propagation of Christianity. Most of them being men of intelligence and learning, have bestowed attention on whatever they saw that was curious or useful; and some of them have been enabled to transmit their observations to Europe. From this source the most authentic information on the manufacture of porcelain has been obtained, and was sent to the Grand Duke of Tuscany. But, Sophia, I do not intend to intrude upon your province. We expect our information from you.

SOPHIA. It will give me great pleasure, if I am capable of affording any entertainment. The art of making porcelain is one of those in which the oriental nations have excelled the Europeans. It is chiefly manufactured in China, from whence it takes its name; but it is also brought into Europe from other parts of the East, particularly Japan, Siam, Surat, and Persia. Neither the inventor, nor the period of its invention, is known, the Chinese annals being silent on the subject.

MR. HARCOURT. Although we must acknowledge that the Orientals are superior to us in this art, yet Europe has established

manufactories for several years, that have produced wares but little inferior to those of our eastern masters. The first European porcelains are said to have been made in Saxony. France followed her example; then England; afterwards Germany and Italy. Each of these manufactures differed from those of Japan and China, and respectively possess a distinct character of its own.

MRS. HARCOURT. Connoisseurs in porcelain have valued some of the produce of the manufacture of Meissen, a few miles from Dresden, the capital of Saxony, at even a higher rate than those of China, on account of the superior excellence of the painting and enamelling. The Saxons attribute the invention to an alchymist, named Betticher, who was confined in the castle of Koningstein, by the king of Poland, on a suspicion that he was master of the secret of the philosopher's stone, which was supposed, by credulous persons, to possess the power of converting all metals into gold. Unable, with all his efforts, to obtain the object of his researches, he employed his leisure in more useful expe

riments, and discovered the means of making a ware, which, by its excellence and value, continues to enrich his country. His death happened in the year 1719. Among the French porcelains, that of the late king's manufactory at Sevres is the most esteemed. The Chelsea China is but little inferior to those of Saxony and France; but being expensive, and adapted chiefly to ornamental purposes, is of no very general advantage. Of the other manufactories established in this country, that of Worcester is best suited to common use, as it wears well and comes cheap. Sophia has acquainted herself with the materials, and manner of manufacturing this commodity in the porcelain works in China, which will be sufficient to give us a general idea of the subject, without entering into the particulars of the manufactures of Europe, they being all formed upon one principle, however they may vary in minute differences.

SOPHIA. M. Reaumur bestowed great pains in analysing the component parts of the eastern China, and found that it consisted of two substances; one of which is easily vitri

fied, or converted into glass; the other possessing a contrary quality. The combination of those opposite materials produces porcelain, which is a half-vitrified substance, or manufacture, in a middle state between the common baked earthen-ware in our coarse manufactures, and true glass. This composition makes a very curious article in commerce, and not less so in natural history. In order to proceed with method, I shall consider four things: the materials that compose it; the art of giving the proper figure and shape to the different works; the colours with which it is painted, gilded, and enamelled; and, lastly, the baking, or exposing it to the proper degree of fire. There are two kinds of earth, and as many different oils, or varnishes, used in the composition of porcelain. The first earth, called kaolin, is intermixed with glittering corpuscles; the second, named petunse, is plain white, but exceedingly fine. They are both found in quarries, twenty or thirty leagues from Kingteching, the name of the town where the most considerable China-works are carried on; and to

this place these earths, or rather stones, are brought in a number of little barks, incessantly passing up and down the river Iaotcheou, for that purpose. The petunses are cut from the quarries in form of bricks, being naturally pieces of a very hard rock. Those are most valued, of which the colour inclines to a greenish hue. The first preparation of those bricks, is to break and pound them, till they are rendered impalpable, or as fine as can be conceived. This powder is thrown into an urn full of water, and stirred briskly about with an iron instrument. After letting it stand still a while, the lighter parts of the powder form a skin on the surface of the water, several inches thick, which the workmen carefully skim off into another vessel filled with water, leaving the heavier sediment at the bottom to be reground. The second vessel is left to settle, and when it has stood long enough, they pour off the clear water, and reserve the matter which subsides for use. When it is nearly dry, it is cut into square pieces, and afterwards mixed with kaolin, in proper proportion. The kaolin