CHAP. XXVI. GOLD-BEATERS. 279 



was made among other inquiries, to verify the 

 calculation, framed in another way, on the quan- 

 tity of gold used by the gold-beaters. Having 

 ascertained the number of hands, the rate of wages 

 earned, and the weight of gold weekly used, in a 

 particular shop, and then learning the number of 

 workmen in the other similar shops, an estimation 

 was made which came sufficiently near to that 

 produced by the relations of the several persons 

 conversant in that branch of business to satisfy the 

 inquirer that his view could not be far removed 

 from the' truth. 



We arrive thus at a conclusion that the annual 

 consumption of all the gold-beaters in the British 

 kingdom is about seventeen thousand five hundred 

 ounces of fine gold. 



Another description of gilding requires annually 

 a great portion of pure gold. This trade is some- 

 times distinguished by the name of water-gilding, 

 and a considerable branch of it by that of toy or 

 button-gilding. The gold in the form of dust or 

 fine powder is mingled with quicksilver, and, in a 

 consistency like paste, is applied to the metals 

 that are to be gilt. The mercury causes the gold 

 to adhere to the other metals, when by the ap- 

 plication of heat it is evaporated, and leaves the 

 gold on the surface of the object. The application 

 of gold in this way may be distinguished by the 

 two principal branches of the manufactures in 



