William Knight, Thomas Harper, Henry de Wilde, John Robins, Moses Johnson are all Potters in London, and swore that they had all seen the said Warner’s Clay, which was seized, that it was really Potter’s Clay, and of the same sort which they had constantly bought of him, some for above 25 Years, others ever since they were Traders, that it is of a quite different nature from Fullers Earth; for the said Warner’s Clay tho’ never so often dissolved in Water, may be brought into a Body again, and will work, like Wax, into any shape, whereas Fullers Earth being once dissolved is never to be got into any Body, but when it is dry crumbles like Sand, and all the art of Man can never make a Pot of it.
Hen. de Wilde, one of the said Potters, farther deposed, That about five Years since he shipt some of the said Warner’s Clay for Pensilvania, where his Son had set up a Pot-House, that the Custom-House Officers did then likewise seize it as Fullers-Earth, but upon Trial of it found they were mistaken, and cleared the same.
Benjamin Furly, Merchant in Rotterdam, to whom the said Warner consigned his Clay, John Sonman, Servant to the said Furly, were, by virtue of a Commission from the Court of Exchequer, examined upon Oath (by Commissioners appointed for that purpose), to several Interrogatories, and their Depositions being read in Court, did plainly prove that all the said Warner’s Clay which was sent for Holland was really sold to Potters for making of Earthen-Ware; That they never heard, nor do believe that any part of it was ever used for the Fulling Trade, or is any way proper for it; that they sold the said Warner’s Clay from 25 to 30 Guilders a Last, when they could buy Fullers-Earth at 7 Guilders a Last.
Adrian Van Arde, sworn Measurer of all the Earth and Clay imported to Rotterdam, was examined by vertue of the said Commission, and Deposed, That for many Years which he had been in that Office, he never knew or heard of any English Fullers-Earth imported into Holland, that they were so plentifully supplied with that sort of Earth from Flanders; that it is commonly bought and sold at Seven Guilders a Last, and had an Hundred Last by him to sell at the same Rate.
Ten or Twelve Potters in Holland were likewise examined by virtue of the said Commission, and deposed severally, That they had bought considerable quantities of the said Warner’s clay of Mr. Benj. Furly, and paid for the same from 25 to 30 Guilders a Last; that they used the same in making Earthen-Ware, but do not believe it any way useful for the Fulling Trade, nor never heard that any of it was ever sold for that use.
Colonel Holt, a Member of Parliament, swore, That he (being very lately in Holland) made the strictest inquiries into the Truth of this Business, that he could, First amongst the Potters, who all declared to the same Effect, as in their Depositions before mentioned, that he likewise took some of the said Warner’s Clay, and got a Fuller to try it, whether it were any way useful for their Trade, who answered it was not? nor could he use it if he might have it for Nothing; after which the Colonel ask’d him, From whence they were supplied with Fullers-Earth, and at what Rates? The Fullers answered, generally from Flanders at 6½, and 7 Guilders per Last; and sometimes from Rosendale, in the States Dominions, at 10 Guilders per Last; that being much dryer, and wasted less by lying; all which the Colonel (being unwilling to believe upon the Fuller’s bare word) caused to be drawn up in the Form of an Affidavit, and the Fuller before a Magistrate, swore to the Truth of it, which Affidavit the Colonel hath to produce.
Mr. Edward Paget, a Divine, swore, That he being in Holland at the same time, made the like Enquiry amongst the Fullers at Layden, the chief cloathing Town in Holland, who all gave him the same Information, that the Fuller at Rotterdam had done the Colonel above; and for his better satisfaction, Three of the Chiefest went with him before a Magistrate, and swore to the Truth of what they Affirmed; after which he went to Delft amongst the Potters, who all affirmed the same thing, that the Ten or Twelve had sworn in their aforementioned Depositions, the Truth of which they attested by a Certificate, under the Hands of above Twenty, which Affidavits, and Certificate, the said Paget hath to produce.
Rich. Cutler, Matthew Hanson, Ship-brokers, swore, They had hired many Ships for the said Warner, to load Clay for Rotterdam; and the general Price of the Fraight, and Primage paid for the same, was 15 Guilders, 8 Stivers per Last; and sometimes 17 Guilders, 12 Stivers per Last.
Will. Read, Tho. Wood, John Saliby, Mariners, swore, They had the same Prices above mentioned, for several Fraights which they carried, and saw delivered to the Potters in Holland.
Hump. Bellomy, Richard Hopkins, Timothy Fowler, —— Shepherd, Worcester, are all Buyers, and Sellers of Fullers-Earth, and swore they could well judge of the same, having dealt therein from Ten to above Twenty-five Years, that they all took Samples of the said Warner’s Clay, out of the King’s Celler, and tryed all the Experiments to judge of it, that they were capable of; and possitively affirmed that it was no Fullers-Earth; neither could they find anything of the Nature of Fullers-Earth in it, that for their Use they would not give a Shilling for 100 Last, for they should never be able to sell it.