But though these and other works of the like nature, especially some of the iron-works, may astonish us by their magnitude, yet, on reflection, they probably will not excite such wonder and admiration, as the manufac tures of Birmingham and Sheffield, and the respective neighbourhoods of these towns.
Although many of the manufactures carried on in Birmingham conic under the description of hardware, yet there are also many which be classed under that or any other general head ; hut perhaps by no means can we give such an adequate idea of the factures of this place, as by the following enumeration of them, in which will be seen their curious, minute, and almost endless variety. It is proper to remark, that, in general, each is a separate trade : this circumstance will account, in a great measure, for the exquisite work manship of many of the Birmingham goods, and the low price of them all. After this enumeration, we shall of fer some remarks on particular branches ; for to detail particulars, even respecting a few of them, would carry us far beyond our limits.
Files, guns, pocket-books, gilt toys and jewellery, watch chains and keys, gun-lock filer, plated goods, fire irons, awl-blades, brass-founder, saw and edge tools, rim locksmith, lock and latch maker, swords, bits, buttons, snuffers, bone and ivory toys, cut sprigs, die sinker, car riage lamps, harness plater, steel-chains, cast nails, thim bles, braces, cabinet cases, inkstands, ferrules, compasses, ivory combs, gun-polisher, spectacles, steel toys, pearl buttons, stamper and piercer, stirrups, packing-boxes, ja pan wares, planes, sword hilts, casting pots, spring latch ets, gold-hand manufacturer, paper toys, chaser, saddlers brassfounder, round bolt and chaffing dish maker, scale beam, steel-yard, and sclew-plate maker, bridle-cutter, brass nails, and curtain-rings, needles, vice-maker, clock dial painter, curry-combs, rule-maker, link-buttons, wire drawer, scabbards, iron spoons, spade tree maker, fork maker, looking-glass, toy and army button-maker, paper box turner, mouse-traps, sand-paper, gun-stocker, parch ment-maker, last and boot-tree maker, glass-grinder, anvils, brazier's tools, gun furniture filer, pendant-maker, ring-turner, bellows, gun-finisher, saddle-tree maker, hammers, carpenters and shoemaker's tools, brass cock founder, hand-wip mounter, pearl and hair-worker, coach harness forger, button-shank maker, patton-tyes, gim blets, tea urns, medals and coins, copying-machines, pneu matic apparatus, ram-road and chain-maker, gun-case maker, smith's bellows pipe-maker, coffin nails, curtain rings, glass beads, engine-cutter, scale beams, wood screw maker, bright-engraver, putty-maker and enamel box maker,—horse, dog, and negro collar, fetter, and clog-lock maker,—pencil-case maker, glass stainer, pa per-stainer, bone mould turner, tortoise shell box and tooth-pick case maker, warming-pans, fishing-tackle, cruet-frames, picture-frames, bayonets, malt-mills, hin ges, leather and horn powder-flasks, cork-screws, gun flints, steel keys and combs, glass buttons, bed and coach-screw maker, umbrella furniture maker, paper mould maker, button solderer, paper spectacle case ma ker, tin-nail and rivet maker, burnisher of toys, shagreen and morocco case maker, seal manufacturer, horn-spoons and buttons, tine-maker, ladies' slippers, stirrup-maker, curb-maker, spur and rowel maker, powder flasks, sticks and rods for angling, sleeve buttons, clock hands, brass mouldings, augers, cock-heel maker, candle-moulds, teapots, case-plate maker, filligree-worker, coach-spring manufacturer, watch-key-, and glass maker, pattern rings, thong-maker, varnish-maker, dog and cart chain-maker, printing presses, pins, buckle-chaser, jacks, military fea thers, barometers, morocco decanters and cruet stands, packing needles, horn lanterns, buckle-ring forger, toy atch-maker, glass eyes for dolls, mortice and rim lock smith, button-card cutter, iron drawer, gridiron and round bolt maker, spades, dials, gilt-ring maker, steel box, spectacle-case and gun-charger maker, pocket-lock maker, lamp manufacturer, lead-toy, stock-sinker, glass house mouldmaker, casting mouldmaker, snuff-boxes, acc.
Tedious or unnecessary as this list may appear to some, we have deemed it right to insert it ; since, though it may not be complete, it will serve to give a striking and curious picture of the wonderful industry and ingenuity of a town, Which does not contain 100,000 inhabitants ; for the trades which we have enumerated are all carried on in Birmingham alone. No person is unacquainted with some, probably with many, of the articles of Bir mingham manufacture; their superior quality and cheap ness must have been noticed, as well as their wonderful adaptation to the purposes of almost every art, that the necessities, or comforts, or luxuries of man requires, as well as to the demands of philosophy and science, and the almost infinite caprices of fashion ; but perhaps few know that the articles with which they are acquainted, and which they admire, are but a very few of those ma nufactured in this town, or suspect that the memory, or even the imagination, might be taxed, without being able to recall, or to conjecture, nearly all the articles which the workmen of Birmingham produce. Our wool len and cotton goods are found over most of the continent of Europe ; they contribute to the health or. the comforts of the inhabitants of America, Asia, and Africa ; but the demand for most of them so m Wendy proceeds from their being articles of necessity, of the best quality, and at the cheapest price, that we ale not much surprized at their wide dispersion : but it is very different with many of the articles of Birmingham manufacture, which are mere toys, constructed indeed with most exquisite skill ond untired industry ; but still mere toys ; and yet they are inure dispersed than any other of our ma nufactures; so that perhaps it would be impossible to go amongst the most remote, uninformed, and incurious na tion of savages, that had ever been visited by Europe ans, NN it hout discovering some proof of the workman ship of Birmingham.