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CALCULATION

CHAP. XXVI.

nificence among the higher classes, but they ingeneral have not the means of indulging theirtaste, except for the fine arts, in which the Italians seem to excel other nations as much as they fallshort of them in what may properly be distinguishedas manufactures. The gold chains of Venice have been long celebrated; and the occupationof the jewellers and goldsmiths of Milan, Turin ,Florence, and Rome , produce ornamental objects,some few of which may rival the productions ofsimilar workmen in Paris, London, and Vienna .

This slight survey of the several countries ofEurope , with a view to the estimation of their useof the precious metals, is a very imperfect mode ofmaking such calculation. In the absence, however,of other guides, it is the only one that can be fol-lowed. We have seen in England, France , andSwitzerland , where from the few data that havebeen collected, a conclusion has been arrived at,which, though implicit reliance cannot be placedon it, is at least as near an approximation to truthas the nature of the subject will admit of.

In those countries which contain nearly one-fourth part of the inhabitants of Europe , we havedeemed it fair to estimate the application of goldand silver to other purposes than that of coin atabout four million pounds sterling annually forthe last twenty years. These are not only therichest parts of Europe , and on that account