The Press.
London, England, 1854-09-23 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

certain weight of standard gold. All other coins derive
their value from it, and it is well known all over the civi-
lised world as the English measure of value. At home,
every estimate is made in ultimate relation to it, from the
building of a ship to the construction of a wheelbarrow :
all wages, from those of the highest functionary in the
land, to those of the maid-of-all-work, are agreed for in
pounds : all debts are recorded in it—all rentals and
mortgages : all local rates and assessed taxes are levied
upon the pound of yearly rental : all mercantile tables and
calculations are founded upon it : and all exchange calcu-
lations, both at home and abroad, as far as intercourse
with this country is concerned."

Moreover, the sovereign is a convenient size for
gold circulation, and we concur in the opinicn that
if, instead of expressing large sums—our gross an-
nual revenue, for example—by pounds, as 60,000,0001.,
we were to write 14,400,000,000 pence, or
1,440,000,000 tenpences, the difficulty would be
greatly increased of comprehending the figures. It
is with regret, therefore, that we view any attempt
to disturb the conclusion arrived at by our soundest
mercantila authorities that the pound should be
taken as the basis of a decimal system.
Mr. LAURIE'S objections seem to arise very greatly
from his not clearly understanding the principle of
the plan he criticises, and the details for carrying it
out. It is proposed that the florin shall be made
equivalent to twenty-five pence, the shilling to twelve
pence halfpenny, and the sixpence to sixpence
farthing. Were this change enacted there would be
no obstacle to the immediate issue of the cent, the
new coin proposed, which would then be equivalent
to ten farthings, or twopence halfpenny. This new
coin would be the only one positively required.
We cannot think with Mr. LAURIE that this change
would be detrimental to the classes whose dealings
commonly take place in pence. They would receive,
in fact, a halfpenny bonus on every shilling they
changed, and, as many of the articles they buy would
remain fixed in price, they would seem to be gainers
by the change. The working man would still pur-
chase his penny loaf and penny cup of coffee, and
pence would appear to go as far as ever in general
purchases. The public would certainly be the gainers
in many instances. They would receive twenty-five
postage- stamps for two shillings instead of twenty-
four, and would probably, in a great majority of
cases, pay no more for those articles and accommo-
dations which have heretofore been generally ex-
pressed by pence.
How the change should be made up to public
establishments would require some consideration.
As regards the Post-office, Mr. RowLAND HILL con-
ceives that the change would be highly beneficial to
the department, and he supposes that the difference
of four per cent. which would be lost to the office in the
first instance would very speedily be recovered. As
regards tolls, railway fares, &e., an arrangement to
keep up existing rates might be made without diffi-
culty.
Mr. LAURIE, while laying great stress on the in-
convenience which would be caused by making the
shilling to consist of twelvepence halfpenny, incon-
sistently makes elaborate calculations on the suppo-
sition that the penny will retain its existing value.
Thus, in the subjoined extract, he proceeds on the
supposition that the penny is to remain un-
altered :
" The following few lines from a silk manufacturer's
invoice will show the practice which obtains there [in
France], and establish by contrast with a decimal currency
having an integer of 11., that the latter would be altoge-
ther unfit for the purposes of trade, and would never be
adopted by the mercantile community. Extract from
French manufacturer's invoice :

581 ells at
56} "
551 "
56} "
56} "

.. 2.60 ..

Francs.
141.25
162.93.75
197.02.5
217.52.5
230.62.5

2.75
8.55
8.t45
4.10

Fr. 949.36.25
Equivalent at the exchange of 25 frs. to £37.9741500
The whole of the figures in the above extract (exclusive of
the totals) are 60 in number, and the descending deci-
mals are added to show the whole extent of the calcula-
tion. We shall now take the same goods at their equiva-
lent values in a decimal currency on a baths of 11.:-
561 ells at .10416 .. ,C 5.88504
591 .1145083 .. 6.784616775
551 " .147916 .. 8.1427768•
661 " .160416 .. 9.063504
061 " .17078 .. 9.60525

£39.481186575
Every line in this calculation presents an interminable
decimal ; the figures are 87 in number (without reference
to the enormous number of figures required for ascer-
taining this latter calculation beyond the former), and not
a single repeating figure is used."
Now, the fact is that these figures are merely an
illustration of the inconvenience of the present
system, and apply in no degree to the decimal system
it is proposed to establish. Assuming as Mr. I.Ariu E

• Thim calculutiuu sPlr•arn to lir nlightly incurrert-
-55e ells at .14'.91:: Mould give iiti./ut43SB
Making the total
—En.

891

has done an exchange of twenty-five francs to the
pound, the florin would be equivalent to 2f. 50c., the
cent to 25c., and the mil to 2.5 French mils. The
figures would then stand thus :

Francs. Florins. Francs. Florins.
501 ells at 2.50 = 1 141.25 = 50.5
591 " 2.75 = 1.1 102.93,75 = 05.175
551 " 3.55 = 1.42 197.02.5 78.81
501 " 3.85 = 1.54 217.52.5 = 87.01
58} " 4.10 = 1.04 230.62.5 = 92.25

949.39:25 = 379.745

The totals in francs and florins are, it will be seen,
exactly those which Mr. LAURIE arrives at in his
first table, and any one may satisfy himself of the
extreme simplicity of the process by which the equi-
valent values are obtained. In his second table Mr.
LAURIE has furnished a conclusive argument in
favour of the decimal system against which he con-
tends, by demonstrating the difficulty of the exist-
ing arrangements. The amount in florins may of
course be expressed as 371. 9fl. 7c. 4 mils and 5 10ths
cf a mil. No one could desire a better illustration
than is here afforded of the beautiful simplicity of
the proposed plan, and the great saving it would
effect, particularly in exchanges, as compared with
the cumbrous and unmanageable system we are
obliged at present to pursue.
The principle of the change proposed by the
Decimal Association is as solid as a rock, and we
advise it to bestow no thought on the devices of those
ingenious gentlemen who, in their search for
originality, perplex their minds till they cease to
understand the question they set themselves to
elucidate. The only point for consideration is, how
the change may be most readily effected. The
first step should be to call in the threepenny
and fourpenny pieces, never of any real accom-
modation, and the second to issue a cental coinage,
and to declare that the shilling should hence-
forth be equivalent to twelvepence halfpenny.
We see no necessity whatever for a new copper
coinage. The difference in its intrinsic worth—as
a wide margin is left between its real and nominal
value—would be of not the slightest consequence.
Ten farthings would then be equivalent to the cent,
100 to the florin, and 1,000 to the sovereign. All the
coins in circulation would be exchanked for each
other, and the penny, still of the value of four
farthings, or mils, might remain in general use until
the new system bad taken such root in the country
that the people ceased to require it. The trader
would find no difficulty in keeping his accounts deci•
mally, though he transacted a portion of his dealings
in pence, and the public at large, we are firmly per-
suaded, would be rather benefited than otherwise by
the florin representing twenty-five instead of twenty-
four pence, as it would appear rather that the former
was appreciated, instead of the latter being depre-
ciated, in worth.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, it is true,
holds out little hope that he will ever consent to the
alteration. He requires not to be convinced of its
expediency, but to have it recommended by a stout
out-of-doors agitation. The change is not of that
kind likely to be vehemently called for. If ever
carried, it must be by men who have confidence in
the soundness of their opinions, and who will be con-
tent to wait for grateful recognition of their labours
until the benefit experienced from them is generally
felt in the simplification of plain education, and in
that saving of time on the part of the whole trading
classes which, to them especially, is equivalent to a
saving of money.

NOT a soldier or sailor of the expedition to the
Crimea but what has had good reason to drink the
Sultan's health. As a parting present from the
Ottoman Porte, some 500 hogsheads of rum were
despatched to the fleet immediately before their
departure from Varna, and the double allowance was
heartily welcomed by the men in the midst cf the
discomfort and bustle which they bad been under-
going for nearly forty or fifty hours.
THE COMMON COUNCIL are again beset with com-
plaints of the insufficiency of London-bridge for the
immense traffic seeking the Surrey side, and this
winter session, either the proposed purchase of
Southwark-bridge (which will need repair and
strengthening in the roadway), or Mr. Bennoch's plan
for pontine accommodation from Paul's wharf to
Bankside, will be adopted of necessity. A new bridge,
as proposed, could be thrown across for an amount
between 200,0001. and 220,0001.
IMMEDIATE CHANGES are to be effected in the ad-
ministration of the office of Judge Advocate. The
scandal of a military tribunal, where the Judge
Advocate occupies no position, where the military
jury are without the assistance which the judge
aflOrds in civil appeals, and where the commanding
officer appears as a prosecutor when he is most, fre-
quently a party directly implicated in the trial, is to
be put an end to. Competent judicial authority will
be provided, and a public prosecutor will be
appointed.