and eighty girls. The girls working half-days and at school half-days--one girl being required to place on setters for firing the produce of one press. The first six months of 1844 the firm received orders for 27,123 great gross, and sold 22,519 great gross. Infringements were now rife in various directions. Most of them were stopped on receipt of notice. Two were costly suits: one, by Mr. Thomas Prosser (who held the American Patent) _versus_ Mr. Henry Van Wart, as an American merchant, for sending into the States buttons made in England irrespective of the American patentee; the other suit was for infringement in making--R. Prosser and H. Minton _versus_ Chamberlain and Lilly. This trial ended August 22, 1845, at Bristol, and its issue was, that Chamberlain and Lilly should work under license. February 3, 1845, an arrangement was made between Minton and Prosser and Mr. H. Van Wart to close the American suit. The course for the sale was again clear for buttons, and progress was made in the manufacture and sale thereof for a few years, when an abrupt termination took place from the unfavourable surroundings and the inability of the patentees to agree as to the future manufacture. In 1845 were made 33,928 great gross. „ 1846 „ „ 50,493 „ „ „ 1847 „ „ 26,784 „ „ „ 1848 „ „ 1,289 „ „ when button-making ceased at Stoke.”