CHAP. XXIV.

GOLD AND SILVER.

211

metal, but by various improvements in the alloysmingled with it, the ornaments looked as well ata lower cost ; and therefore in this way the pro-portion of gold consumed was very much greaterthan it would have been if the standard finenesshad been adhered to.

Those few who can remember the fashion ofdress sixty years ago, may be disposed to thinkthe consumption of gold to have lessened, as faras regards the lace on the clothes of gentlemen.As late as the year 1 770 few gentlemen appearedwithout an embroidered frock, or a laced coat ofgold or silver. Even with the middle class agold laced waistcoat formed a very common partof the dress, and gold laced hats were very ge-neral to a later period. Though this use of goldand silver lace has disappeared, and though theofficers of the navy and army are less coveredwith lace, yet it is to be considered that theirnumbers in England as well as in other parts ofthe world have very much increased, and perhapsthe consumption has not been much, if at all,diminished.

It is also to be remarked, that in this way thereis but little absolute consumption. The pieces ofold lace are collected and burnt, and the greaterpart of the precious metal is restored to its formerstate, and becomes fit for application to futurepurposes.

These remarks on the increased application of

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