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TRADE WITH ASIA.

CHAP. XXIV.

Europe to Asia, we can scarcely calculate the ab-sorption of the latter division of the globe to havebeen more than two-fifths of the whole quantityproduced by America and Europe together. Inthe absence of that certainty or accuracy which isdesirable but not attainable on this subject, weshall assume that two-fifths of the metallic wealthfurnished by the mines of America and of Europe during the period between 1700 and 1810 passedfrom the latter division of the globe into Asia.

We come next to that application of gold andsilver by which the ornamental articles of dress,the decorations of public and private buildings,and the various domestic luxuries are supplied.

The use of gold and silver, whether in articlesof furniture, dress, or decorations, depends muchon the degree of refinement which may exist inany age or country. They are rarely applied, andby a few individuals, in an age of rude hospitality,of boisterous conviviality, and of inebriating gra-tifications ; they are the accompaniments of moreelegant enjoyments and more refined manners;and if they appeared as they did in the palaces ofa few princes, nobles, and prelates, they were insuch union with the other furniture, with thewant of neatness, not to say of cleanliness, andwith the general arrangement of the whole esta-blishment, as to form a most unappropriate com-bination according to the more refined ideas of thepresent age.