The Express.
London, England, 1863-10-27 00:00:00

Tke 41xprt45,

[Stamped, id. Additional.]

short, difficult for human beings to hordes themselves at all
points against the impression and the charm of beauty.
(Cheers.) Every form of life that can be called in any sews
natural will admit them. I know not whether there is soy
one among the many species of human aberrstion that
residers • man so entirely callous as the lust .1 gain in its
extreme degrees. That poem, where it has full dominion,
excludes every ether. It shah out even what might be
called redeeming infirmities, it blinds men to the sense of
beauty as much as to the perception of justice and right.
Oases might be named of countries where greedi-
ness for money holds dominion, and wham un-
mitigated ugliness is the principal characteristic of
industrial products. On the other hand, Ido not believe it
extravagant to say, that the pursuit of the element of beauty
in the business of production will be found to act with •
genial chastening and refine influence on the commercial
spirit ; that up to a certain point it is in the nature of •
preservative against some of the moral dangers that beset
trade and manufacture and enterprise, and that we are
justified in regarding it not merely as an economical benefit
—sot merely as contributing to our work an element of
value—not merely as supplying a particular faculty of
human nature with proper food, but as a liberalising
and civilisiog power, ad an instrument in its own
sphere of moral and social improvement. Indeed it
would be strange if • deliberate departure from what we see
to be the law of nature in he outward sphere was the road
11 to a close conformity with its innermost or highest laws.
In the power of economical production Englund vas at the
head of all nations ; and in poetry none but Italy can enter
into serious competition with her ; but she has been far lees
fortunate in that intermediate region where art is brought
tato outset with industry. If she is ever as eminent for
teas as for economy of production, the result will be pro-
bably due to no other single man in so great a degree as to
Wedgwood. Kr. Gluteus then soused into s. subtle
analysis of the peculiar genius of Wedgwood, glancing at
the various excellencies of his various works. He did
not in the pursuit of beauty overlook exchangeable
value or practical usefulness. The first he could not over-
look, for he had to live by his works, rod it was from the
profit derived from the constant 'ale of his humbler produc-
tions that he was enabled to bear the risks and Margie of
his higher works. Commerce did for him what the Kings of
Fiance did for Sines, and the Duke of Cumberland for
Cheareavia, provided him with foods. And I would venture
to say that the lower works of Wedgwood ars u much dis-
tinguished by the fineness and accuracy of the adaptation
to their uses as his higher ones by the successful exhibition
of the finest art. Take, for instance, his common plates of
the value of a few pence each. They fit one another closely,
as the cards in a pack. At least, I for one have never am
any plates that fit like those of Wedgwood, and Lessee
one solid mass. This seatraey of form must, I appreheed,
th
render them much more safe in carriage. (A 1•2110.1 Of
e excellence of their plates we may take it forthat
they were largely exported to France, if sot when;
that they were then printed or painted with buildina or
scams belonging to that country, and thee sent out again
as Delius! manufactures. (A laugh.) Again, take such a
jug &she would have manufactured for the garret washhand
table. I have seen these made apparently of the commonest
material used in the trade, but instead of being built up
like many more fashionable jags of modern manufacture, in
such a manner that • crane could notget his nick to bend
into them, and that the water cannot be poured out of them
without risk of spraining the wrist, they are constructed in
a simple, Capacious form of flowing curves, broad
at the top, and so poised that a slight movement
of the band discharges the water. A round cheese-holder
or dish generally wench in its upper part a fiat space sur-
rounded by • curved rim; but • cheese-holder of Week.
wood's will make itself known by this, that the flat is so
dead • fiat, sad its curve so marked and bold a curve, at
once furnishing the eye with • line agreeable and well
defined, and affording the utmost available space
for the cheese. I feel persuaded that a Wiltshire
cheese, if it could speak, would declare itself is.
finitely more comfortable in • dish of Wedgwood's
than in any other dish. (A laugh.) Again there are certain
circular la:istends by Wedgwood which are thus described
in the 21st section of the catalogue. Great care has been be-
stowed upon the mechanical arrangement with a view to the
preservation of the pen and the economical and cleanly use
of the ink. The prom are from sixpeoce to eight shillings,
according to sue and finish. I have one of
them, not, however, black like those mentioned
in the catalogue, but of his creamy white ware. I guess it
most have been published at the price of • shilling or less.
It carries • slightly raised rectillueer ornameot which
agreeably relieves storm otherwise somewhat monotonous.
It is so tasteful that it would not disgrace a cabinet, so plain
that it would suit a counting-house. It has no pretension.
AU Wedgwood's works from the lowest upwards abhor pre.
tension. (Cheers.) Wedgwood always seems to have in
view • awaked of excellence indefinitely high. He
never falls into extravagance or tame Of the par-
r:nal character of Wedgwood in its inner sense, the world
has not yet been informed ; but I can sever presume other-
wise than well of one who in all those aspects which
offer themselves to the view of the world appears to have
been admirable. For our present purpose, let
us consider him only as • master, which is • matter of
more than common interest at a time when so ninny of
the must eminent firms in the district have in a manner the
most laudable themselves called the attention of public
authority to the condition of their youoger labourite with
• view of obtaining the friendly aid of legislative inter-
foresee for their instruction and protection. (Hear, hear.)
Indeed, we may say of the all-important question of the
people what we said of the condition of the beauty in
manufacture. The demand for cheapness presses hard upon
it, yet nothing which depresses the moral or physical con.
dittos of the people below the standards of sufficiency and
of heath can in the end be cheap. (Cheers.) In the year
1769, when Wedgwood was promoting the Grand Trunk
Caul, and building hie works, and settling his colony at
Etruria, Goldsmith published the beautiful poem of „The
Deserted Village," which he chose with strange caprice to
tend ups the idle motion that it was the tendency of trade
to depopulate the country. He gays :
11l fares the land. to hastening ills a prey,
Where wealth accumulates and men decay.
Nor does be only mean that trades ill regulated may be in-
jurious to health. After describing rural happiness he
begins the lament—
But times are altered, trade's unfeeling train
Usurp the land and dispossess this swain.
What is most of all singular is, that he associates this sub.
siltation of towns for villages with decrease in the numbers
of the people. (Laughter.)
If to the city sped, what wane him there?
To see profusion that he must not share
To see ten thousand baneful arts condiln'd
To pamper 'usury and thin mankind.
Now at any rate Wedgwood does not appear to have been
one of those "Matelot arts." Listen to the aooount given
by Yr. Smiles of the way in which Wedgwood thinned
mankind :—" From a half-savage thinly populated district of
some 7,000 persons, in 1760, partially employed and ill rw
movierated, we find them iio in the course of some
twenty.fi ye years to about treble in population, abundantly
employed, peospsrous, sod comfortable." (Cheers.) Nor
was this multiplication only, without improvement, for he
goes on to quote from John Wesley, who had been
pelted at Bantam, in 1760, the following remarkable words :
• 1 returned to Buralem. How is the whole face of the
country changed in about twenty years, slue which
ichabitents hare continually flowed in from every side ;
hence the wilderness is literally become a fruitful field.
Houses, villages, towns, have sprang up, and the country
is not Inure improved than the people." (Loud
cheers.) It is impossible to conceive • testimony
more honourable to Wedgwood. Nor can I better
conclude these remarks than by uttering the cordial hope
that you, his successors, who have during late years earned
so much honour for the taste and industry of the country,
may profit more and more effectually by the lessons which
your great forerunner has bequeathed you, and may find at
least one substantial part of your reward in witneasiog
around you • thriving and contented, a healthy and • happy
population. (Loud cheers.)

Immediately on the moolosiou of the address, the 0001-
pan), adjourned to the Town-ball, where a sumptuous ban-
quet was prepared.
Earl GRANVILLE, E.G., who presided, on the removal of
the cloth .gays in apprepriate terms the tomato of " the
Que.'s," " Prime art Prisons of Wales," and '• the rest
of the Royal Faintly," which were loyally responded to.
Mr. ADDRRLEY, M.P., next proposed, " The Army, Use
Navy, and the Volunteers," which was responded to by
Viscount Ingestre god Major Westhead.
Kr. B. Hors then proposed "The Bishop and Clergy of
the diocese sod ministers of all denominations."
The Bishop of LICHFIELD returned thanks.
The Cuter Battler then proposed the " Haab of her
Majesty's Ministers,' which was drunk amid loud cheering.
Sari GRANVIt LE. in retuning thanks, raid there ma uo per-
son who powered the form of humanity but nowt feel deeply
shacked at the foot that two civil wars were now going on in
different parts of the world. No doubt those ware were
viewed in this country with different feeling.. lo respect
to Poland, Shawano of the government had been extremely
dimoult They had eadeavoured to strengthen their hawk
by diplomatic Degottatioes ; but her Majesty's government
came easily to the °occlusion that the right course for th 6
coastry to adopt, whatever might be their feelings and sym-
pathies towards the Poles, was to hold themselves perfectly
aloof from the quarrel, and having come to that osnelusioe, it
would have been lisertleas cruelty to the Poles themselves
if the British government had led them to believe that
England would take up arms is their cause. (Hear, best.
With regard to America, it wooa theme almost ton ;chiral
for him to touch upon. They deplored the calamities which
were overwhelming that unhappy country; but he could
not help remarkiug that it was a matter of thank-
totems that is consequence of the opeuing of
our markets this country, with the a:caption a one
comity, that of Lancelets', bad suffered MO great distress in
consequence of the American war. With respect to the
different political parties engaged iu that weir he would offer
no opinion. Different feelings were entertained in this

NEWSPAPER
riek' re-
taXeript4
Ili.
S lidX d

[TWOPENCE

country in favour of or against both the Federal and the
Confederate canoe. Some of his most valued political friends
were in favour of the Confederates, and others entesteised
an equally strong feeling in favour of the Federal'. Her
Majesty's government had studied the A MelialD question
most carefully, with the most sincere desire to
arrive at a thoroughly impartial view of the
position in which that country was placed. and they had
unwed at the conclusion that whatever might be their feel-
lags and sympathies one way or another, it was their duty
to remain entirely neutral in the struggle. sad not to suffer
may irritation which might hate been felt or exprma
either party to influence their proceedings. (" Hew, beer.
and cheers.) No body of men were more sincere in their
wishes that this most lamentable internecine war should be
brought to • speedy conclusion than were her Majerty's
government. He would only add that, allusion having been
made to schools of art and the public libraries act it must
be a proud and happy day for his hon. friend Mr. Ewart to
find that the act, for the pusing of which he had so greatly
laboured, had been adopted in ite entirety in the present
instance, and that the effect would be, that the Wedg-
wood Institute would be of a permanent cha-
racter, supported not by precarious benevolmos,
supplemented by grants from the Committee of Conocil
of Education, but by the wise provision of •
a public rate. For they must remember that while the
sympathised with those who wished to put an end to black
slavery abroad, it was their duty, as far as it was in their
power to do so, to put an end to white slavery at home, and
no surer way could be found of accomplishing that object
than by enlarging the minds of the young, and conferring
upon them all the advantages which resulted from the use
of such institutions. (Cheers).

The health of the Illihf3Lriff and the Lord-Lieutenant
sad magistrates having been druuk,
The Custecinzon at the Excnruunt proposed " Sumer
to the Wedgwood Institute," which was most cordially
received.
The subsequent touts were: " The House of Peeve."
proposed by Sir James Duke, and responded to by Earl
Granville ; " The House of C 0011110011," proposed by Mr. J.
Child, and acknowledged by the Right Hon. Robert Lowe.
M.P. ; " The health. of Eul Granville and the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, and the toast of " Arts, Beissee, and
Commeree,"proposedbyMr. W. Ewart, M.P.,and responded
to by Mr. Jllll4Oll Bateman ; after which the company
broke up.