88 
MOSCOW. 
chap, indeed a surprising work. The effect produced 
■ was like that of beholding the original through 
a diminishing lens. The Birmingham trinket- 
manufactory, where imitations of precious 
stones and of the precious metals are wrought 
with so much cheapness, is surpassed in 
Moscow ; because the workmanship is equally 
good, and the things themselves are cheaper. 
But the great source of wonder is in the manner 
of their execution. At Birmingham, they result 
from the labour of many persons ; in Moscow, 
from the hands of an individual ; yet the dif- 
ference between divided and undivided labour 
in this branch of trade occasions none in the 
price of the articles. In Moscow, imitations of 
the Maltese and Venetian gold chains were 
offered for sale, capable of deceiving any person, 
unless he were himself a goldsmith. This is 
not the case with regard to their cutlery ; 
because here a multiplication of labour is more 
requisite. They fail therefore in hardware; 
not owing to any inability in imitating the 
works they import, but because they cannot 
afford to sell them for the same price. Where 
a patent, as in the instance of Bramah's locks, has 
kept up the price of an article in England beyond 
the level it would otherwise find, the Russians 
have imitated it with the greatest perfection; 
and sold the copy at a lower rate than the 
