Star.
London, England, 1824-02-26 00:00:00

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• [Ptticz SEVEN-PENCF.

GATE severally opposed the motion ; and 'aftera few
words from-Mr. BARING and Sir C. Cues, the House
divided, when the nnmbers were
For Mr. etenrcies motion - . -
Against it -
Majority - 1-411
TITS COIN OF THB REALM.
Sir J. WROTTESLEY said, in rising to peopeae a
motion which he was about to introduce to the House,
suggesting an alteration in the coin of the realm, he
should be obliged to trespass on their time in order that
he might be understood. Every person knew that the
law as it now stood respecting the !coin, required an.
Address to his Majesty before an alteration could be
effected. He should not propose any alteration in the
Gold or the silver coin. The scheme which he should
propose was the one adopted in France and in America.
The system was well known on the Continent, and was
highly approved.. His operation cf it would be carried
on by simple arithmetic ; it would not require what
was called compound or conaplee arithmetic to carry
it into'effect. He thought he should not be accused of
bringing forward an imprudent plan, seeing how long
the operation of it had been known and acted upon.—
The first four rules of arithmetic—addition, subtrac-
tion, multiplication,, and, division—were all that would .
be requisite for the operation of his scheme. The pee-
, sent table of denomination.of the coin of the realm con-
sisted of- pounds, shillings, pence, and farthings. His
plan would • reduce_ the table to three—viz. pounds,
double shelings, and farthi;gs. The double shilling
would be the tenth part of a pound, and a hundred
farthings would be equal to a double shilline, and • a
thousand farthings to a pound. The llonouceble Ba-
ronet explained the manner in which calculations would
be carried on by his syi:ent. - He then proceeded to
compare the difference in value between the coin which
he *suggested and that which at present' exist:. He
should first propose that some- double shillingS might
he coined, and the half crowns should be called in -to
orevent a coin heing in circulation something near in
size to the double shilling. The Honourable Member,
after explaining the relative value of the proposed coins
towards each other, proceeded to suggest a mode of
carrying the plan into effect s+ ithout inconvenience to
the community. In order to render it effectual, he
teought that the first-day of January might be adopted
to commence the legality of the payment of the coin.
Ail tradesmen's accounts should be made to the end of
the year in the old mode, but the accounts commencing
with the new year should be made up in the new mode;
and, unlese these orders were complied with, he should
propose that no tradesman could recover the amount of
his debt. This would.undeuhtedly lead tradesmen im-
mediately, to adopt the_measure. 11e (Sir John Wrot-
tesky) would also suggest, that the bills of exchange
should be drawn up agreeably to his plan. The new
coinage also might be put in circulation at the begin-
ning of January: Doubtless, as it was a considerable
change in the circulating medium, it would require
!great consideration before the plan was adopted : but
the advantages which would arise from its adoption he
was-satisfied would be considerable. He then proposed,
that an 'humble Address be presented to his Majesty,
praying that he would be graciouily pleased to direct
that an inquiry should be made how far the coin of the
realm could be adapted to decimal calculation.---;Qte
the motion being put from the Chair, .
Mr. WALLACE rose.—lle said he thought.that the
Honourable Baronet had not shewn any, satisfactory
.grounds that the old system was imperfect, pee that his
plan was any more beneficial, than the one in existence.
The course which he had taken iu bringing the subject
under the consideration of the House was perfectly cor-
rect; be had also stated, that this was not the first time
it had come before the House. The subject had cer-
tainly been discussed once before, but it had not been
brought forward with a view to the particular point in-
troduced by the Honourable Baronet. Many opinions
were given on that occasion, and as far as he (Mr. Wal-
lace) remembered, those opinions were hostile to the
system. With respect .to the adoption of the pled
in Fraace, it was no reguletionfor this country. When
it %sea 'adopted in that camel y, property had been in a
chaotic confusiorrin consequence of the Revolution. A
new system of things was springing up, and it wps ne-
cessary to adopt some measures for the Saki Of the
country. But as there was no necessity for changing
the old system in this tountrr, there vie-a:no teeaoh for
receiving the scheme proposed, The elate'might be a
good one—it might be the best ever -devisee-and yet
strong reasons for rejecting it might be adduced. Va-
rious plans for the olteration of the coiti had been sug-
gested by many individuals; who had *paid much Mien-,
tion to the subject. ;The Elonhitrahle Baronet's scheme
was to r educe the coin to three kinds=-pounds, Shillings,
and farthings. if so, he begged to know how he would
state the sum of 11. 3s. ea. It ssoold be it. one of his
double shillings, 69 farthings, and he knew not how
many thousand decimal Faits of a farthinep.,-,(ltlitugh).
This plan could not succeed; for the-Honourable Ba-
ronet would be driven to coin half farthings, and if so,
the:: lie would agairicome to four distinct Coin.
There eels a very convenient cleseripticm -of thirteen fir-
culation—the &Reale sovereign. sovereign, haff:soee-
reien, crown, halfecrown, shilling, sixpencei'.penuy,
half=penny, and farthing. The people's habits, were
adapted to them, and they understood all the relative
calculations of each requisite for the purposes of life.
'Clio Honeurab!e Baronet said he would neither alter
gold nor silver, but lie proposed to put away that coin,
copper, which was most current among the ..people.—
Let it be remembered, that no alteration in 'any other
description of coin would affect the people like this.
He ph. Wallace) then Friinted Out 'the
which 'would arise by receiving the plan prop sled. It
wouletlie reetallected.thaft much dissatisfaction wateadd
to exist When the style was altered, in consequence of its
breaking in upon the habits of the people. And ever' in
several parts of the Continent , dr; o:Li style wa7eetill
continued. Tire equalizetton of weights' and ittg*Sres
was round fo be not'an y
if Soli KO;ebi gra
tteewould •be the • dieiosik.se. and
s 'thing eccompliChe'!end
hovt muds more inapoitant the measure proposed.;Cl ' t.;e
Hoeste seeing that the.lrebiteeff Abe peooie?se,
his, liewever, was
;rut ate onl 111 the" itliect
tiernhceonurileldvcenlLrieeise.:Trit°4l6lll?l:-Aiibai ire- raitt;l

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