The Sun.
London, England, 1868-10-17 00:00:00

eloquence of their representatives, but the talk has
not impeded quiet action. As we have seen, the
French coinage was adopted by three other nations
so far back as 1865, and since then other States have
followed, or are preparing to follow, in the wake of
the Convention. The adhesion of Austin, will in
all likelihood settle the question„, Had England
appeared first in the field, th4sovereign might
possibly have claimed precedence ; but we can hardly
expect Europe to reject a system with which it is
rapidly becoming familiar, in favour of one of cur
choosing. The Commission argues that the pound
has retained. its value for a century' and a half ;
whereas other nations, having already altered
their coinage, would be less inconvenienced- by
another change. How such a plea found its way into
this very complete and careful report it is not easy
to discover. It must be excessively amusing to the
continental nations to be told that,.having had some
experience in the disagreeable art of changing their
currency, they have now an excelliirit opportunity of
once more displaying their skill. It is palpable that
the prime argument against the sovereign as a basis
is the tardiness with which it has been pro-
posed.

But the Commission seems to have over-
looked another consideratiOa;Tof great import-
ance. It is now many years since a system
of decimal coinage was first proposed to the
country, and the agitation in favour of it has long
ago subsided.
__The advantages of a decimal cur-
rency could not be disputed, but the practical diffi-
culties—precisely the same as those which stand in
the way of international coinage—caused the
reform to be postponed. The.. present is a
favourable opportunity for considering a deci-
mal and an international currency together.
Both could be ensured by the same .change and the
same inconvenience that would be necessary to
adopt one. Moreover, whatever doubt might exist
as to whether an international or a decimal coinage
singly would recompense the trouble of a change, it
is certain that the advantages of the two combined
would repay the country. Now, the French system,
which, as wehaVe seen , is spreadin ehfoughout Etirope,
is on the decimal principle, and is in that respect far
superior to ours. In choosing between the sovereign
and the franc, would it not, therefore, be better ti
select the basis which offers the substantial aclvantag
of decimal calculatiow It was no part of the d
of the Commission to examine the question
decimal coinage ; but, having so immediate a connec-
tion with the subject under inquiry, it ought to
have been taken into account. It would
not follow, because a uniform gold coin
was adopted, as proposed by the Paris Con-
ference, that we should extend the change to all our
coins, and adopt the decimal principle. But the
Commissioners themselves are not satisfied with a
uniform gold coin only ; they ask for a complete
assimilation of the currencies of different nations,
thus removing the last obstacle to the combination
of the two reforms. It may be added that Prussia,
though not adopting the franc, is about to have
a decimal coinage, and, no doubt, could be
induced to join the rest. With very little trouble
all the principal nations of the world could
be provided with a currency which would pass from
one end of the globe to the other, and would be
subject only to the delightfully simple calculations of
multiplication and division by ten. It is necessary,
above all, to consider the matter without prejudice;
our much-loved sovereign—we mean the coin—" that
power throughout civilised communities," would be a
sovereign still, and would lose very little of its
dignity by a diminution to the extent of twopence.

SPORTING INT n LIGENCE.

lIEREFORD RUES-YESTERDAY.

The Aristocratic Handicap of 5 saws each, 2 ft (te tho f and)
with 100 added; gentleman ridars ; jockeys Glb extra,
One mile and a half.

Barnaba..

Cactus

Coldstream

Six ran.
The Nawcmrt Selling Staka3 of 3 sovs each, with 20
adlid; two year olds ist, threw Bet 111 b, four 9st 91b,
fivo and up.vardi 10A; the wiener •to be sold for 51
sovs, if ent rad" fur s allowed 71b, 3J 141 b, 2J
211 b. One mile and a quartar.
Guluare

Ihrrogato
Arkadi

The Hurdle Race Ilaudicap of 5 sovs each, 1 ft (to the
fund), with 50 added; winners of a hurdle race of
steeplechase of the value of 50 soya after Oct. 8 (at ton
a.m.) 101 b extra; two miles, over six hurdle 3 ; 14 subs.
Tavistock

Vigilant

Needlegun 3
The Shobdon Cup, value 200 soya (Handicap), by sub-
scription of 10 sovs each ; winners after Oct. 8 (at ten
a.m.) 41b, if of the value of 100 sovs 71b, 200 101 b extra ;
ono mile and three-quarters ; 21 subs.

Lute
Belfast 2

Jezabel a 3

Five ran.
The Lugwardine Nursery Stakes of 10 sous each, h ft,
with 100 added ; colts Bst 71b, fillies Bst 41b ; winners
of 100 sous 41b, of 200 101 b extra; starters twice with-
out winning allowed 41b, three times 71b ; three-quarters
of a mile ; 19 übs.

Sea Breeze 1
Gipsy
Abyssinia

Five ran.
HUNTERS' STAKES.

New Oswestry
Tendetta 2
3
Chevalier d'Esprit : .

Ten ran.
FAREWELL HANDICAP.
Maid of the Mill
Barnabo
Needle Gun