494 ON THE PRICE OF MATERIALS. 



ounce, for that was no doubt an article of very elaborate work- 

 manship. Most of this plate, and probably the ' tupp,' went 

 into the New Inn Hall melting-pot in 1643. ^ ls oru "y after 

 an interval that the Colleges begin to buy plate again. 



In 1686 Caryll buys a silver lamp at 7s. 6d. an ounce, a 

 tobacco-box at *js. 6d. in 1697, and a coffee-pot at *js. in 1698. 

 In 1689 the same family buys a hand-candlestick at 6s. 6d., 

 and two salvers at the same price. But the price by the ounce 

 of plate in 1688, 5.$-. gd. and $s. 4</., seems to suggest that the 

 remuneration of the silversmith had not materially increased 

 during the century. 



In 1608 and 1614, Eton College bought plate of Hugh 

 Middleton, described as being of the Golden Tun, Cheapside, 

 and subsequently renowned as the projector of the New River 

 Company. This scheme was commenced in 1608 and com- 

 pleted in 1613, the reservoir being placed at Clerkenwell and 

 the water being distributed in elm pipes over the city. Mid- 

 dleton also attempted a considerable enclosure of land near 

 Brading harbour, in which he was unsuccessful, and the es- 

 tablishment of oyster breeding ponds at the same place. 



The gilding of plate does not add much to the cost, though 

 the work was very well done. In 1587, the corporation of 

 Norwich buys a gilt cup of considerable size at 5^. 8d. the 

 ounce. A gilt salt costs 6s. an ounce in 1601, and parcel-gilt 

 spoons in 1604 cost $s. icd. 



I have found one entry of the . purchase of gold plate. 

 Caryll, in 1689, buys a gold snuff-box at 5 i8s. \\d. the 

 ounce, a considerable price as compared with the value of the 

 material, and one which suggests that the workmanship must 

 have been elaborate and artistic. I have also noted from time 

 to time the cost of purchasing gold coin. In 1661, it is ten per 

 cent. ; in 1663, n. Guineas cost 21 s. 6d. in 1673 an< ^ 1680, 

 2is. 8d. and 2,is. 6d. in 1683, 2is. 6d. in 1685, 22s. in 1697 

 and 1698. The price however at which guineas stood during 

 the recoinage is given by Houghton, and has been commented 

 on by me in my * First Nine Years of the Bank of England.' 



