“Sir A. Gore reported that the Committee considered the Allegations proved, and that the Petitioner deserved encouragement.[67]
“Referred to Committee of Supply.”
“Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee that a sum of £1000 be given to Henry Delamain the Younger, Manufacturer of Earthen Ware, for his encouragement, and to enable him more effectually to carry on the said Manufacture.”[68]
In the same year, 1753, Delamain having discovered a way to use coal instead of wood in the manufacture of earthenware, applied to the English Parliament for compensation for making his invention public. From the Journal of the House it appears his petition, wherein he is described as “Henry Delamain, gentleman,” was read on the 21st of January, 1754, and referred to a Committee, where, however, the whole matter seems to have ended. In it he says that “he has discovered a method of firing kilns of a particular construction,” “which perfectly burn and glaze all sorts of white ware with coal in less time and in larger quantities than the method now practised by burning of wood, and at one-third of the expense.” In a not very honourable letter, printed by Owen, Delamain speaks of his intention of applying to “the Parliament of England for a reward for having burnt and glazed delft-ware with coals,” instead of wood or turf. In this letter Delamain writes to Stringfellow that he has seen the Liverpool potters and told them of the success of his plan, and he desires him to write how well he has succeeded with the coal; he says, even “suppose it has happened quite the reverse, do you write what I desire you, for your own advantage as well as my credit; for I have set them all on fire to burn their ware with coals, and have come to this agreement with them, that you are to come over to build their kilns, for which they will pay you handsomely.” And again he says, “by all means answer to them by return of post all you can say in its favour, and more if necessary.” The letter is addressed, “to Mr. Wm. Stringfellow, at the Delft Manufactory, on the Strand, Dublin,” and dated 19th of December, 1753. Another letter, addressed to his wife, “Mrs. Mary Delamain, at the India Warehouse, Abbey Street, Dublin,” by Capt. Delamain, is to the same effect, and runs as follows:—
“To Mrs. Mary Delamain, at the India Warehouse, Abbey Street, Dublin.
Tuesday, Liverpool [Jany.] 18th, 1753.
“My Dr Poll,
“Inclos’d I send you a letter to Mr. Stringfellow the purport of it is to desire him by all means to answer some letters that will be wrote to him this night from Liverpoole to know how our large kiln has turned out; send for him on the rect of this and right or wrong beg of him to write it was burnt twice before I left Ireland and once since, and that it succeeds so well that not a bit of ware was smoked and that it Glazes the Ware better than Turf and Wood & makes it harder, less subject to peel, and that about two Tun or 2 and a half of coals will burn it off, give him this letter for fear he sd forget writing them all the above particulars, let him write the night he receives mine, for as soon as his letter arrives at Liverpoole the Mayor Corporation and all the Potters will joyne in a petition for me to parliament & they will give Mr. Stringfellow a handsome some of money to build them kilns. I go to London this day and shall call in my way at Worster to see the fine new China Manufactory.”
To Delamain, doubtless, belonged the credit of introducing the use of coal in the manufacture of earthenware, and he deserved the recognition he sought, but did not succeed in obtaining, for his invention from the English Parliament. In 1755 Capt. Delamain received from the Dublin Society a grant or “bounty” of £1,100, which he expended in furthering his manufacture.
Capt. Delamain died on the 10th of January, 1757, and his death is thus curiously recorded in the Belfast News Letter of that period. “Dublin, January 15th:” “Monday last, died, universally lamented by all true lovers of their country, Captain Henry Delamain, formerly in the Duke of Saxe-Gotha’s service, Master of the Irish Delft Ware Manufactory, who, by the expense of a large fortune and unwearied application, brought that ware to such perfection as totally to prevent the enemies of our country, the French, from draining large sums yearly from this country for Burgundy and Roan ware. Mary Delamain, his widow, carries on said manufactory and hopes for the continuance of the friendship of the nobility, gentry, and whole kingdom.” On the 9th of November, 1759, Mrs. Delamain, his widow, petitioned the Irish House of Commons for further assistance to enable her to carry on and extend the business, but nothing seems to have been done for her. Mrs. Delamain, who survived her husband three years, died in March, 1760, her death being recorded in the Dublin Public Gazetteer of that date: “Tuesday last died Mrs. Mary Delamain, widow of the late Captain Henry Delamain, who was the first that brought the earthenware manufacture to perfection in this kingdom; and since his decease his said widow (endowed with all the virtues of a good Christian, tender parent, and sincere friend,) continued it with such advantage to the purchasers as to prevent the further importation of foreign wares,” &c. In 1763 the executors of Mrs. Delamain petitioned the Irish House of Commons for a further grant. The petition contains many interesting particulars, and is as follows:—