3()0 Silver Goods. 



" It would l>e inconvenient to give here the process by which 

 that result is obtained, but there are several ways by which it 

 has been tried, and little doubt, if any, exists as to its correct- 

 ness. 



" There are an innumerable number of articles, which, from 

 their delicate texture, cannot be assayed and stamped; and 

 others are made of such inferior gold as scarcely to deserve the 

 name of gold ; and yet the quantity is so large, that a very great 

 portion of gold is consumed in the manufacture. Let any one 

 look at the trinkets and personal ornaments of himself and his 

 family, and he will see what an immense disproportion exists 

 between the stamped and the unstamped gold. The quantity 

 used is certainly not over-stated in the first part of this an- 

 swer.*' 



It will thus appear, that the result at which we have arrived 

 is about 100,000 ounces less than what is e8timat€d by this 

 intelligent manufacturer, to be annually consumed by the jewel- 

 lers alone, with which branch of the application of it he is most 

 intimately acquainted. 



We come now to the consumption of Silver in the several ma- 

 nufactures of this country. In those of gold, from the value of 

 the metal, and the high duly which is imposed upon it, a very 

 small proportion of that which is used is liable to be charged 

 with the duty ; but on silver it would appear probable, that the 

 quantity which does pay the duty is nearly equal to that which 

 is not chargeable with it. In articles purporting to be gold> 

 there is commonly so much of the inferior metals combined, that 

 it cannot legally be considered as gold, and the duty, which is 

 17s. per ounce, cannot be enforced ; but on silver, as the duty 

 is but Is. 6d. the ounce, and what is purchased is expected to be 

 of standard purity, almost every article heavier than five penny 

 weights is carried to the assay-officer, to be stamped, and to pay 

 the duty. In fact, very few gold articles, except most mourn- 

 ing and some wedding rings and snuff-boxes, pay any duty ; 

 but spoons, forks, and other silver goods, exceeding five penny- 

 weights, are charged with the tax. 



We shall class the consumption of silver in England undec 

 four several heads. 



The first division is that on which the official returns give 



