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of other things, the supply and demand of which had not varied! it would, therefore, be merely indicative of the relative variations of all other articles. Unlike the present circulating medium, which consists of gold and silver, or of paper, regulated by its mirture with the precious metals, and partaking therefore of their Auctuating values as articles of merchandise, it would not affect the price of other things. Those prices could, under such circumstances, only be regulated by the comparison of supply and demand, which seems to be the great desideratum in the transactions between man and man."?

In fact, if we consider the way in which the value of a pure representative currency is created, it must be evident that, so far from affecting the prices of other things, its own value must be entirely regulated by the average of all other prices; for it is not by the pledge of one thing, but of all things, that such a cur rency must be created, and by the average of all prices, therefore, must its value be regulated. Now it seems rational to suppose that this average of all prices may be nearly a fixed point; that is to say, that as the supply and demand for certain articles increase, that for others would decrease, and as this average or mean of all prices, therefore, determines the value of the nominal pounid sterling, then, if this average is a fixed quantity, there can be fio variation in this nominal value, as affected in its capacity of the general representative of all things. While, on the other hand, should it vary under extraordinary circumstances, it seems to follow, from the same causes, that the value of the nominal pound sterling will always vary in a due proportion to the general value and condition of the whole of what it represents, and not to that of a part of it only; as is the case in an intrinsic currency, regu lated by the partial standard of either gold or silver, in which the value of the currency may constantly fluctuate, according to the variations in the value of gold and silver, without any reference to the condition of other things, which it appears to me cannot be fit. Neither, indeed, can there be a perfect sympathy, as is contended, even in the variations of such a currency and its standard; for money, in whatever shape, must be so connected with all property, that it cannot be influenced by that part alone which professes to be its standard: and hence the difference between the values of gold as specie and as bullion. If, therefore, there be any thing like an approximation to a general standard of value to be found, it must be looked for in a pure representative medium, and not in one, either consisting wholly of the precious metals, or in a mixed currency.

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It seems, indeed, that a pure representative medium, thus supposed to be regulated by the average values of all things, but

principally of those articles actually essential to the existence and happiness of mankind, would, under all circumstances, forma constant measure of real wealth; for such articles in fact, at all times, constitute the true basis of real wealth. The relative denominations of such a currency would, therefore, in all ages, indicate the same degrees of riches or poverty, and that which was at one period a competency, would not at another be beggary as has been and must be the case in a money system regulated by any single substance, in itself not forming one of the necessaries of life; the creation of which, moreover, depends not upon the wants and industry of mankind, but which, being a natural and finite production, must, from the nature of things, be variable in its value; whereas there must exist a certain uniformity in the value of the mass of those things which are created by the industry of mankind, due to their necessities; and though from accidental causes their quantities, and consequently their values, may individually be subject to fluctuation, they will still return to the true standard fixed by the eternal and unequivocal calls of necessity. The pound sterling, therefore, thus regulated, would be no mores an abstract or ideal quantity than that which is fixed by the Mint standard

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It may, however, be said, that this regulating average of sall sd. prices is a quantity that cannot well be determined in numbers. To this I answer, that if this really be the case, which I am by "no" means prepared to admit, it does not seem necessary socto determine it inasmuch as it appears that the values of a pure representative currency will be, by creation, spontaneously regulated by it; that it is one of those operations in which the work proceeds correctly, though in the dark; and that if there be any fluctuations, those fluctuations will be in perfect unison with the general condition of property. That such a currency should be payable at the, Bank, on demand, in gold or silver, AT THE MARKET PRICE, would in no way counteract this operation ; on the contrary, it would extend and confirm it, inasmuch as the average value of gold, as of other merchandise, might thus, without inconvenience, be thrown into this general regulating average, from S which it is now excluded by the attempt to give it a forced and * unnatural value, by using it as money at a fixed price, 19 de If, therefore, these propositions be generally correct, it may be inferred, that in civilised society, under the guarantee of good laws, the true circulating medium is one of no value in itself; while, in uncivilised society, I admit that no medium but that of intrinsic value can be established ; and that in this consists the grand distinction of the different necessities of different states of society in this respect. And hence perhaps may be traced one of the causes for the disappearance of the precious metals, not only

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in this country, but which is gradually operating all over the civilised world. That in proportion as the government of any country is settled and strong, the use of the precious metals is found less necessary at home, and it is therefore exported to those countries in a less civilised state, the relations with which can only sbe carried on by actual value, Hence may we also account for e the greater abundance of the precious metals in France, and elsewhere, than in England, from the late unsettled condition of the Continents and if it be so, which I cannot but believe, how shortbsighted must we not be to mistake, as a cause of alarm, that which, -properly hmderstood, is the surest proof of our stability and strength isleite

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It appears, therefore, that we may with, safety, in the present fatate of things, abandon the idea of any extensive currency in the precious metalsab Let us, indeed, endeavour to produce a perfect representative currency by every means in our power, having its bystandard regulated by the average of all prices. Let the redemption, on demand, of that currency in gold, at the market-price, be duly guaranteed by law, under any regulation that may be most convenient; so that gold may, in all its shapes, only be considered Was merchandise; and that those fluctuations of its value which, aunder present circumstances, it is impossible to control, may be allowed to regulate themselves, without affecting the values, of the circulating medium: but, above all things, as we have not the smeans of supply for a currency in the precious metals, let us not bewithhold an adequate proportion of the substitute. The worst evil that could befal the country, in the present moment, would be an ~BINSUFFICIENT CURRENCY, let that currency be of what it lemay! out driv mosina 195îrse cind for

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ids The reduction of our circulating medium below that amount wwwhich the actual state of the property in the country requires, would operate at once like a reduction of that property; for if the country possesses not the means of representing, in its transDactions, the wealth it possesses, it is tantamount to a partial nannihilation of that wealth The activity of intercourse between buman and man, and of industry, must be crippled, and the value of property must consequently be diminished. How then is the country to meet those sengagements, in a state of means T thus Breduced, which were contracted under circumstances so different?

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But it is said, that by the reduction of our internal facilities toprices will fall, and our foreign commerce consequently increase; that then the balance of trade will be in our favor, the exchanges to esiste tus ftib to :90peso da thn sih, te, nojentalo bum to shd shall endeavour, bereafter to shew the public, that this may possibly be best effected in a non-intrinsic metallic currency, formed on new principles: "10 99843Loqymers out to? stund out

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will rise, and gold flow in abundantly! To me, I own, this appears to be working in a circle-it must all come round to the same thing; for if exchanges are thus to be raised, the prices which the foreigner will therefore be made to pay for our manufactures will not ultimately fall: therefore, he will take no more of us than before, and the end will be, that we shall have created distress at home without any increase of trade abroad. But, even if we could, at this price, ensure an increase of foreign commerce, let us not forget that we may thus be sacrificing greater interests at home. Let us remember how small a part of our resources depends on our foreign commerce, compared to those involved in our own empire and its dependencies, and that the great object of our solicitude, therefore, should rather be to legislate with a view to the prosperity of our domestic than of our foreign concerns.

If prices must be reduced, let it rather be done by increasing than diminishing our internal facilities, and thereby augmenting the actual quantity of our produce.

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I cannot, for one, be persuaded of the truth of the proposition, as it is generally received, that the bank-note system has produced a rise in prices. To suppose that it could raise prices by any direct operation, would be to suppose that the community at large would purchase bank notes at a certain price one moment, and pass them the next at a reduced value. So far, therefore, from thus producing a rise, I say that the real operation of this system has been to produce a fall, and that all manufactured goods in this country are actually MUCH CHEAPER than they were before our increased facilities:-look at our Manchester cotton goods, our Glasgow muslins, our Birmingham and Sheffield hardware, and other such commodities.' That the prices of corn and land have increased is true, because the consumers are increased, and labor drawn into other channels; but in all those articles which are partly produced by labor and partly by machinery, and they form the bulk of our export trade, in those, with a few exceptions only, from partial causes, the prices are fallen by the increase of the facilities of production, and will fall by the continuation of that system, and by that system only can they be reduced without misery and ruin: and not by compelling our manufacturers, by distress, to sell their produce at prime cost!g

On the contrary, give the manufacturer encouragement and facility, his inexhaustible ingenuity will still find cheaper means of increasing his produce, and his prices will fall. Such a fall may be effected without danger, because the increase in quantity will be

glow Most of these articles have fallen upwards of thirty per cent, during the period in question.

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equivalent to the reduction in price. Nor is there any danger that the foreign manufacturer, will be able for many years, if at all, to compete with us in the cheap production of those commodities, the manufacture of which depends on the vast extent of our capital and machinery, whatever advantages he may possess in the price of labor, unless we ourselves destroy those very means and facilities which now exclusively belong to us, and on which our exertions depend. But if, on the other hand, prices are to be reduced, as contemplated, by withholding the means of exertion, (for such, in other words, is the withholding the present facilities of trade,) so that with the reduction of prices a reduction of produce will also take place, what is to become of the country with its present incum, brances? The probability of such an event has already shrunk the value of property in an alarming degree-what may we not dread from the reality? Let it be remembered that the numerical amount of our debt is recorded in figures that cannot be changed, though the numerical value of the property of the country may be so. If then, with the present proportions of these numbers, the interest of the debt is sufficiently burthensome to the people, what will it not be if you diminish their means of paying it? What would the country say if it were proposed to collect another million of taxes? and yet, if we are not careful how we reduce the prices and values of things, the debt not being reducible in the same way, we may commit some fatal financial error, which shall be equivalent to the laying on of ten millions of new taxes!!! I must repeat, again and again, that the worst of all evils that can befal the country, in the present moment, would be the want of an AMPLE CURRENCY, Iet that currency be of what it may. The crisis is most eventful, and the doctrines that are abroad dangerous and fallacious in the extreme; and to say the least of them, of doubtful origin. False theory and sophistry will have done their worst, if they pull down the financial and commercial supremacy of this country!

England has hitherto been the only nation, the strict administration of whose laws, and the inviolability of whose good faith, bas enabled it to call forth energies in proportion to its general wealth; while other nations have been confined, or very nearly so, to the limited resources of their wealth in specie. Let us beware, therefore, how, from not duly appreciating the immense power that we thus derive from our unparalleled public credit, we commit an act of suicide upon our greatness, by any unnecessary sacrifice of the advantages of a system to which we are so much beholden.

Let me not be misunderstood.-It is not the Resumption of Cash Payments that I fear, if that measure were practicable to such an extent as to render it a permanent arrangement, which I sincerely believe it is not. What I dread is, lest we should commit some