WALES. The principal manufacture in Wales is that of iron, and this is chiefly con fined to Glamorganshire. Large quantities of ore are raised in that county, where the most extensive smelting furnaces in the em pire to be met with. In 1840 South Wales had 132 furnaces in operation, which consumed during the year about 1,430,000 tons of coal, and produced 505,000 tons of iron. North Wales had 12 furnaces, which consumed about 110,000 tons of coal, and produced 26,500 tons of iron. In 1847 the total quantity produced in Wales was 884,000 tons. The principal iron-works are at and around Merthyr-Tydvil, Tredegar, Aberdare, and Ruabon.
. Copper•ore, brought from Cornwall and other parts of England, from Ireland, and foreign countries, is smelted in largo quan tities at Swansea. The average quantity of ore smelted there in 10 years (1833 to 1848), was 194,112 tons; the average quantity of copper produced was 18,567 tons.
The great coal-field of South Wales affords employment to a number of hands. The quantity of coal exported at the different ports of South Wales and Monmouthshire in 1848 was nearly two million tons. North Wales also yields some coal and iron, from the vicinities of Wrexham and Ruabon in Denbighshire. Lead (with some silver ore) and copper are raised in Anglesey, Cardigan shire, and other parts of Wales, as well as large quantities of slate, limestone, and mar ble. Various manufactures in lead, iron, copper, and brass are carried on at Holywell in Flintshire. Flannel in considerable quan tities, coarse cloth, and stockings are manu factured in Montgomeryshire and other parts of North Wales.
Further illustrations of the industry of Wales will be found under COPPER; GIA sioRGAN; IRON; MERTHYR TYDVII ; SWAN SEA.