The Press.
London, England, 1853-06-04 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

merchant and banker calculate the saving of
clerical labour which would ensue on the
change as fully equal to one-fourth orone-
third of what is now performed ; the arithme-
tician contrasts the simplicity of the decimal
scale with the cumbrous and clumsy proeesses
of compouitil arithmetic. The practical ditti-
eulties in the way of as reform are proved to lie
few and easily superable ; the Chambers Of
Commerce of Our great trading cities report
unanimously in its favour ; nothing is to be
feared except popular prejudice, and the sus-
picion with which in this country scientific
novelties are always watched. lint ettOrt s
have already been made to arouse this preju-
dice, and, as would Winn, not wholly without
success. One Writer in a daily contemporary
gravely recalls the dap; of the first I. much
revolution, and discovers revolutionary pro-
jects lurking under a simple financial proposi
thin. Another founds a long argument on the
assumption that the change in question will
require the melting and recasting of the whole
coinage of the country. A third is fully con-
vinced that to alter the existing denomination
of coins is only to put a profit into the pocket
of the small shopkeeper, who will use the oppor-
tunity to enhance his prices, and cheat the
poorer and more ignorant class of customers.
And a fourth, with more reason, dwells upon
the temporary inconvenience and confusion
which must follow on any disturbance of
pecuniary relations, until the people at large
have come to understand and tolerate the
novelty. It seems, therefore, expedient, to
point out in few words what is really desired
by the advocates of the new, or decimal, system.
The change, however important in its ultimate
results, may be so arranged as in its present
operation to be almost imperceptible. The
pound sterling, as already 'stated, is retained
for the measure of value. This seems desira-
ble in every point of view. partly because the
florin (iisth), and the shilling (Quth), fall readily
into the decimal notations, but more especially
because all large sums—sueli as the interest of
the National Debt, the amount of taxation, the
yearly income of individuals, and so forth—are
now computed in pounds ; and to alter the
mode of computation would be an undertaking
at once very difficult, and, when accomplished.
very useless. We have, then, in the pound a
numerical basis which it is inexpedient to dis-
turb. We have in the florin a commence-
ment of decimal notation ; and it remains
only to carry on the scale to coins of a lower
value. Now, the florin, or two-shilling piece,
contains ninety-six farthings ; it is, therefore,
obvious that a very slight change in the
value of the farthing, redwing that coin
to.Mths, or Wits, of its actual value, converts
it into a decimal fraction (Thlsth) of the florin,
which is nearly all that we require. Nor is it
even necessary, in order to operate this change,
to call in and recast the coin now in circula-
tion ; for the intrinsic, value of the farthing, as
a piece of metal, is scarcely more than one-hall
its current value us a token, the dithwence
being made up by the expense of coinage. It
is, therefore, quite sufficient to give a previous
notice—say, for a twelvemonth—and, at the
end of that time, to reduce, arbitrarily, the
value of the farthing from igth to Auth of a
florin. No injustice would thus be done, for
no man hoards farthings ; and the effect on
commercial transactions would be wholly im-
perceptible. But when this step is gained we
have the decimal notation complete, mad re-
quiring only the interposition of one new coin,
worth ten fiwthings of the new denomination,
or illath of a florin. Call this coin a cent, and
the scale runs thus :
Pound 1 or 1.000
Iloriu Tioth or ir Bin
Cent • Tlioth or 0-010
Farthing .• - Toth or O'ool
(New Scale)
The shilling, as a half-florin, and the six-
pence, as a quarter-florin, remain in circulat. .
So likewise do the half-sovereign and the
crown-pieee. The half-crown ought to distil)
pear, us too closely resembling the florin
(which, indeed, is even now a common
com-
plaint,, and the penny and halfpenny, us in-
terfering with the new denomination of
farthings, though a new two-farthing and four-
farthing piece could easily be coined if re-
quired. The cent i 3 too largo for a copper

coin, and almost too small for one► of silver : it
has been proposed to make it of mixed metal
but this is in some respects objectionable, and
it will probably take its I►lace among the silver
coinage. menus being found to Obviate the de-
tleiency of bulk which is eomplained
It is not unlikely that the :Atone. of which
an outline is hire given. 11111 V, in the course of
the present session, be submitted to NAlL-
meta. We heartily trust that no personal or
Inu•ty prejudices will hinder the secomplish-
Illenf of a reform rtwommended by every con.
sideration of convenienee, and on which the
mereantile community is of one mind.

THE CASE 01' MR. STAFFORD.
AN article. in type. on the' east of Mr. Stafford.
is postponed by the presMure of topies of ur-
gent interest.

THE CAPITAL. OF INDIA.
Te Till: Eliattit OF " mg pkEsc"
Sir,--I It your excelk.nt review of Campbell's India
On justly expose the extravagant proposition of
placing the Eastern capital at Mussourie, among the
I limalayas
The requisites for tut Indian seat of government
allt three :
(1) It should be central as regards India.
(•:) it should be, at least, not unnecessarily remote
bolts England.
(3) It should he healthy, Rivesgible, and well sup-
plied with such neeessitries as wood, water, and arti-
cles et' fond.
Now, Mils:l(s6e is *tuning in every one Of them+
requisites, except that Of health. It is situated OU
the frontier ; it is as &shun. front England am any
point of British India, except, perhaps, l'eshawur t
It wants fuel and water for a large community, both
being .carve anti the former dear ; and in winter the
climate is so severe as to render residence ahnoat
itnpossible.
Calcutta has great faiths, without referring to con-
tingencies so remote as a possible change in the cur-
rent of the Iloogly. Its flat, marthy soil; its op-
pressive heat during three-fourths of the year; its
remoteness front all the sanataria, or watering-
places, in the hills. the nearest of which is Darjeeling,
at the Sikkim territory ; its immense distance (1,700
miles I from the north-western frontier, the probable
seat of danger and disturbance ;—are all arguments
which make strongly against it. Add to this that, in
the mune+ of post, it is three weeks farther front
England than Bombay ; and that it is situated on
the very edge or extremity of our empire. All
that can he said in its favour is, that we have there a
large commercial city, a navigable river, and a forti-
fied post ; and that it is nearer both Madras and
Bombay than any point in the nurth.west provinces
would be.
The same objections apply to Simla as to Mutt-
soorie. It is also a frontier station, and nobody
could live there in winter. It is 1,100 mike distant
from Caleutta, 1,000 front Bombay, and about 10401)
froth' Mutlras.
Agra or Delhi are central and convenient; but
both their climate and the soil of the surrounding
country are abominable. From May to October the
prevalence of the hot winds drives out every European
who is not absolutely compelled to stay. Neither of
these cities would answer on that account.
on the whole, without thinking that any pressing
necessity exists for depriving Calcutta of its present
honours, I agree with your military friend in prefer-
ring l'oonah to any other site. Tho climate there is
excellent; the position central; the access to Bom-
bay easy ; and the communication with England
short. A TRAVELLER.

THE Dociamtv com.ran"rio.s. itEPORT.
To TnE Enrron TIII ruEss."
Sir,—The only notice you have hitherto taken of
the dockyard committee has been
hey wer to proteste setti against
the titanium{ preceent which tng of
respeeting no privacy.
1 lwlieve you are taking a wise and dignified course
in not discussing the facts of the case until the com-
mittee shall have completed their inquiries. But the
atyle of their report deserves immediate attention.
It is now a common thing for Parliament to send
forth new trilunds, armed with extraordinary powers,
which no delicacy restrains them from using. It'
these inquisitors are to be endured, their impartiality
must be respected. Even if they have the feelings
of advocates, they should for decency wear the garb

of judges.
Tlw dockyard committee have made their report
of very little weight by neglecting to dress it up m
an impartial style. Where we expect the calm gra-
vity of a judge summing up his evidence, we nod
figures of rhetoric and sneenng insinuations.
The present Ministry contains a representative of
the Times ; but 1 hope other committees will nut
make its articles a model for their reports.
I ant, .tc., T. IL S.

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