CHAP. XXVI. 



PLATED GOODS. 297 



than between three and four pennyweights of silver 

 to each pound of the inferior metal on which it is 

 plated. Much of this lower plate is sent from 

 Birmingham to Sheffield, and there manufactured 

 into goods, which by its inferior quality when sold, 

 as it frequently is, as Sheffield plate, injures the 

 reputation of the productions of the latter town, 

 and is a subject of complaint with the respectable 

 manufacturers there. . 



The Sheffield plate generally contains more than 

 five pennyweights of silver to the pound of copper 

 or other metal, and much of it is plated on both 

 sides ; besides which the small beading which sur- 

 rounds the edges of the plated goods is formed of 

 silver alone, which, though from its weight not 

 chargeable with the duty, yet in the whole manu- 

 facture consumes a large portion of silver. The 

 plated substances rolled by the flatting mills in 

 London have commonly more silver applied to the 

 surface. Much of it is used by the platers to form 

 ornaments for coaches and for coach harness. As 

 these ornaments suffer by friction from the fre- 

 quent cleaning they require, it is necessary to 

 have a much thicker coating of silver than is re- 

 quired for some other purposes. As far as can 

 be ascertained by inquiries of the platers, of the 

 owners of flatting mills, and of the manufacturers of 

 plated goods, we are disposed to estimate the silver 

 used for that particular purpose in Birmingham 

 and Sheffield, including with it that used at Wai- 



