296

SILVER GOODS.

CHAP. XXVI.

the assay offices, to determine the fineness of themetal, although they are not subject to any duty.It is seen that the number of watches stamped inLondon in the same twenty years was two millionfifteen thousand four hundred and sixty-one, orone hundred thousand seven hundred and seventy-three annually, each being two and a quarterounces, would give an annual use of two hundredand twenty-six thousand seven hundred and fortyounces. The average number assayed at Birming-ham , but chiefly made at Coventry, was about sixtythousand, weighing two ounces each, or one hun-dred and twenty thousand ounces. In Edinburgh ,Glasgow , York, Dublin, Newcastle, Exeter, Shef-field, and Liverpool, those of which last place areassayed at Chester, the number may be taken to-gether at eighty thousand, of two ounces each, orat one hundred and sixty ounces, thus makingtogether five hundred and six thousand sevenhundred and forty ounces.

Another mode in which silver is used is that ofmaking plated goods, chiefly manufactured at Bir-mingham and Sheffield, and in no inconsiderabledegree in London . The rolling of silver in con-tact with the inferior metals is performed by ex-tensive and powerful flatting mills, at each of thesethree places, but the largest portion as regards ex-tent of surface is executed at Birmingham . Thelowest kind of these rolled sheets produced by theBirmingham manufacturers does not contain more