German Silver.—­To imitate closely as possible the precious metals, by a mixture of baser ones, is not exactly a Birmingham invention, as proved by the occasional discovery of counterfeit coin of very ancient date, but to get the best possible alloy sufficiently malleable for general use has always been a local desideratum.  Alloys of copper with tin, spelter or zinc were used here in 1795, and the term “German” was applied to the best of these mixtures as a Jacobinical sneer at the pretentious appellation of silver given it by its maker.  After the introduction of nickel from the mines in Saxony, the words “German silver” became truthfully appropriate as applied to that metal, but so habituated have the trade and the public become to brassy mixtures that German silver must always be understood as of that class only.

Glass—­The art of painting, &c. on glass was brought to great perfection by Francis Eginton, of the Soho Works, in 1784.  He supplied windows for St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, Salisbury and Lichfield Cathedrals, and many country churches.  The east window of St. Paul’s, Birmingham, and the east window of the south aisle in Aston Church, are by Eginton.  One of the commissions he obtained was from the celebrated William Beckford, Lord Mayor of London, for windows at Fonthill, to the value of L12,000.  He was not, however, the first local artist of the kind, for a Birmingham man is said to have painted a window in Haglev Church, in 1756-57, for Lord Lyttelton, though his name is not now known.  William Raphael Eginton (son of Francis) appeared in the Directory of 1818, as a glass-painter to the Princess Charlotte, but we can find no trace of his work.  Robert Henderson started in the same line about 1820, and specimens of his work may be seen in Trinity Chapel; he died in 1848.  John Hardman began in Paradise Street about 1837, afterwards removing to Great Charles Street, and thence to Newhall Hill, from which place much valuable work has been issued, as the world-known name well testifies.  Engraving on glass is almost as old as the introduction of glass itself.  There is a beautiful specimen in the Art Gallery.  Glass flowers, fruit, &c., as ornamental adjuncts to brassfoundry, must be accredited to W. C. Aitken, who first used them in 1846.  American writers claim that the first pressed glass tumbler was made about 40 years back in that country, by a carpenter.  We have good authority for stating that the first pressed tumbler was made in this country by Rice Harris, Birmingham, as far back as 1834.  But some years earlier than this dishes had been pressed by Thomas Hawkes and Co., of Dudley, and by Bacchus and Green, of Birmingham.  No doubt the earliest pressing was the old square feet to goblets, ales, jellies, &c.  Primitive it was, but like Watt’s first engine, it was the starting point, and Birmingham is entitled to the credit of it.  It is very remarkable that none of the samples of Venetian glass show any pressing,