ious kinds of
instruments, depends very much upon manual skill. The mechanics are united
in trades' unions of great power, and have exercised an influence over the
manufacturers of the town of a very injurious nature. At one period, the
razor-grinders and superior mechanics in several branches, were able to earn
as much as five and six, and even ten, pounds a-week. At that period, when
they had almost a monopoly of the cutlery trade, on a very trifling excuse
they would decide on taking a holiday, or, as it is termed, "playing."
Strikes for higher wages generally took place whenever any good orders from
foreign markets were known to have reached the town. By these arbitrary
proceedings, arising from an ignorance of the common principles of political
economy, which it is to be hoped that the spread of education will remove,
the Sheffield cutlery trade has been seriously injured. A few years ago
large numbers of the cutlers emigrated.

Further depression was produced by the rivalry of Birmingham in the
electrotype process, which has, to a considerable degree, superseded the
Sheffield plate and other trades, the latter town being better placed for the
foreign trade, while the workmen are less turbulent.

Beside cutlery and Sheffield plate, Britannia metal, and other similar
ornamental and domestic articles, a good deal of heavy ironware is made in
Sheffield. We may notice the fire-grates, stoves, and fenders, of which all
the best, wherever sold and whatever name and address they bear, come from
Sheffield. In this branch of manufacture a great deal of artistic taste has
been introduced, and many scientific improvements for distributing and
economizing heat.

The firm of Stuart and Smith, Roscoe Place, distinguished themselves at the
Great Exhibition, by producing a series of beautiful grates, at prices
between two pounds and one hundred guineas.

There are some establishments for the manufactory of machinery.

Within the last year or two Sheffield has enjoyed a revival of prosperity,
especially in the article of edge tools.

The mechanics of Sheffield are a very remarkable and interesting set of
people, with a more distinct character than the mechanics of those towns
which are recruited from various parts of the country. They are
"Sheffielders."

A public meeting at Sheffield is a very remarkable scene. The rules of
public business are perfectly understood and observed; unless in periods of
very great excit