_Neale._--Neale, the successor of Palmer, continued the business at Hanley, and produced many remarkably good and artistic articles in basalt, in jasper, and in other wares, and became, if possible, even a more close and clever imitator of Wedgwood’s wares than his predecessor had been. In 1780 he appears to have had two partners, and to have carried on the business under the style of “Neale, Maidment, and Bailey,” and, later, as “Neale & Bailey” and “Neale and Wilson.” Usually, however, the firm was simply “Neale & Co.” Neale’s productions are much esteemed for the excellence of the body, the cleverness of design, and the sharpness of their execution. His cream-coloured earthenware, too, is of very good and fine quality. He was succeeded, I believe, by his partner Wilson. The marks used by Neale, so far as I have met with them, are “Neale & Co.,” sometimes in large and at others in small sized letters, impressed in the ware; _NEALE & CO._ in italic capital letters, also impressed; NEALE & CO. in Roman capital letters, also impressed; and “Neale & Wilson.” Another mark was, like Palmer’s, adopted, in form, from Wedgwood & Bentley. It is a circle, bearing the name in raised letters. [Illustration: Fig. 456.] * * * * * [Illustration: Fig. 457.] _Wilson._--Robert Wilson, the successor to the firm of Neale & Wilson, continued the manufactory, but devoted himself mainly to cream-coloured earthenware, more or less decorated. His name is occasionally met with simply as WILSON impressed in the body of the ware, and occasionally in connection with a crown and the distinctive mark C (Fig. 457). Robert Wilson was for a long time sole manager to Neales; and he, and the still more celebrated potter, Elijah Mayer, whose works and residence were just opposite the Church Works, married two sisters of the name of Mayer, but of different families. After the retirement or death of Wilson his brother David carried on the works (1802). It was afterwards D. Wilson & Sons; then Assignees of Wilson; then Phillips & Bagster. The Phillips of this firm was Jacob, brother to Jonathan Phillips, of Oxford Street, London, and uncle to the present Messrs. Phillips of Oxford Street. The firm was then Bagster alone for a while, after which the manufactory and house adjoining, where Bagster had resided, came into the market and were purchased by Joseph Mayer, son and successor of Elijah Mayer, whose works and residence, as I said before, were immediately opposite the road. The Church Works were then (1831) rented by William Ridgway & Co., Mr. Ridgway being Joseph Mayer’s cousin; and I should here mention that Job Ridgway, the father of William and John Ridgway, had married the sister of Elijah Mayer, Joseph’s father. Joseph Mayer had in his employ a clever modeller named Leonard James Abington, who was also a fair chemist, and so much in favour with his employer that the latter placed him in partnership with