Hi! I wonder if any list member can help me?
In 1799 a parliamentary inquiry was convened to 'Enquire into the State
of the Copper Mines and Copper Trade of this (United) Kingdom', the
report of which was published on 7th May of that year. It sat in
response to a petition from the manufacturers and merchants of
Birmingham, expressing concern at the high price of copper. The report
contained evidence from a number of prominent men involved in the
industry, John Vivian of Cornwall, Matthew Boulton of Birmingham, and
perhaps the main target of the resentment of the Birmingham merchants,
William Thomas of Anglesey. The Report contains no conclusion or
recommendation, but is rich in statistical data, the vast majority of
which relates to the economy of copper mining in the Cornwall. The bulk
of the balance comprises data relating to exports and imports of the
metal, and its consumption by the Admiralty. The one significant
omission is any evidence from the smelters of South Wales.
Vivian was particularly free with the data he provided, productivity and
profitability of the mines, lists of shareholders and an extensive range
of ticketing figures. This data is as far as I have been able to
determine the most comprehensive data set relating to the economic
performance of the copper mines for the years 1793 to 1798 available.
It is my hope to examine this document in some detail, for I feel it
will provide an invaluable insight into the industry at an important
turning point in its history. Yet I am surprised to find that, as far as
I have been able to ascertain, no one has undertaken this exercise
before. The report is not that rare, passing reference to it is made in
many works relating to the copper industry, yet I have been able to
discover only two sources which go beyond this. These are: Levy, H.
Monopoly and Competition, Macmillan, 1911, and Harris, J.R. The Copper
King, Liverpool University Press, 1964.
I have three queries. Firstly and perhaps the obvious; are there any
other published sources? Secondly, is the evidence contained within it
flawed or biased in any way as to make it worthless. And thirdly is it
rarer than I think and so its worth has not been appreciated?
Any information received will be greatly appreciated.
John
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