S54> Jewellers. 



from some of the larger dealers in china-ware, we feel disposterf 

 to consider the whole consumption to be about 100 ounces 

 weekly, or 5,200 ounces annually. 



The china manufacturers use only the fine gold. Some is 

 supplied to them by the refiners of Birmingham and Sheffield, 

 but the larger part probably from those of London. It has 

 been stated, that some of the manufacturers have bought as much 

 as twelve or fourteen ounces a-week ; but it could not be clearly 

 shewn that such was the regular demand, or, taking the num- 

 ber of them into calculation, the estimate would be much greater 

 than is here assumed. In this state of great uncertainty, it has 

 appeared more proper to take the opinion of those most con- 

 versant in the trade, than to adopt any estimate on imperfect 

 materials. We have now arrived at the end of the calculation 

 of that portion of refined gold which is applied to all the pur- 

 poses of manufacturing, except to that in which the far larger 

 proportion is annually consumed, the fabrication of those ele- 

 gant ornaments collectively, denominated jewellery. 



According to the best information that could, trom the na- 

 ture of the case, be obtained, we have arrived at a conclusion 

 that, of the gold rendered pure by refining in the kingdom, 

 amounting to 156,000 ounces annually, the application of it in 

 the various ways that have been examined, amounts to about 

 88,000 ounces, leaving nearly 60,000 ounces yet to be accounted 

 for. 



It may be here remarked, that, with the exception of that 

 gold which is used by the gold-beaters, the whole of the por- 

 tions we have noticed may be said to be not merely applied but 

 absolutely consumed. Of the best gold, it is supposed one- 

 fifth may be again recovered by the burning of picture-frames 

 and such other substances, except the metals and the pottery, 

 upon which the leaves have been laid. 



The apphcation of gold to jewellery must now be considered, 

 in the course of which it will be seen that the quantity so ap- 

 propriated very far exceeds in amount all the other modes in 

 which that valuable substance is made use of 



Without being minute observers of fashion, or without being 

 constant frequenters of those circles in which its changes are 

 most observable, it is impossible not to remark Ik)w great, 



