CHAP. XXVI.

GENERAL RESULT.

315

tish West Indies , is probably drawn from England,that of the French colonies from France , and alarge portion of that of Brazil and of the Spanish states from the different European countries thattrade with them.

We cannot then make any material error byadding to the consumption of gold and silver one-twentieth part for that of America , or two hun-dred and eighty thousand six hundred and thirtypounds, thus making the whole amount to be fivemillion eight hundred and ninety-three thousandtwo hundred and forty pounds annually.

A portion of the gold and silver here referredto is undoubtedly supplied from old and brokenornaments, from plate become unfashionable, fromthe burning of gold and silver lace and picture-frames, and from the sweepings of the shops ofthe refiners, the jewellers, the goldsmiths, gilders,and watch-case-makers.

According to the information collected from themost considerable refiners, who are commonly thepurchasers of broken pieces of gold and silver, ofburnt lace and picture-frames, and of foreign goldand silver coins, the quantity of old metal used intheir trade is very small when compared with thatwhich is in ingots made from coin either of Spanish ,Portuguese, East Indian, or European fabrication,all of which are easily distinguishable by those inthe trade. We have been assured by one very ac-curate person who has superintended the purchases