296 SILVER GOODS. 



CHAP. XXVI. 



the assay offices, to determine the fineness of the 

 metal, although they are not subject to any duty. 

 It is seen that the number of watches stamped in 

 London in the same twenty years was two million 

 fifteen thousand four hundred and sixty-one, or 

 one hundred thousand seven hundred and seventy- 

 three annually, each being two and a quarter 

 ounces, would give an annual use of two hundred 

 and twenty-six thousand seven hundred and forty 

 ounces. The average number assayed at Birming- 

 ham, but chiefly made at Coventry, was about sixty 

 thousand, weighing two ounces each, or one hun- 

 dred and twenty thousand ounces. In Edinburgh, 

 Glasgow, York, Dublin, Newcastle, Exeter, Shef- 

 field, and Liverpool, those of which last place are 

 assayed at Chester, the number may be taken to- 

 gether at eighty thousand, of two ounces each, or 

 at one hundred and sixty ounces, thus making 

 together five hundred and six thousand seven 

 hundred and forty ounces. 



Another mode in which silver is used is that of 

 making plated goods, chiefly manufactured at Bir- 

 mingham and Sheffield, and in no inconsiderable 

 degree in London. The rolling of silver in con- 

 tact with the inferior metals is performed by ex- 

 tensive and powerful flatting mills, at each of these 

 three places, but the largest portion as regards ex- 

 tent of surface is executed at Birmingham. The 

 lowest kind of these rolled sheets produced by the 

 Birmingham manufacturers does not contain more 



