TF HLE

Commercial and A'‘gricultural Magazine.

‘No. VIL] FEBRUARY, 1800.[Voz iL

MEMOIR OF THE LIFE OF THOMAS WILLIAMS, Es eQ. M. P.

HOMAS: WILLIAMS, of: Temple Houſe, Eſq. Berks,

M. P. for Great Marlew, îs a native of the Iſle of Zagle- fea.—He was brd to the law, in which he pra&iſed with ſucceſs and credit for nearly 20 years. Having by that time acquired 2 competent fortune, he reſolved to retire from the fatigues of his profeſſion, añd to devote the remainder of his days to the fludy of agriculture; a ſcience to which he always was and fill con- tinues much attached, and which at leaſt in his native country, is not a little indebted to him. At that period, the profits derived from the Paris-Mountain Mines, were very 1nconſi- derable. Some„of“ the proprietors,‘therefore, turned their eyes towards. Mr Williams, as a gentleman,- with a ftrong and-adive mind, well inured to buſineſs, who having long held ſhares, and been converſant, in the Mines of Flintſhire and other places, might improve their mines, and place them on that footing in point of profit and‘confideration, which their extent and value ſeemed ſo ſtrongly to promiſe.— He accepted theic propoſals, and moſt amply juſtified the good opinion thêy had entertained of his talents. Having become a partner, he taboured with his charad@eriſtic ardour, to make himſelf maſter of his new trade, and was ſoon a miner among miners.—Life and vigour were quickly imparted to the induſtry of the country around; and its population increaſed rapidty.---The mines became the admi- ration of the world, and a ſoûrce of immenſe wealth to the pro- prietors, whos before certainly had no very ſubſtantial reaſons to boaſt of-that part of their poſlefons.—Mr. Williams did not ſtop here. He eſtabliſhed the moſt complete and extenſive manufac- tories inall the world, for the ſmelting, refining, and working up of the copper in all thoſe various branches, in which it is not only uſeful but indiſpenſibly neceſſary; thus conne&ing under his own immediate inſpeGion, the whole of the proceſſes from the crude lump of ore to the poliſhed copper ſheet, nail, and every ar- ticle uſeful for ſhipping, as wellas other purpoſes.-- The magnitude of ſuch an undertaking,‘can only be appreciated by perſons who have an intimate knowledge of the diferent details.---Suffice it to ſay here,„that no individual, nay, that no government, ever before accompliſhedthat obje@upen ſoenlargeda ſcaleor to ſuch perfedtion. The conſumption of coals alone, at allhis eſtabliſhments cohne&ed with the copper trade, may enable us to form ſome idea of it, being no leís than 750 chaldrons- daily for ſeveral years together, as ap-

CoM.& AG, MAG.