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The continual consumption of the precious metals in coin by

wearing, and in plate both by wearing and cleaning, is very

sensible; and in commodities of which the use is so very widely

extended, would alone require a very great annual supply. The

consumption of those metals in some particular manufactures,

though it may not perhaps be greater upon the whole than this

gradual consumption, is, however, much more sensible, as it is

much more rapid. In the manufactures of Birmingham alone, the

quantity of gold and silver annually employed in gilding and

plating, and thereby disqualified from ever afterwards appearing

in the shape of those metals, is said to amount to more than

fifty thousand pounds sterling. We may from thence form some

notion how great must be the annual consumption in all the

different parts of the world, either in manufactures of the same

kind with those of Birmingham, or in laces, embroideries, gold

and silver stuffs, the gilding of books, furniture, etc.