The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-18 00:00:00

DECIMAL COINAGE.

The select committee appointed to take into con-
sideration, and report to the house, the practica-
bility and advantages, or otherwise, that would
arise from a decimal system of coinage, and to
whom several petitions were referred, and who
were empowered to report their observations, to-
gether with the minutes of evidence taken before
them, to the house, have considered the matters to
theme referred, and have agreed to the following
report :

`Your committee, in pursuance of the duty entrusted
to them, of taking into consideration and reporting upon
the practicability and advantages, or otherwise, of adopt-
ing a decimal system of coinage, have proceeded to exa-
mine such witnesses as appeared to them most capable of
g'vingi nformation upon the subject of their inquiry.
"The question being one vveien, from its peculiar char-
acter, and the importance of the principles involved in it,
required to be examined with much care, it has been the
objectof your committee to obtain evidence of as varied a
character as possible. from witnesses whose opinions may
carry weight with them, as respects not only the theoretical .
but the practical bearings of the subject. Amongst the
witnesses whose evidence is appended to this report there
will, accordingly, be found the representatives of the
scientific opinion of the country in relation to a system
of coinage based upon the decimal principle, together
with others who, from their social position, their busi-
ness occupations, or their interest in the question, have
been led to examine into the practical inconveniences
attaching to the existing system of coinage, and to seek
for practical means of remedying them.
" It may be premised that all the witnesses examined
by your committee concur in the opinion that great ad-
vantages attach to a decimal system, as compared with
the present system of calculation, and that the only
points on which any difference of opinion was expressed
by them relate to the precise basis which should be
adopted, and the practical measures to be employed for
introducing the decimal system, so as to produce the
least amount of temporary inconvenience, and the smal-
lest extent of unwillingness to encounter the change on
the part of the classes who are the most likely to be
affected by it.
"With regard to the inconvenience of the existing
system the evidence is clear and decided. The system is
shown to entail a vast amount of unnecessary labour,
and great liability to error, to render accounts needlessly
complicated, to confuse questions of foreign exchanges,
and to be otherwise inconvenient.
" On the other band, the concurrent testimony of the
various witnesses is to the effect that the adoption of a
decimal system would lead to greater accuracy, would
simplify accounts, would greatly diminish the labour of
calculations (to the extent of one-half, and in some cases
four-fifths, according to Professor Do Morgan, who has
made the question his especial study), and, by facilitating
the comparison between the coinage of this country and
other countries that have adopted the decimal system,
would tend to the convenience of all those who are
engaged in exchange operations, of travellers and others.
An important benefit would be derived in several depart-
ments of the public service, and in every branch of in-
dustry, from the economy of skilled labour which would
result from the proposed change ; at the same time that
the education of the people generally would be much
facilitated by the introduction into our schools of a sys-
tem so directly calculated to render easy the acquirement
of arithmetic.
"A further evidence of the value of a decimal system
is to be found in the fact of its very general adoption in
the different countries of the world, not only in the case
of money, but also as respects weights and measures.
Your committee are not aware of any instance in which
a country, after adopting the decimal system, has aban-
doned it. The tendency, on the contrary, has inva-
riably been in the direction of a further adoption of the
system, the most recent instance being that of Portugal,
where the mode of reckoning has long been based on the
decimal system, and where a decree has been published
within the last few months, providing for the introduc-
tion of the French decimal metrical system of weights
and measures. Dr. Bowring explained to your commit-
tee the decimal system that obtains in the vast empire
of China, and produced an instrument, a description of
abacus, there called the `swan pan.' That instrument
shows the ease with which a decimal system may be ap-
plied, and the great advantages which it confers, as is,
in fact, practically proved by the extraordinary facility
with which Chinese boys make any arithmetical calcula-
tions.
"Even in this country, where the decimal system is
not supposed to exist, your committee have ascertained
that it is already practically adopted to a certain extent.
The late governor of the Bank of England has informed
your committee that it has been found advisable in that
establishment to employ a decimal system of weights in
their purchases and sales of bullion, instead of the old
system of troy pounds, ounces, pennyweights, and grains,
and that great advantage has resulted from the change,
and Parliament in the present session has passed an act
to legalise the new weights. The Master of the Mint
has also announced the intention of introducing the use
of those weights at the Mint as soon as possible. Pro-
fessor De Morgan mentions that many teachers, as well
as himself, always use the decimal system in actual
teaching, by giving their pupils a short rule for trans-
posing the common money calculations into the decimal
form, and then, when the answer is obtained, re-trans.
[erring them to pounds, shillings, and pence. The grey
waste of time entailed by its being necessary to perform
these operations of transfer and re-transfer, in addition
to the calculation itself, is obvious, and yet the advan-
tage of the decimal system is found to be so great that,
for the sake of employing it, it is worth while to incur
the extra, labour of those operations.
" With regard to the other and mm-c difficult part of
the question referred to them—namely, the practicability
of introducing the decimal system, it appears to your
committee that the obstacles are twofold in their nature.
The first arises from the difficulty which is always found
to exist in inducing the mass of tlic,, population to depart
from standards with which they are familiar, and from
modes of calculation to the defects of which usage has
reconciled them. The second obstacle arises from the
necessity of re-arranging the terms of all pecuniary ob-
ligations, depending either on legal enactment or private
contract, expressed in those coins which, in the event of
a change in our monetary system. would cease to have
legal currency. This second obstacle, although appa-
rently the most practical and most serious in its nature,
is probably not so important in actual fact as the other,
owing to its more tangible character, and the opportu-
nity which it therefore presents of considering and grap-
pling with its details. But an obstacle of so undefined a
nature as vague popular feeling, based upon habit and
association, and not upon reason, cannot be dealt with
on any general and abstract principles, and your com-
mittee therefore purposely abstain from seekingto fetter
the discretion of the Executive on that part of the sub-
ject.
"Your committee have endeavoured to ascertain the
probable feeling of the public, especially of the working
classes, in reference to the proposed change ; first, by
examining witnesses who may be considered to be well
acquainted with their feelings ; and, secondly, by means
of the analogy to be drawn from previous changes of a
somewhat similar character. As respects the first point,
several witnesses who have very extensive dealings with
the poor, and some of whom are accustomed to take as
many as 1,000 farthings per week over the counter, have
expressed their opinion that if the farthing were altered
SUDDEN DEATH OF GENERAL SIR FREDERICK ADAM from its present value (the 1-960th part of the pound
,
sterling) to the 1-1000th part of the pound, in accord-
G.C.8., G.C.M.G.—General Sir Frederick Adam, Colo-
ance with the decimal subdivision, no prejudice would
net of the 21st Regiment of Foot (Royal North British
be raised against this slight decrease of four cent. in
Fusiliers), having been on a visit to his brother Adrni-
the value of the farthing, provided they
rat Sir Charles Adam, K.C.8., Governor of Green-
d Avid that they
per
e made to
wich Hospital, entered one of the carriages on the
uefuthere'new coin for6d , where theyn w l 24. All the
Greenwich Railway yesterday morning, for the purpose
trailers examined also. stated, as the') resultg of their ex-
of returning to London, and suddenly ceased to exist. - '
Sir Frederick Adam served in Holland, and was present . .
perience, that competition invariably causes the quail-
in the actions of the 27th of August, 10th of September, titles of the articles sold to adjust themselves without
difficulty to the value of the money received for them.
and 2d of October, 1799 ; he was also present in the - •
"Your committee have also taken evidence as to the
actions of the Bth, 13th, and 21st of March, 1801, difficulty experienced on occasions when the coinage of
a
in Egypt. Sir Frederick was severely wounded near n county has has been changed,' and would especially
Alicante on the 12th of April, 1813 ; and at the refer to they cases of the United States and of Ireland.
Pass of Ordall lie received two wounds, one of
In the former country the old system of pounds, slid-
which broke his left arm, and the other shattered ling s'
andpence,has been entirely superseded by the
his left hand. The late gallant officer was also severely
wounded at the battle of Waterloo. General Sir decimal system of dollars and cents, and no inconvenience
i appears to have attended the change. The principal diffi-
Frederick Adam entered the service as Ensign on culty with which your committee have now to contend
the 4th of November, 1795 ; was promoted to be
will be the substitution, in lieu of the penny, a new cop-
Lieutenant on the 2d of February, 1796 ; Captain per coin, hereafter described, of which the present shil-
August 30, 1799 ' • Major July 9, 1803 ; Lieutenant- ling will contain 10 only instead of 12. In the case of
Colonel August 28, 1804 ; Colonel February 20,
Ireland, where 13 Irish pence made an English shilling,
1812 ; Majer•General June 4, 1814 ; Lieut.-General for which 12 English pence were substituted, a prejudice
July 22, 1830 ; and General November 9, 1846. His was originally felt on the part of the poorer classes,in
commission, as Colonel of the 21st North British consequence of their believing that, as they only got 12
Fusiliers bears date May 31, 1843, and his decease
pence for a shilling, where they formerly received 13,
t
places the Colonelcy of that regiment at the disposal of they sustained a lose of a penny in every shilling. They
the Commanding-in-Chief. soon found from experience, however, that the injury
THE MINT.—From statements recently furnished to was imaginary.
the Government of the operations of the Mint during the " The other difficulties to which your committee have
last six months, it appears that time coinage during that referred, viz., those of a practical character, arising
time has been 9,099,0001, of gold and 416,0001. of silver• from the necessity of a re-adjustment, a large number of
The unprecedented nature of this amount may be esti- existing contracts and obligations based bvaiseewd
furpnmonwthheiephrtee-
mated from the fact that in the corresponding period of sent system of coinage, are not, theirinend
wohficchoumrsae,
bedep in some degree
opinion, in-
each of the three preceding years the totals were as fol- superable ; but the present
y must,sten
lows—viz., in 11450, gold, 66,000/. ; silver, 129,000/. ; coonntshideerextalicetms
"The first question to be Ile d awhat shall be
in 1851, old, 4,199,0001. ; silver, 19,000/. ; and, in
1852, gold, 4,453,0001. •, silver, 82,0001. The rate of
c, adopted.eis,
coinage this year has, therefore, been more than twice
mittee have no hesitation • o
the unit of the new system
onsiderilun recommending the present
ghatthaitt
itshtehpeohuansdis
as great as during 1852, when Australia was already Coinage • and your coin-
sent standard, and therefore associated with all our
yielding large results. Under these circumstance:, pound sterling.o '
ideas of money value, and t
there is reason to believe that time aggregate shin-i
on t h
which pre-
ment of sovereigns to the colony, together with the
amounts taken out by emigrants, must have been be- all our exchange transactions
yondianything hitherto supposed, and that hence the pro- it appears to
spect is increased of the recent drain being at no distant would lead to y.our committee that any alteration of it
date followed by a remarkable reaction. At the same infinite complication and embarrassment
in our corn
for-
time a considerable portion of the enormous quantity tunately happens
dealings ; in addition to which it
supplied from the Mint has doubtless been absorbed at means laPpens that its retention would afford the
mini-
home by the sudden improvement in the condition of the mu of introducing the decimal system with the
working classes, from the high wages prevailing in all , shapem of change. Its tenth part already exists in the
parts of the United Kingdom, since an extra sovereign I of the florin and two-shilling piece, while an alter-
in each family will be sufficient to account for several ation of four per cent in the present farthing will serve
' millions. Even in this respect, however, the effect will 'to convert that coin into time lowest step of the decimal
be merely temporary, inasmuch as all beyond a certain scale which it is necessary to represent by means of au
quantity will, sooner or later, find its way to savi actual coin, viz., the thousandth part of a pound. 1.:
banks or other forms of investment, and there are ugs- this lowest denomination your committee purpose,
sequently increased reasons for anticipatine tha c"-
order to mark its relation to time unit of value, givet:lleia
wave which has lately carried away our neWl t the \ the name of mil. The addition of a coin to
le edredth
resources will return before long, and y-acquired cent, of the value of 10 mils, and equal to tl.a m.un
produce with florin, would
or the 10th part of the
strength an opposite effect. equal par of the good,p
t
of coins necessary to represent
serve to complete the list .
would accordingly be
EXECUTION OF WILLIAM FLACK. y account,
which
wich the extreme sentence of the Yesterday at Ips. the moneys of acco .
law was • into cents, and mils.
carried pounds, fl°6"'proposals, having in view the adoption of af
execution upon the body of Gilliam
19 years of age, who was found m. Flack, a labourer, "Other
unit,
aye
h been brought under the notice
theheld
in this town of the murder of Mrs, Steggles, housekeeper your c°l: of the presentthese, farthing as the basis of a new
to the Rev. Edward Buxton Barker, rector of Barton, retentio ee
of
eeinarrep
leaving its relation to time existing
former occasions the drop had been sYstemuntouche'd, presents the greatest amount of ad-
erected in the roadwayupon
opposite the County Hall, but Pennyveetage. The large number of payments which are now
the roof of the Hall, in front
expressed in pence would remain unaltered, and a great
of the prison. The convict .
gnat
on
portion a those daily transactions in which Oat? WM of
Tuesday trironmg
. ._

storming of Fox hill, the crossing of the Virginia Water,
the battle of Runnymede—these and numerous other
hard-fought fights will live only in the memory of the
heroes of Chobham and the thousands of camp followers
who were spectators of the thrilliug and exciting en-
gagements. The dry recorders of history will probably
he content with a short summary of the whole, and will
simply mention the fact that 20,000 British troops were
encamped fur two months at Chobham in 155.1. We
can add another to the numerous facts which we have
recorded of the doings at the camp, viz., that yesterday,
so soon as the last company of the infantry had marched
past the general-in-comtuand, the whole brigade of
Guards raised a tremendous shout, which was taken up,
as if by instinct, by all the other infantry regiments, the
cause of which turned out upon inquiry to be, that they
had gone through the last field-day at Chobham. Some
danced, others sang, and all were thankful that they
were about to leave the scene of those brilliant exploits
already enumerated, and to return to the quiet retire-
ment of a barrack life.

At eleven o'clock yesterday morning the cavalry
turned out. After the cavalry had formed line the four
regiments formed contiguous close column on the Horse
Guards Blue, and afterwards formed hollow square.
The Duke of Cambridge entered the square, and calling
all the officers of the different cavalry regiments into
the centre, addressed them as follows :

" Gentlemen—As this is probably the last occasion upon
which we shall be together in this encampment, I am de-
sirous of taking this opportunity of expressing to you my
extreme satisfaction with the behaviour of the four cavalry
regiments. When you first arrived in camp you had many
difficulties and hardships to contend with. Rain fell in
immense quantities ; you were wet through on your ar-
rival, and there was a continuation of wet weather for four
days after your arrival. In the face of these difficulties
and hardships, I have never heard a complaining. voice.
Officers and men, you have submitted cheerfully to every
casualty and inconvenience, and your conduct merits the
highest praise. As for the manner in which the different
manoeuvres have been carried on in the field, I will say,
without making any invidious distinction between one
regiment and another, you have all behaved well. The
conduct of the troops has been all that I could possibly
have wished. The drill of the different regiments has been
under my minute and careful observation, and I have,
with a scrutinizing eye, observed your daily conduct. I
am happy, also, to say that we have had no accidents in
the brigades of any consequence.
" With such troops as yourselves I feel confident I could
take you anywhere, and I am surd you could do anything
required of you.
" Officers and men, allow me to say I am proud of you ;
and, as this is probably the last time we may meet at this
camp, I take the opportunity of wishing you all farewell,
and of thanking most cordially the officers commanding
regiments—in
ftohre
twhhoolseupopof trhte
aonffiacearsssista
andrinooonw-chiomoh-
mi4you have rendered me ; and am grateful to the men for
rsionedoffi fact,rs
the loyalty and zeal with which they have performed their
duties. Gentlemen, good bye."
After marching from their parade grounds, the whole
officers—for
of the infantry formed in masses of columns in the hol-
low a little to the left of the Magnet hill, the cavalry
being in rear of the infantry. Sir R. England's brigade
moved forward en echelon of regiments from the right,
changing in front in the same direction, and, followed
by the Guards and Lockyer's brigade, retired behind
the two hills in their rear. The enemy was posted on a
ridge of hills opposite, with two six-pounders, and was
endeavouring to cover the camp and defend the redoubts
thrown up immediately in front of it. The artillery of
the attacking forces first opened fire on the enemy, who
were compelled to fall back. While the artillery was
engaged, the cavalry had taken ground to the right in
columns of troops, and having defiled by threes over
the Queen's-bridge, formed two lines and advanced to
attack the enemy. The Blues and 4th Light Dragoons
were the first line to charge. The manner in which
the line charged was admirable, and the two regiments
having received a volley from the squares, retired by
threes through the second line. The second line,
bringing its left shoulder forward, next advanced, and
the Scots Greys and the Bth Hussars charged in a man-
ner most creditable to both corps ; the Greys in parti-
cular were remarkable for the perfect line and keeping
together of their files, although they had the worst
ground to go over, and it was astonishing with what
alacrity the men closed in to their centre, in order to
make the charge more effective ; every man appeared to
know his duty, as he closed in as if by instinct. This
was the last charge made at the camp, and decidedly
the Scots Greys and Hussars have not only the honour
of having made the last, but the most brilliant charge
that has occurred during this encampment.
Before these two resistless charges the enemy continue(
•

to fall back, and crossed a deep— and almost impassable
morass, on the camp side of which they fearlessly awaited
the approach of the infantry brigades, which were now
advancing in line with the artillery in the intervals. As
the brigades approached the morass they threw out their
light companies, who kept up for some time a galling
fire on the enemy. The main body next advanced, the
enemy falling back into the two redoubts, where they
appeared resolved to make a stand. The Coldstreams
were the first to cross the swamp. Immediately upon
doing so they formed line in front of the right, and the
Grenadiers and Scots Fusileers crossed and formed
in front of the left redoubt. The Coldstreams, sup-
ported by the 79th Highlanders, delivered a volley,
and ascended the hill in double quick time ; the
enemy contented himself with firing a few shots,
and retiring from his position ; the enemy alqo fled be-
fore the Grenadiers from the left redoubt, and in a few
moments loud shouts and cheers proclaimed that all was
over, and the ColdAreams and the Grenadiers planted
their colours on the redoubts. The other regiments ad-
vanced up the hill and took up a position near the re-
doubts, and formed in columns previous to marching
past. The place selected for marching past was in front
of the brigade of Guards. The cavalry galloped past in
squadrons, the Horse Artillery at a sharp trot. The
Blues went by in admirable order, as did also the 4th
Light Dragoons and Bth Hussars ; but the Greys ap-
peared to keep up their old character in this respect.
The officers were well up to their distances, and the men
well up to their work. In some of the regiments, too,
little attention appeared to be paid by the officers to the
dress of the squadrons. Our troops are undoubtedly the
finest in the world, but some of their officers do not merit
so flattering a commendation. The whole of the infantry
marched by exceedingly well, the 79th Highlanders and
the Guards, as usual, receiving the lion's share of the
approval.
We regret to state that private Ware, of the Royal
Artillery, had his hand blown off while serving one of
the cannons, in consequence of improperly serving the
vent. The poor fellow was literally blown some ten or a
dozen yards from the mouth of the cannon, and was
raised from the ground by one of the numerous civilians
standing round, some of whom very narrowly escaped
injury from the wad, which was blown a considerable
distance from the gun.