GUNS AND GUNMAKERS. 



makers require wages and indulgence, in proportion to 

 their skill in the respective branches of the business ; 

 and it thereby becomes necessary to charge for the guns 

 accordingly. 



Many wiseacres abuse all the heads of the trade, and 

 swear that they can always ensure having the best of 

 guns, at a quarter the price, from Birmingham ! This 

 may be, provided a person has such good judgment, or 

 interest there, as to get picked workmen for the whole 

 process of his order; but, in general, the immense 

 business carried on at this place is for the ivholesale line, 

 and only requires to be in the rough; from which cir- 

 cumstance the workmen are not so much in the habit 

 of finishing as those employed daily for that purpose. 

 Moreover, if there is a first-rate and enterprising work- 

 man, he hears of the high wages, and contrives to get 

 off to London. I should, however, except those who 

 work for Westley Richards. 



But, as far as the judgment of some people goes, it 

 would certainly be a wanton extravagance to give more 

 than fifteen pounds for a double, or eight for a single 

 gun. I allude to those who, on being shown a superior 

 one, would view it like a fossil or a picture ; and, on 

 being requested to " feel how fine the lock is/' thrust 

 their forefingers as far as they can into the guard, 

 sticking up their thumbs as if going to be dressed for a 

 wound, and often finish their inspection, by breaking 

 one of your locks, and abusing the man who made 

 them. 



N. B. Since writing thus far, who should I meet but 

 Joe Manton? and what should he announce to me, but 

 that he had set up again ? (at Burwood Place in the 

 Edgeware Road) and was coming out with a new patent, 



