Mr. Spremont’s managing man was Francis Thomas, of whom I shall have a few words to say presently. When Spremont retired from the concern, it was purchased by, or assigned over to, Mr. James Cox, who engaged Francis Thomas as overseer, at a salary of £100 a year, and this arrangement continued to the 6th of January, 1770, when Mr. Thomas died. Shortly afterwards the concern again, and for the last time, changed hands. Mr. Thomas was a man of good ability and of much practical skill, and to his energy in directing the works under Mr. Spremont much of their fame may be traced. He was buried in the south aisle of the parish church of Chelsea, where an inscription to his memory now remains.
I have in my possession a bill from Elizabeth, widow of Francis Thomas, which is somewhat interesting, as refuting the statements which have been made as to the position held by this gentleman, and which I therefore give entire:—
James Cox, Esq., to Eliz. Thomas, Dr.
| £ | s. | d. | |
| To Keeping a Horse from ye 14 of Decm. 1769, to Friday, March ye 2, 1770, which is 11 Weacks, at 10s. 6d. pr. Weack | 5 | 15 | 6 |
| To 20 Trusses of Hay, at 18d. pr. Truss | 1 | 10 | 0 |
| To 11 Trusses of Straw, at 10d. pr. do. | 0 | 9 | 2 |
| To 5 Pecks of Corn Remaining | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| To 1 Chaldren & ¾ of Coals | 2 | 19 | 6 |
| To Shuting the Coals | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1770. | £10 | 18 | 0 |
| Jany. 27. To paid a weekly Bill | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| Feb. 3. To paid ditto | 2 | 14 | 10 |
| „ 10. To paid ditto | 3 | 19 | 2 |
| Carried forward | £20 | 14 | 6 |
| Brought forward | 20 | 14 | 6 |
| Feb. 17. To paid a Weekly Bill | 4 | 16 | 9 |
| Mr. Thomas’s Sallery for Looking after the Manufactory—£100 pr. anam, which he enjoyed from Septm. 1769 to Jany. 6, 1770 | 25 | 4 | 0 |
| £50 | 15 | 3 | |
| Received in part by Mourning Rings | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| £33 | 15 | 3 |
The following announcements refer to the sales and proposed sales of the manufactory, and its models, plant, &c.:—
1764. “To be sold by auction, by Mr. Burnsall, on the premises, some time in March next (1764), at the Chelsea porcelane manufactory. Every thing in general belonging to it, and all the remaining unfinished peices, glazed and unglazed; some imperfect enamelled ditto of the useful and ornamental, all the meterials, the valuable and extensive variety of fine models in wax, in brass, and in lead; all the plaster molds and others, the mills, kilns, and iron presses; together with all the fixtures of the different warehouses; likewise all the outbuildings, &c., &c. And as Mr. Sprimont, the sole possessor of this rare porcelane secret, is advised to go to the German spaw, all his genuine household furniture, &c., will be sold at the same time.
“N.B.—Soon after, when every thing is sold belonging to the manufactory, &c., and the large warehouse cleared, there will be some most beautiful peices of the truly inimitable Marazine blus, crimson, and gold, that Mr. Sprimount has thought deserving finishing; that will be sold at Chelsea, as the whole remaining and the last produce of that once most magnificent porcelane manufactory.”
(April 1769) “To all proprietors of porcelane manufactories and others; there is to be sold at the Chelsea manufactory, by order of the proprietor (having recently left off making the same), every thing in general belonging to it, as all the plaster moulds, models in wax, lead and brass; kilns, mills, iron presses, and a large quantity of biscuit work, &c., &c., likewise all the buildings and many other articles. For further particulars, enquire of Mr. Thomas at the said manufactory.”
In the Gazetteer, or New Daily Advertiser, for May, 1769, is the following advertisement:—
“To be sold by auction, by Mr. Burnsall, at his auction room in Charles Street, Berkeley Square, on Wednesday, the 17th of May, and the following days, by order of Mr. Nicholas Sprimont, the proprietor of the Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory, he having entirely left off making the same, all the curious and truly matchless pieces of that valuable manufactory; consisting of beautiful vases, antique urns, perfume pots, table and dessart services, tea and coffee equipages, compatiers, leaves, &c., beautiful candlesticks of different shapes; variety of figures, very large and curious groups, particularly two groups of Roman charity, toilet boxes of various forms and sizes, and many other articles, most highly finished in the mazarine blue, crimson, pea-green, and gold, finely painted in figures, birds, fruit, and flowers, enriched with gold and curiously chased. To be viewed on Monday the 15th, and till the sale. N.B.—Likewise will be sold all the fine models, mills, kilns, presses, buildings, and all other articles belonging to this most distinguished manufactory. For further particulars apply to the said Mr. Burnsall.”