The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-03-04 00:00:00

COURSE OF EXCHANGE.

During the last week the course of exchange
with Flaniburgh mid Paris improved in a slight
degree ; foreign gold was stated at 4/. Is. 6d. and
silver bud fallen our halfpenny in the ounce. The
change, though trifling in itself, we hail as the
promise of further improvement in our markets,
and as offering a means, if wisely and judiciously
pursued, of etfectitig an alteration in our pre-
sent monetary system. The fall in the price
of silver gives us the comfortable assurance
that we shall not immediately lose our silver cur-
rency, which has cost the nation so much money,
and which only waited the difference of an addi-
tional penny in the ounce to disappear as rapidly as
•hr gold coin which came into the world a few
year. since, and was instantly driven from meek-
( by the injudiciously large insure of paper
money that at the same period inundated the
country. Large quantities of dollars, we under-
stand, were imported on private account during
the week. The great demand fur gold and silver
by Russia has for some time ceased, and consi-
derable sums which were sent from Great Bri-
tain and France to Russia on speculation, found
a less favourable market there than was expected.
and have returned. Thus, therefore, has terminated
one of those great pecuniary tranwctions of foreign
Governments which were supposed to have so
much► deranged the money markets of Europe—
indeed, that which was generally believed to have
had, from its relent and from certain geographical
and commercial circumstances, the most extensively
injurious influence. This event must, no doubt,
weigh considerably with the Parliamentary Com.
mitten, or rather with Parliament itself, when called
upon to determine the fate of the Bank Restriction
Act. The only remaining great pecuniary operation
which might be supposed capable of influencing
the price of bullion and the course of exchange,
is the payment of the contributions to the Allies
by France. But the payment of these sums will,
in pursuance of the terms of the Convention, be
made by instalments. each at so great a distance
from the other, that the medium with which oue
instalment shall Ise paid, might, if were 'accessary
to snake the payments in Paris, be conveyed back
to that city f►►r the purpose of paying the instal-
ment following. But we know that the monies due
to each of the four Powers will be paid in their
respective capitals by bills. so that no gold or silver
will be required in the transactions; besides,
it is to be remembered that a very large sum
of the total to be paid by France must come
to this country, so thet the operation of payment
may be expected rather to improve than injure the
rate of our market. Sn►llicient time remains be.
tigress this and the period appointed for the expira-
tion of the Bank Restshrtiost Act for the market
to suffer a very considerable change—and, under
the present aspect of foreign affair., there is every
cause to hope that the change will be favourable.
Nothing wino capable of preventing it but that
either the Bank of England or the country banks
should considerably enlarge their issues. Such
an occurrence undoubtedly would have the effect
of raising gold and silver to any price---high
in proportion to the extent of throe issues, and
the course of our foreign exchanges would iii
the seine proportion appear to be unfavourable;
but should the Beak Committees of both Houses
of Parliament. or the House of Commons, ex-
press an opinion hostile to the centinuatiou of the
present restriction, we veuture to affirm that gold
and silver would rapidly fall to the Mint price..
In such au event the Ministers would of course be
compelled to reduce the expenditure of the errantry,
fur the Bank of England could not consistently with
its awe safety accommodate Gove►umeot to the
same extent as it does at preseut. This is the evil
trolly contemplated by the Ministers, against which
they wish to provide, but which. as it would confer
au absolute benefit 011 the cout►ny, ought to induce
Parliament to withhold its eduction from the pro.
posed alleallUfre

Two fellows, armed with sticks, entered the house
of Mr. MILLET, a fernier, nt Arodon. new Tot.
teridge, on Sunday night, fastened him into the
kitchen and beat him until they left hint fur dead.
. .
It is strange that no attempt was made to rob the
hops., and the ruffians, on leaving at, wished the
maid-servant good night, and expressed themselves
satisfied with revenge. It is extraordinary that
Mr. W. who remains in a very had state, did not
know even the persons of the ruffians.
We are requested to inform our Re4ders that
Messrs. COOPER nod Co, Soreenos, of Charlotte.
Moose, (:oat Charlotte-street, Blackfriarsanad, hive, in
conseineace of their exteusive pottier, and fur the ammo-
modelion of patients at the West End of she Tow u, established
• Medical Hoard iu Wood/duck-street, Oxforil-street, a few
doors from Buad-street,wheres Physician of 40 years experi-
ence, and a Surgeon of crest enduenre, reside, and where
all the Board alternately attend, the whole of whom are
/goobers of the Royal Colleges. That thinmanda have been
etatened to perfect bridal loy their smiled talents is univer-
sally acknowledged, wisoy of whom had beers discharged
from Hospitals, and otherwise improperly treated.—They
are consulted at Woodstock-Moose, Woodstock-street, from
Eight in the Morning moil Eight at Night ; and at the
Medical 13411114, Charlutte.hnusr, Illnekfriars-rod, from
Twelve till Eight in the Eveiliog —Mechanics have advice
gratis every Everting from Six till Eight, at bulb homes,
and un Sunday Moonily until Turks o'Clock.--N.B.
Messrs. COOPER and (O. Mg to observe, they have an
conoesicaa with any New Courtin ; therefiwe all letters are
to be directed to Charlotte-house, adjoining Bleckfriars-mad.
—Lectures on Ruptures. and slur on the Treatment of •
Certain Dimaisc, will be J./jeered at kott, boons refry sodas
sod Asinine.