Star.
London, England, 1816-03-23 00:00:00

SILVER CURRENCY.

GRENFELL s;ished----tOk;.ow of the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, whether any plan was in
agitation for effecting: a better circulation of silver
eban now exists. There was no person whri could
not be sensible of the depreciation of shillings and
sixpences; for there was nothing like a 'rower shil-
ling or sixpencet to be seen ; and the innumerable
counterfeits made at Birmingham ;Annually, swelled
the calendar at tiv Old Bailey ; white the miserable
silver imported from France depreciated the currency
'2U per cent. by the present course of Exchange. He,
and say, on the aut'nority of the late Lord Liver-
puol, and no better cokild be had, thAt there was no
reason whatever why this country should not have a
good silver currency, and as silver was now at the
Mint price, there could be no difficulty whatever in
effecting it. He would even- suggest, that it a suffi-
cient utnnber of shillings and sixpences could not be
produced, there should he no less tuan eighteen-
penny silver pieces, in order to drive from the coun-
try tt.e injurious coanterfeits.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
said it would be unadvisable, under all circumstances,
t present, to withdraw the counterfeit coinage. He
hoped some temporary remedy might be adopted,
till it was convenient for Government-to interfere ef-

fectually.
Mr. F. LEWIS thought that any palliative would
0;4 prolong the inconvenience. The only good to
be expected was, from having our paper changed for
some regular currency, either by going back to the
old standard of the value of a guinea, or inventing
siane new one. He feared, however, that there would
be tri possibility of resuming the old gold standard
without some new effort:
Mr. TIERNEY presented a Petition from Wor-
cester for the repeal of the Insolvent Debtors' Act.—
Itefei red to the Committee.
Mr. TIERNEY wished to ask the Chancellor of
the Exchequer when it was his intention to propose
the War Duties ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
said, that. nethitig was necessary but to give notice of
the continuance of certain War Duties, with the ex-
ception of the War Malt Duties ; but when he would
give the notice he was not at present prepared to say.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT obtained leave to with-
draw the Irish Landlord and Tenant's Bill, in ordet
to prepare another.
Mr. PONSONBY wished to ask the Noble Secre-
tary at War whether it was his intention that the
' consideration of the Army Estimates should be con-
fines' to the items already produced, or whether he
meant to bring under consideration any new reduc-
tions that had not before been contemplated ?
Lord PALMERSTON replied, that he intended
to state such reductions as had not yet been consi-
dered, which it would be for the House to take into
their consideration.
The American Convention Bill was read a second
time, and ordered for a third reading on Monday.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
gave notice, that he should move the third reading
of the Bank Advance Bill on Wednesday.
Mr. FRE MAN TLE observed, lie bad been given
to understand that the Ordnance Estimates had been
deletred for the purpose of allowing the Navy Esti-
mates to be gone through. He wished to know whe-
ther it was in contemplation to suggest any altera-
tion with respect to the Civil Branch of the Navy Ex-
penditure, independent of the vote of seamen, or iii
those establishments which are friunded on the war
system, and do not appear warrauted?
Sir G. WARRENDER answered, that he should

have to state on Monday,-the groovy.%on wtich di
ferent reductions nsAy be made. T!‘e Hr.sist• niu•' be
aware that 93,000 s.arnea were already vi:ted for this
year, so that it might be considered, we had not yet
arrived at the peace establishment. Respecting the
Civil Department, he did not wish to propose a vote
of the War Establishment, as it regarded the salaries
of the tv4o Secretaries.—(Hea
r, _or, hear).—Bet it
did not appear that any great redncsi.m in the esta-
blishment could be made before the end of th,.! year.
Mr. METHUEN expressed, on the pa-t of him-
self and the country, the satisfaction he fe:t at the in-
formation respecting tile two Seeret.tri4s.
Lord NUGENYmoved for a return ofthe number
of noa-commissioned Dfficers, Drummers, and Pr i.
vales, charged to the land forces since the 9.oth No-
vember.—Agreed to.