The GLASS manufacture, of which Stourbridge is a principal seat, affords a most striking instance of the tendency of excessive duties, collected under regulations which interfere with and cramp industrial processes. In 1811 the home consumption of glass amounted to 417,911 cwt.: in 1812 the excise duties on this article were doubled; the average consumption of the next three years was but 264,931 cwt.; and up to the time of the reduction of the duties by two-thirds, in 1835, there had been no increase whatever in the consumption of British glass since the commencement of the present century. Since the entire abolition of the duties, in 1845, the consumption has increased to a surprising extent, and glass has been applied to uses previously undreamt of. The manufacture was introduced into Stourbridge, about 1556, by refugees from Lorraine, and has continued to flourish there ever since. The descriptions principally made here are flint, bottle, and chemical utensil glass. There are now twelve glass manufactories in the town and neighbourhood, employing about 1,050 pairs of hands, and the trade generally is in a prosperous state. The manufacture of FIRE BRICKS, and the sale of clay for glass works, is a trade at Stourbridge, now almost as important as the manufacture of glass itself; and as it is one with the details of which the public are not generally conversant, I shall enter somewhat into particulars. Beneath all coal strata is found a clay, which, from the peculiarity of its ingredients, is remarkably well adapted to stand the action of intense heat. An analysis of the best clay raised at Stourbridge, gives Silica 72.516 Alumina 20.264 Lime 0.891 Peroxide of Iron 3.308 Protoxide of Manganese 1.488 Phosphate of Lime 1.533 100.000