holders¡¡of¡¡money¡¡all¡¡the¡¡evils¡¡of¡¡a¡¡maximum¡£¡¡To¡day¡¡it¡¡is¡¡their
pleasure¡¡that¡¡4¡¡l¡£¡¡10s¡£¡¡shall¡¡pass¡¡for¡¡3¡¡l¡£¡¡17s¡£¡¡10¡¡1/2d¡££»
to¡morrow¡¡they¡¡may¡¡degrade¡¡4¡¡l¡£¡¡15s¡£¡¡to¡¡the¡¡same¡¡value£»¡¡and¡¡in
another¡¡year¡¡10¡¡l¡£¡¡may¡¡not¡¡be¡¡worth¡¡more¡£¡¡By¡¡what¡¡an¡¡insecure
tenure¡¡is¡¡property¡¡consisting¡¡of¡¡money¡¡or¡¡annuities¡¡paid¡¡in¡¡money
held£¡¡¡What¡¡security¡¡has¡¡the¡¡public¡¡creditor¡¡that¡¡the¡¡interest¡¡on
the¡¡public¡¡debt£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡now¡¡paid¡¡in¡¡a¡¡medium¡¡depreciated
fifteen¡¡per¡¡cent£»¡¡may¡¡not¡¡hereafter¡¡be¡¡paid¡¡in¡¡one¡¡degraded¡¡fifty
per¡¡cent£¿¡¡The¡¡injury¡¡to¡¡private¡¡creditors¡¡is¡¡not¡¡less¡¡serious¡£¡¡A
debt¡¡contracted¡¡in¡¡1797¡¡may¡¡now¡¡be¡¡paid¡¡with¡¡eighty¡five¡¡per
cent¡£¡¡of¡¡its¡¡amount£»¡¡and¡¡who¡¡shall¡¡say¡¡that¡¡the¡¡depreciation¡¡will
go¡¡no¡¡further£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡following¡¡observations¡¡of¡¡Dr¡¡Smith¡¡on¡¡this¡¡subject¡¡are¡¡so
important£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡but¡¡recommend¡¡them¡¡to¡¡the¡¡serious
attention¡¡of¡¡all¡¡thinking¡¡men¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡raising¡¡the¡¡denomination¡¡of¡¡the¡¡coin¡¡has¡¡been¡¡the¡¡most
usual¡¡expedient¡¡by¡¡which¡¡a¡¡real¡¡public¡¡bankruptcy¡¡has¡¡been
disguised¡¡under¡¡the¡¡appearance¡¡of¡¡a¡¡pretended¡¡payment¡£¡¡If¡¡a
sixpence£»¡¡for¡¡example£»¡¡should¡¡either¡¡by¡¡act¡¡of¡¡parliament¡¡or
royal¡¡proclamation¡¡be¡¡raised¡¡to¡¡the¡¡denomination¡¡of¡¡a¡¡shilling£»
and¡¡twenty¡¡sixpences¡¡to¡¡that¡¡of¡¡a¡¡pound¡¡sterling£»¡¡the¡¡person¡¡who
under¡¡the¡¡old¡¡denomination¡¡had¡¡borrowed¡¡twenty¡¡shillings£»¡¡or¡¡near
four¡¡ounces¡¡of¡¡silver£»¡¡would£»¡¡under¡¡the¡¡new£»¡¡pay¡¡with¡¡twenty
sixpences£»¡¡or¡¡with¡¡something¡¡less¡¡than¡¡two¡¡ounces¡£¡¡A¡¡national
debt¡¡of¡¡about¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡and¡¡twenty¡¡millions£»¡¡nearly¡¡the¡¡capital
of¡¡the¡¡funded¡¡debt¡¡of¡¡Great¡¡Britain£»¡¡might¡¡in¡¡this¡¡manner¡¡be¡¡paid
with¡¡about¡¡sixty¡four¡¡millions¡¡of¡¡our¡¡present¡¡money¡£¡¡It¡¡would
indeed¡¡be¡¡a¡¡pretended¡¡payment¡¡only£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡creditors¡¡of¡¡the
public¡¡would¡¡be¡¡defrauded¡¡of¡¡ten¡¡shillings¡¡in¡¡the¡¡pound¡¡of¡¡what
was¡¡due¡¡to¡¡them¡£¡¡The¡¡calamity¡¡too¡¡would¡¡extend¡¡much¡¡further¡¡than
to¡¡the¡¡creditors¡¡of¡¡the¡¡public£»¡¡and¡¡those¡¡of¡¡every¡¡private¡¡person
would¡¡suffer¡¡a¡¡proportionable¡¡loss£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡without¡¡any
advantage£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡most¡¡cases¡¡with¡¡a¡¡great¡¡additional¡¡loss£»¡¡to¡¡the
creditors¡¡of¡¡the¡¡public¡£¡¡If¡¡the¡¡creditors¡¡of¡¡the¡¡public¡¡indeed
were¡¡generally¡¡much¡¡in¡¡debt¡¡to¡¡other¡¡people£»¡¡they¡¡might¡¡in¡¡some
measure¡¡compensate¡¡their¡¡loss¡¡by¡¡paying¡¡their¡¡creditors¡¡in¡¡the
same¡¡coin¡¡in¡¡which¡¡the¡¡public¡¡had¡¡paid¡¡them¡£¡¡But¡¡in¡¡most
countries¡¡the¡¡creditors¡¡of¡¡the¡¡public¡¡are¡¡the¡¡greater¡¡part¡¡of
them¡¡wealthy¡¡people£»¡¡who¡¡stand¡¡more¡¡in¡¡the¡¡relation¡¡of¡¡creditors
than¡¡in¡¡that¡¡of¡¡debtors¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡their
fellow¡citizens¡£¡¡A¡¡pretended¡¡payment¡¡of¡¡this¡¡kind£»¡¡therefore£»
instead¡¡of¡¡alleviating£»¡¡aggravates¡¡in¡¡most¡¡cases¡¡the¡¡loss¡¡of¡¡the
creditors¡¡of¡¡the¡¡public£»¡¡and¡¡without¡¡any¡¡advantage¡¡to¡¡the¡¡public£»
extends¡¡the¡¡calamity¡¡to¡¡a¡¡great¡¡number¡¡of¡¡other¡¡innocent¡¡people¡£
It¡¡occasions¡¡a¡¡general¡¡and¡¡most¡¡pernicious¡¡subversion¡¡of¡¡the
fortunes¡¡of¡¡private¡¡people£»¡¡enriching¡¡in¡¡most¡¡cases¡¡the¡¡idle¡¡and
profuse¡¡debtor¡¡at¡¡the¡¡expence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡industrious¡¡and¡¡frugal
creditor£»¡¡and¡¡transporting¡¡a¡¡great¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡national¡¡capital
from¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡which¡¡are¡¡likely¡¡to¡¡increase¡¡and¡¡improve¡¡it£»¡¡to
those¡¡which¡¡are¡¡likely¡¡to¡¡dissipate¡¡and¡¡destroy¡¡it¡£¡¡When¡¡it
becomes¡¡necessary¡¡for¡¡a¡¡state¡¡to¡¡declare¡¡itself¡¡bankrupt£»¡¡in¡¡the
same¡¡manner¡¡as¡¡when¡¡it¡¡becomes¡¡necessary¡¡for¡¡an¡¡individual¡¡to¡¡do
so£»¡¡a¡¡fair£»¡¡open£»¡¡and¡¡avowed¡¡bankruptcy¡¡is¡¡always¡¡the¡¡measure
which¡¡is¡¡both¡¡least¡¡dishonourable¡¡to¡¡the¡¡debtor£»¡¡and¡¡least
hurtful¡¡to¡¡the¡¡creditor¡£¡¡The¡¡honour¡¡of¡¡a¡¡state¡¡is¡¡surely¡¡very
poorly¡¡provided¡¡for£»¡¡when¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡cover¡¡the¡¡disgrace¡¡of¡¡a
real¡¡bankruptcy£»¡¡it¡¡has¡¡recourse¡¡to¡¡a¡¡juggling¡¡trick¡¡of¡¡this
kind£»¡¡so¡¡easily¡¡seen¡¡through£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡so¡¡extremely
pernicious¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡These¡¡observations¡¡of¡¡Dr¡¡Smith¡¡on¡¡a¡¡debased¡¡money¡¡are¡¡equally
applicable¡¡to¡¡a¡¡depreciated¡¡paper¡¡currency¡£¡¡He¡¡has¡¡enumerated¡¡but
a¡¡few¡¡of¡¡the¡¡disastrous¡¡consequences¡¡which¡¡attend¡¡the¡¡debasement
of¡¡the¡¡circulating¡¡medium£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡has¡¡sufficiently¡¡warned¡¡us
against¡¡trying¡¡such¡¡dangerous¡¡experiments¡£¡¡It¡¡will¡¡be¡¡a
circumstance¡¡ever¡¡to¡¡be¡¡lamented£»¡¡if¡¡this¡¡great¡¡country£»¡¡having
before¡¡its¡¡eyes¡¡the¡¡consequences¡¡of¡¡a¡¡forced¡¡paper¡¡circulation¡¡in
America¡¡and¡¡France£»¡¡should¡¡persevere¡¡in¡¡a¡¡system¡¡pregnant¡¡with¡¡so
much¡¡disaster¡£¡¡Let¡¡us¡¡hope¡¡that¡¡she¡¡will¡¡be¡¡more¡¡wise¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡said
indeed¡¡that¡¡the¡¡cases¡¡are¡¡dissimilar£º¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Bank¡¡of¡¡England¡¡is
independent¡¡of¡¡government¡£¡¡If¡¡this¡¡were¡¡true£»¡¡the¡¡evils¡¡of¡¡a
superabundant¡¡circulation¡¡would¡¡not¡¡be¡¡less¡¡felt£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡may¡¡be
questioned¡¡whether¡¡a¡¡Bank¡¡lending¡¡many¡¡millions¡¡more¡¡to
government¡¡than¡¡its¡¡capital¡¡and¡¡savings¡¡can¡¡be¡¡called¡¡independent
of¡¡that¡¡government¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡the¡¡order¡¡of¡¡council¡¡for¡¡suspending¡¡the¡¡cash¡¡payments
became¡¡necessary¡¡in¡¡1797£»¡¡the¡¡run¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡Bank¡¡was£»¡¡in¡¡my
opinion£»¡¡caused¡¡by¡¡political¡¡alarm¡¡alone£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡by¡¡a
superabundant£»¡¡or¡¡a¡¡deficient¡¡quantity¡¡£¨as¡¡some¡¡have¡¡supposed£©¡¡of
their¡¡notes¡¡in¡¡circulation¡££¨12*£©
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡is¡¡a¡¡danger¡¡to¡¡which¡¡the¡¡Bank£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡nature¡¡of¡¡its
institution£»¡¡is¡¡at¡¡all¡¡times¡¡liable¡£¡¡No¡¡prudence¡¡on¡¡the¡¡part¡¡of
the¡¡directors¡¡could¡¡perhaps¡¡have¡¡averted¡¡it£º¡¡but¡¡if¡¡their¡¡loans
to¡¡government¡¡had¡¡been¡¡more¡¡limited£»¡¡if¡¡the¡¡same¡¡amount¡¡of¡¡notes
had¡¡been¡¡issued¡¡to¡¡the¡¡public¡¡through¡¡the¡¡medium¡¡of¡¡discounts£»
they¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡able£»¡¡in¡¡all¡¡probability£»¡¡to¡¡have¡¡continued
their¡¡payments¡¡till¡¡the¡¡alarm¡¡had¡¡subsided¡£¡¡At¡¡any¡¡rate£»¡¡as¡¡the
debtors¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Bank¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡obliged¡¡to¡¡discharge¡¡their
debts¡¡in¡¡the¡¡space¡¡of¡¡sixty¡¡days£»¡¡that¡¡being¡¡the¡¡longest¡¡period
for¡¡which¡¡any¡¡bill¡¡discounted¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Bank¡¡has¡¡to¡¡run£»¡¡the
directors¡¡would¡¡in¡¡that¡¡time£»¡¡if¡¡necessary£»¡¡have¡¡been¡¡enabled¡¡to
redeem¡¡every¡¡note¡¡in¡¡circulation¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡then¡¡owing¡¡to¡¡the¡¡too
intimate¡¡connection¡¡between¡¡the¡¡Bank¡¡and¡¡government¡¡that¡¡the
restriction¡¡became¡¡necessary£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡to¡¡that¡¡cause¡¡too¡¡that¡¡we¡¡owe
its¡¡continuance¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡To¡¡prevent¡¡the¡¡evil¡¡consequences¡¡which¡¡may¡¡attend¡¡the
perseverance¡¡in¡¡this¡¡system£»¡¡we¡¡must¡¡keep¡¡our¡¡eyes¡¡steadily¡¡fixed
on¡¡the¡¡repeal¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Restriction¡bill¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡only¡¡legitimate¡¡security¡¡which¡¡the¡¡public¡¡can¡¡possess
against¡¡the¡¡indiscretion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Bank¡¡is¡¡to¡¡oblige¡¡them¡¡to¡¡pay
their¡¡notes¡¡on¡¡demand¡¡in¡¡specie£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡can¡¡only¡¡be¡¡effected¡¡by
diminishing¡¡the¡¡amount¡¡of¡¡bank¡notes¡¡in¡¡circulation¡¡till¡¡the
nominal¡¡price¡¡of¡¡gold¡¡be¡¡lowered¡¡to¡¡the¡¡mint¡¡price¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Here¡¡I¡¡will¡¡conclude£»¡¡happy¡¡if¡¡my¡¡feeble¡¡efforts¡¡should
awaken¡¡the¡¡public¡¡attention¡¡to¡¡a¡¡due¡¡consideration¡¡of¡¡the¡¡state
of¡¡our¡¡circulating¡¡medium¡£¡¡I¡¡am¡¡well¡¡aware¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡not¡¡added
to¡¡the¡¡stock¡¡of¡¡information¡¡with¡¡which¡¡the¡¡public¡¡has¡¡been
enlightened¡¡by¡¡many¡¡able¡¡writers¡¡on¡¡the¡¡same¡¡important¡¡subject¡£¡¡I
have¡¡had¡¡no¡¡such¡¡ambition¡£¡¡My¡¡aim¡¡has¡¡been¡¡to¡¡introduce¡¡a¡¡calm
and¡¡dispassionate¡¡enquiry¡¡into¡¡a¡¡question¡¡of¡¡great¡¡importance¡¡to
the¡¡state£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡neglect¡¡of¡¡which¡¡may¡¡be¡¡attended¡¡with
consequences¡¡which¡¡every¡¡friend¡¡of¡¡his¡¡country¡¡would¡¡deplore¡£
NOTES£º
1¡£¡¡They¡¡might£»¡¡strictly¡¡speaking£»¡¡rather¡¡exceed¡¡that¡¡quantity£»
because¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Bank¡¡would¡¡add¡¡to¡¡the¡¡currency¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world£»
England¡¡would¡¡retain¡¡its¡¡share¡¡of¡¡the¡¡increase¡£
2¡£¡¡This¡¡is¡¡strongly¡¡corroborated£»¡¡by¡¡the¡¡statement¡¡of¡¡Mr¡¡Rose£»¡¡in
the¡¡House¡¡of¡¡Commons£»¡¡that¡¡our¡¡exports¡¡exceeded¡¡our¡¡imports¡¡by¡¡£¨I
believe£©¡¡sixteen¡¡millions¡£¡¡In¡¡return¡¡for¡¡those¡¡exports¡¡no¡¡bullion
could¡¡have¡¡been¡¡imported£»¡¡because¡¡it¡¡is¡¡well¡¡known£»¡¡that¡¡the
price¡¡of¡¡bullion¡¡having¡¡been¡¡during¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡year¡¡higher¡¡abroad
than¡¡in¡¡this¡¡country£»¡¡a¡¡large¡¡quantity¡¡of¡¡our¡¡gold¡¡coin¡¡has¡¡been
exported¡£¡¡To¡¡the¡¡value¡¡of¡¡the¡¡balance¡¡of¡¡exports£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡must
be¡¡added¡¡the¡¡value¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bullion¡¡exported¡£¡¡A¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡amount
may¡¡be¡¡due¡¡to¡¡us¡¡from¡¡foreign¡¡nations£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡reminder¡¡must¡¡be
precisely¡¡equal¡¡to¡¡our¡¡foreign¡¡expenditure£»¡¡consisting¡¡of
subsidies¡¡to¡¡our¡¡allies£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡maintenance¡¡of¡¡our¡¡fleets¡¡and
armies¡¡on¡¡foreign¡¡stations¡£
3¡£¡¡It¡¡has¡¡been¡¡observed£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡work¡¡of¡¡great¡¡and¡¡deserved¡¡repute£»
the¡¡Edinburgh¡¡Review£»¡¡that¡¡an¡¡increase¡¡in¡¡the¡¡paper¡¡currency¡¡will
only¡¡occasion¡¡a¡¡rise¡¡in¡¡the¡¡paper¡¡or¡¡currency¡¡price¡¡of
commodities£»¡¡but¡¡will¡¡not¡¡cause¡¡an¡¡increase¡¡in¡¡their¡¡bullion
price¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡would¡¡be¡¡true¡¡at¡¡a¡¡time¡¡when¡¡the¡¡currency¡¡consisted
wholly¡¡of¡¡paper¡¡not¡¡convertible¡¡into¡¡specie£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡while¡¡specie
formed¡¡any¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡circulation¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡case¡¡the¡¡effect
of¡¡an¡¡increased¡¡issue¡¡of¡¡paper¡¡would¡¡be¡¡to¡¡throw¡¡out¡¡of
circulation¡¡an¡¡equal¡¡amount¡¡of¡¡specie£»¡¡but¡¡this¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡done
without¡¡adding¡¡to¡¡the¡¡quantity¡¡of¡¡bullion¡¡in¡¡the¡¡market£»¡¡and
thereby¡¡lowering¡¡its¡¡value£»¡¡or¡¡in¡¡other¡¡words£»¡¡increasing¡¡the
bullion¡¡price¡¡of¡¡commodities¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡only¡¡in¡¡consequence¡¡of¡¡this
fall¡¡in¡¡the¡¡value¡¡of¡¡the¡¡metallic¡¡currency£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡bullion£»¡¡that
the¡¡temptation¡¡to¡¡export¡¡them¡¡arises£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡penalties¡¡on
melting¡¡the¡¡coin¡¡is¡¡the¡¡sole¡¡cause¡¡of¡¡a¡¡small¡¡difference¡¡between
the¡¡value¡¡of¡¡the¡¡coin¡¡and¡¡of¡¡bullion£»¡¡or¡¡a¡¡small¡¡excess¡¡of¡¡the
market¡¡above¡¡the¡¡mint¡¡price¡£¡¡But¡¡exporting¡¡of¡¡bullion¡¡is
synonymous¡¡with¡¡an¡¡unfavourable¡¡balance¡¡of¡¡trade¡£¡¡From¡¡whatever
cause¡¡an¡¡exportation¡¡of¡¡bullion£»¡¡in¡¡exchange¡¡for¡¡commodities£»¡¡may
proceed£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡called¡¡£¨I¡¡think¡¡very¡¡incorrectly£©¡¡an¡¡unfavourable
balance¡¡of¡¡trade¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡the¡¡circulation¡¡consists¡¡wholly¡¡of¡¡paper£»¡¡any¡¡increase
in¡¡its¡¡quantity¡¡will¡¡raise¡¡the¡¡money¡¡price¡¡of¡¡bullion¡¡without
lowering¡¡its¡¡value£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡manner£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same
proportion£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡will¡¡raise¡¡the¡¡prices¡¡of¡¡other¡¡commodities£»¡¡and
for¡¡the¡¡same¡¡reason¡¡will¡¡lower¡¡the¡¡foreign¡¡exchanges£»¡¡but¡¡this
will¡¡only¡¡be¡¡a¡¡nominal£»¡¡not¡¡a¡¡real¡¡fall
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£
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