Majesty, display in a magnificent saloon, all the multiplied elegant
products of their own most ingenious manufactory.

"As proofs of their power of manufacturing, Messrs. Rodgers have, in
their show-rooms the most extraordinary products of highly finished
manufacture which are to be seen in the world. Among them are the
following:--

"1. An arrangement in a Maltese cross about 18 inches high, and 10
inches broad, which developes 1,821 blades and different instruments;
worthy of a royal cabinet, but in the best situation in the place which
produced it.

"2. A knife which unfolds 200 blades for various purposes, matchless in
workmanship, and a wonderful display of ingenuity. Its counterpart was
presented to the King; and that in possession of Messrs. Rodgers, is
offered at 200 guineas, and is worthy of some imperial cabinet.

"3. A knife containing 75 blades, not a mere curiosity, but a package of
instruments of real utility in the compass of a knife 4 inches long, 3
inches high, and 1-1/4 inches broad. It is valued at 50 guineas.

"4. A miniature knife, enfolding 75 articles, which weigh but 7 dwts.,
exquisitely wrought and valued at 50 guineas.

"5. A common quill, containing 24 dozen of scissors, perfect in form,
and made of polished steel.

"These are kept as trophies of skill, in the perfect execution of which,
the manufacturer considers that he displays his power of producing any
useful articles of which the Sheffield manufacture consists. Mr. Rodgers
obligingly conducted me through his various workshops, and I discovered
that the perfection of the Sheffield manufacture arises from the
judicious division of labour. I saw knives, razors, &c. &c., produced in
a few minutes from the raw material. I saw dinner knives made from the
steel bar and all the process of hammering it into form, welding the
tang of the handle to the steel of the blade, hardening the metal by
cooling it in water and tempering it by de-carbonizing it in the fire
with a rapidity and facility that were astonishing.

"The number of hands through which a common table knife passes in its
formation is worthy of being known to all who use them. The bar steel is
heated in the forge by _the maker_, and he and _the striker_ reduce it
in a few minutes into the shape of a knife. He then heats a bar of iron
and welds it to the steel so as to form the tang of the blade which goes
into the handle. All this is done with the simplest tools and
contrivanc