Sep. 22 to 29.

1770. Sep. 15 to 22. Work Don this Week by Barton, Boyer, &cc.

From these weekly lists of “work don by Barton, Boyer,” and others, I add, for the same purpose, the following highly interesting extracts:—

Mr. Duesbury continued working the manufactory at Chelsea, together with his large and important works at Derby, until the year 1784, when he pulled down the buildings, removed all that was useful to Derby, and so totally put an end to the manufacture of “Chelsea China.” For some years he had been gradually drafting off the workmen, models, &c., to Derby, and in the end finally gave up the manufacture at Chelsea, and continued his works, entire, at their original place, Derby.

It has been said, and generally believed, that the excellence of the Derby works dates from the time when the Chelsea workmen and the Chelsea models were brought to it; but this is, undoubtedly, a great and a grave error. The truth is, the Derby works had risen to such extreme eminence, and had attained to so high a degree of excellence, as to more than rival Chelsea, which, in consequence, began to decline. The successful owner of the Derby establishment was thus enabled to purchase the Chelsea works, as he also did those of Bow, and to carry them on, as long as he considered advisable, conjointly.

I am enabled to give copies of two letters now in my possession, describing the taking down of the buildings, the removal of some of the kilns to Derby, and the arrangement made with the old and faithful workman, Robert Boyer, whose name appears so regularly on the “weekly bills.” The letters are much decayed and mutilated, but fortunately are decipherable. They will be read with much gratification by all who take an interest in the history of Chelsea and its China works.