284

JEWELLERS.

CHAP. XXVI.

which the far largest proportion is annually con-sumed—the fabrication of those elegant ornamentscollectively, denominated jewellery.

According to the best information that could,from the nature of the case, be obtained, we havearrived at a conclusion that, of the gold renderedpure by refining in the kingdom, amounting to onehundred and fifty-six thousand ounces annually,the application of it in the various ways that havebeen examined amounts to about eighty-eightthousand ounces, leaving nearly sixty thousandounces yet to be accounted for.

It may be here remarked that with the ex-ception of that gold which is used by the gold-beaters, the whole of the portions we have noticedmay be said to be not merely applied but absolutelyconsumed. Of the best gold it is supposed one-fifth may be again recovered by the burning ofpicture frames and such other substances, exceptthe metals and the pottery, upon which the leaveshave been laid.

The application of gold to jewellery must now beconsidered, in the course of which it will be seen,that the quantity so appropriated very far exceedsin amount all the other modes in which thatvaluable substance is made use of.

Without being minute observers of fashion, orwithout being constant frequenters of those circlesin which its changes are most observable, it is