JEWELLERS. CH AP. XXVI. 



great portion of gold is consumed in the manu- 

 facture. Let any one look at the trinkets and 

 the 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 answer." 



It will thus appear that the result at which we 

 have arrived is about one hundred thousand 

 ounces less than what is estimated by this in- 

 telligent manufacturer to be annually consumed 

 by the jewellers 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 manufactures of this country. In those 

 of gold, from the value of the metal and the high 

 duty which is imposed upon it, a very small pro- 

 portion of that which is used is liable to be charged 

 with the duty ; but on silver it would appear pro- 

 bable 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 seventeen shillings per ounce, cannot be en- 

 forced; but on silver, as the duty is but one shilling 

 and sixpence the ounce, and what is purchased is 

 expected to be of standard purity, almost every 

 article heavier than five pennyweights is carried to 

 the assay officers to be stamped and to pay the 



