CHAP. V.

PRECIOUS METALS.

155

matter when rolled into sheets is converted intothose beautiful pieces of domestic furniturewhich ornament the tables and sideboards ofthe middle classes of society, and enable them torival in brilliancy those of the richest families,at a cost more proportionate to their means.There are no traces in any of the writings ofantiquity of such an application of silver ; andnow, owing to the great surface which is exposedto friction, and our neat and decent habits,which require frequent cleaning and polishing,an enormous consumption of silver is producedin this way.

From the difference in these several modes ofconsumption, which have arisen in part from ourincreased knowledge in the working of metals,and from the diffusion of wealth into smaller,but not minutely small, portions, which have hada vast influence on the fashions of mankind, adegree of destruction of gold and silver whichwas scarcely felt in the ancient world has inmodern times been steadily, but of late rapidly,advancing, and by its continuance must at lengthproduce a sensible effect on the value of allcommodities when measured by these metals.