American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1826-09-01
MN forL.. Jlup1tst %.

,9MeiicGN TOfctt1tH --li is Seiuonl tnat VIC tdks
up the pen with greater satisfaction than to an
nounce the successful competition oil our country
men in the fine arts and manufactures, with the
artists and operatives OF the old world. And we
have been called upon to speak OF any branch
OF our manufactures, where success has been more
complete, or where, in our opinion, the success Will
be found more important to our country, or, ul,i
matey, more profitable 10 the stockholders, than IN
the present instance.
The manufacture Of porcelain, properly so speak
ing for we do not include under this the coarse
eathen and stone wares of our country,) has been
desderatum among our capitalists ever since our
national existence. While all the other branches
of manufactures which are considered the most
useful and several of the ornamental, have sprung
up, and iourished, and rapidly advanced towards
perfection, every article Of porcelain has been i'm
ported. Within few years. however, II has been
asccrtained that we have, upon this island, and in
this section Of the country, an abundance OF the
very best materials, for the very finest porcelain
This fact having been ascertalhed, about two years
since DR.. Mead, and some other gentlemen, at
tempted to establish mandatory, in the upper
part Of the CITY, and we're so far successful as to
test the practic ability Of the measure beyond a
doubt-Exertions we're then made to form COM
pany, and these exertions were so far crowned with
success, that an agent was sent to Europe for ar
lists the site Of the proposed establishment was
changed from the old Tenth Ward to Jersey City /;
extensive buildings erected, and all the preliminary
arrangements completed tor an extensive prosccu-
ton of the enterprise.
The mission to Europe was eminenlly successful,
as about twenty artists of first rate skill and expe.
rience were procured from Ensla and France
principally the latter--who have for several
months been engaged, and have produced several
kilns Of ware, equaIne in al! ,espccts, the finest
French China OF the same descrpcn.-
When we say this, We speak deliberately, and after
taking the opinions of the best judges and making
close comparisons ourselves.
On Friday last the ladies and gentlemen Of this
city invited over to Jersey, to see and examine
for themselves. Perhaps thirty forty availcd
themselves OF the invitation; and we have the sa
siaction to know tina, they were equally astonished
and delighted, 10 find shelves loaded with American
China ware. OF the most delicate and fashionable
models, and of the finest and most beautiful texture
1t subject OF regret, however, that the estab
lishmen was not visited by larger number, as we
convinced that it is only necessary tina, its exist
ence and merits should be known, to induce capi-
iasts to embark in it. and TO create such demand
for the ware, as shall not only make il very use
full but very profitable concern There can be [
doubt upon this subject, because at the present
time, and without any emand upon the government
for higher protecting duty, the ware can be manu-
iac,ured and sold to handsome ptoGt, full as
cheap as it can be imported.
Every part of the wotks were examined, and
every process of the labor Witnessed from the
moulding of the ware, to the painting, enamelling,
and furnishing. And the finished work, from plain
cups and saucers, TO the richly painted and gded
ware Of many descriptions, including elegant chin
ncy ornaments, was the best evidence that the ar
lists, in each department, were perfect masters Of
heir business
II was but reasonable to expect, that discourage
mcnis and obstacles would nave to be encountered
in the introduction of so difficult branch of manu-
taCtnres; and the marvel is, how they have been
so soon. The first porcelain which
was in Europe, was brought from China and
Japan Its whiteness, transparency, fneness OF
textures with its elegance and beautiful colors, ex-
cited great admiration, and introduced it to the
tables of the rich and powerful. But it was long
time before its manufacture was introduced into
Europe. The antiquity oi the manufacture Of por
cclan in China is not known; but it has been
traced back to the year 440 Of the Christian -
From China, the ar, OF making it was first introdu
ccd into Saxouy; flom thence into France and
thence successively into England, Germany, and
Italy. But i, was not until after long succession Of
years that il reached its present state of perfection
and 1t is subject of proud ielicatlon, that owing
10 the combination of the enterprise OF the small
number OF our countrymen with the skill oil few
foreign artists, the manufacture has sprung up
among us at once, and reached the limit OF Euro
pean perfection as ii were in day.
For long time the Japanese porcelain was con-
sdered The most perfect and best. But subsequent
opinions incline more to the Saxon, on account of
It's greater smoothness, lusirc, and less granular
aspect of its internal texture In France, also the
manufacture has been carried to great perfecon,
at the mandatory Of Sevres, which,
on account Of the pure shining white, the 6ne gaz-
ing and colored grounds the spendor and magni-
fcence Of the gildipgs. and the elegance and taste
displayed in the shape and figures, are universally
allowed to surpass every thing Of the kind which
has yet appeared in Europe. But we feethc fullest
confidence that the New York porcelain will short