The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-05 00:00:00

system that keeps both with the least possible
alteration will be the most efficient in every

respect.
Now before we submit the views that we
think are conclusive in favour of the retention of
the penny without any alteration, however trivial,
we would direct attention to the general agree-
ment of opinion that the " pound" is too large
an unit for all practical purposes, and that the
' adoption of three places of decimals would lead to
very considerable inconvenience. We shall not re-
capitulate the arguments we have already adduced
in favour of the florin, of two shillings, rather
than the pound, and the adoption of the " cent "
as the lowest denomination of coin, current in the
realm. In our judgment they are conclusive in
its favour, and as the sovereign would then become
the ten florin piece, and the change could only
require the addition or withdrawal of a single
cypher, there could be no inconvenience of the
alteration of the pound sterling to that extent.
So far as we are enabled to form a judgment
of the numerous suggestions that have from time
to time been put forward, the question rests be-
tween the florin of 2s. and the florin of ls. Bd. as
the unit or base of the new system. Much may
be said in favour of both propositions ; but we
confess that, after very mature and careful con-
sideration on the subject, we are inclined to give
the preference to the latter; that is to say, the
florin of ls. Bd., which would unquestionably be
the best, if we had got rid of the conventional
" pound" now in operation. The penny would
then be unaltered ; the poorer classes would suffer
nothing by the change, while the alteration to
the pound would be comparatively easy, the pro-
portions of ten and twelve being easily combined.
We have not space to point out the mode in
which this change could be effected with compa-
ratively trifling inconvenience, but will take an
early opportunity of doing so, that it may be com-
pared with the mode of effecting the alteration to
the florin of 2s. and its decimal subdivisions.

NAPOLEON 111. may now signalise in a noble
and memorable manner his visit to the ancient
city of Boulogne. He has already left traces of
his munificence at Dieppe, which cannot very
speedily be obliterated. In a single day, in
obedience to his orders, unsightly structures,
which have disfigured the latter place one might
almost say from time immemorial, have been
swept away, not a stone or a pebble re-
maining to mark the spot on which they were
situated. All the while—so the local journals
tell us the workmen singing and cheering
as they rased these buildings to their
foundations ! A little useful enthusiasm—quite
French—eminently to be admired, although stolid
Saxons that we are, we may mingle something of
open-eyed surprise with our admiration. Boulogne
wants a trifle of this enthusiasm—an enthusiasm
productive of great public works, of a value to be
ever afterwards remembered. Everybody who has
examined, even cursorily, the natural advantages of
the coast near Boulogne, knows well enough
that a harbour capable of being entered at all
hours both day and night, no matter how the tide
may be running, is capable of immediate construc-
tion. It only requires a stroke of the Emperor's
pen, and the object is accomplished. It would
be an admirable souvenir of the Imperial visit,
and would ever afterwards, we doubt not, be
gratefully remembered by the population.