94 
only retains its colour, but, from its greater density and 
fineness of grain, it is capable of receiving finer impres- 
sions from the hand of the artist. 
The date of the introduction of this material into the 
manufactures of this country is very uncertain, but it is 
highly probable that, for a long time, its use would be con- 
fined more to articles of ornament than of utility ; and that, 
as the manner of working it became more familiar, the use 
of it would be extended to the ordinary articles of trade, 
of which the handles for the various kinds of cutlery con- 
sume the greatest quantity. Within the memory of persons 
now living, the workers in ivory in one of the staple trades 
of Sheffield did not amount to more than from ten to fifteen 
per cent, of the aggregate number in that trade; in the 
same trade at present they amount to upwards of forty per 
cent. Forty years ago, the late Mr. Wm. Batty, then agent 
for Mr. Lury, of Bristol, was the only dealer in ivory in 
Sheffield; at present there are five or six dealers in that 
material. 
In 1830, according to Mr. M'Culloch, the average annual 
import of ivory was 180 tons; and it is the opinion of the 
best informed dealers that it continues to be about the same. 
Of this quantity about 60 tons are annually consumed in 
Sheffield, which, at an average price of £25 per cwt., 
amounts to £30,000, and about 500 persons are employed 
in the working of it up into articles of trade. 
From the best information I can obtain from dealers 
in ivory, it appears that the number of tusks which make 
up the above weight is about 45,000 ; so that the average 
weight of each tusk is only 9 lbs.; but as many of them 
weigh from 60 to 100 lbs., a great number must be very 
small indeed. They are called ones, twos, threes, &c, up 
to forty, according to the number which make up the cwt. 
