CHAP. XXVI.

GILDING.

281

more than one-sixth of that which Birmingham consumes, and on these grounds we are led to theconclusion that the whole trade in gilt buttonshas, during the last twenty years, required asupply of gold of about six hundred and fiftyounces weekly, or about twenty-one thousand eighthundred ounces yearly.

A larger portion of gold is used by the manu-facturers of gilt toys, a branch of trade which isfollowed in more than one hundred establishmentsin Birmingham, and several in London . Thevast quantity of wares of this description, of whichalmost every part of the world receives a supplyfrom England, would require an enumerationof all the personal and domestic ornaments andutensils that are known, whose value singly maybe very minute, but when the whole mass is in-cluded, comprehends a great amount.

The gilding of these toys and trinkets is in partexecuted by the makers of them, but a verylarge part of such goods is formed by one class,and afterwards sent to another branch of tradecalled gilders, who execute only that part of thewoi’k. Among those who gild their own goods itwas found, in individual instances, that severalhad used from six to ten ounces of gold weekly;that others, and those the most numerous body,used from three to four ounces weekly. Withthose who gild the goods of other people the con-