The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-08-15 00:00:00

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BULLION CO.VMITTEE.

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE BEtORE THIS
cola MITTEE.
A: A. GOttulttwi Csrj.- examined.
Are you acquainted with. the means which are
taken for the exportation of gold to foreign coun.
tries ? No.
Do you apprehend that it goes in large quantities
an article of merchandise, or in small sums?
think the merchants find it necessary to use great
cantion to procure its ingress to the Continent.
Are the sales of gold which you make, generally
made in large quantities to individuals ?. There are
several individuals who purchase.
What may be the conunon amount of a sale to
an individual ? The amount varies considerably.
State the larger and smaller. Perhaps (ruin one
hundred ounces to five thousand ounces.
Could you state the quantity sohl in the last
month ? I cannot, but I do not think the sales
have been so considerable as they were a few months
ago.
State the largest for any month, recently, as near
as you can recollect. Perhaps thirty or forty thou.
sand, or perhaps fifty thousand oottild.s sterling or
more in a month ; perhapa eighty theesand, or
more in one month.
What month are you particularly alluding to ?
Perhaps four, five; or six months ago, and there..
fore I speak so Vaguely on the subject; the price
of gold began to adreeca rapidly since- tits last 18
months. • .
Do yon know of your own knowledge, or from
any unquestionable authority, whet may be the ex.
pence, 'including insurance, of transotkrting gold
to any neighbouring ports of the Centinent j—I
not know precisely; btt I do not beliewo they
considerably exceed the es of former times.
Do you mean foe eapencea of former times of
peace or of war ?—Of firmer flakes of war.
Can you state what is the difference betwben ear
and peace in that respect; how much per Cent
cannot.
You do not know the rote of leaurescej I beg,
lievo it is about three guineas.
Is that the whole expellee, exoepting freight s—.
linow of no other expence,
le-'you know what the freight is ?I de net ;
believe there is no specific freight.
Can you state whether the consumers of gold ob.
tain that article in considerable quantities frum any
other sources Aim your own • Sales ji.cennot alias
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andegree a certainty.
Do ' • - ,
you know in what nsannerthe goldirOthi
the country are supplied j I belieie from- the refs.
ners In town, but lain not ecriaio, '
Can you state at all what proportion of .the.golcl
you sell may be fur home contempt* 14 cannot.
Is it less than a tenth j It islets then a twenticth,
but I cannot state precisely the amount.
Is not all the gold produced by melting the light _
coin used up by the "Auer.? It cannot be exported,
Are yuunot subject to soine'deceptiori In that re.
spect;
,may not it be' melted and offered -to you ?
I have stated, that prevloutlylo its being eaPorted
lit is to be sworn of before the Court of Aldermen 1
that it has been esettedletrielayeign coin or foreign
gold in bars.
Are they both import end export merchants I I
believe they are,
Can you state any particular 'Mtge, in return
for which gold has been sent abroad? One parti.
cular object came under my 'observation, which
was, the importation of corn" from France and
Flanders ; but I have De doubt that there were
many other objects.
De you understand that when gold is sent abroad,
it generally accompanies any other particular articles
of export, or generally brings trick any articles of
•import more preferable tb, others? X), I bulks°
it does not,
Are you aware that It le lleigri '4 '04,4'00n, al
a commodity corning frOm On lied ? I believe that
all commodities coming frau) }.;ngland are liable to
confiscation,
Can you then estimate the value of ouch 2 rick
I do not believe that in au article like geld ft is by
any means considerable; for I believe that at is
trifling premium it can be insured into the hands et
the consignee, •
Du yug know the amount of that preminm ? I
do not; but hive understood it to be inconsiderable,
Have you remarked, Chet as the quantity off
bank, notes.* Inertialed, (Mil has got proportion.
ably 'dearer 1 Nat
.peeielving!that the increase Or
&Oreille of bank notes hel ehy. entine4lon pith, or
influence upoit, the price of gigs!) tie have Paid qo
attention to that subject, •
You have stated; that an. unfavourable whame
takes money, out of the country at present j Yea ;
and that there are tither circumstances,
You have already stated the difference between
gold whim is our standard mad bank paper, to be as
between 31, 17s. 141.1o:41..10s. orneecly 18 per
cent. fif a person, therefore, at tjamburghr sends
over a bill for a keistletd guineas, how is it paid ?
I stated that the .difference between the market and'
the mint price was..about.l4 per cent. but I did hot
make any distinction between bank paper sod the
coin; the bill can be paid either by the eaportetioo
of gold and silver or commuslities, or Ike purchase
of e bill here.
The simple question I ask is 'this: if I take
bill from Hamburg's, drawn upon Loudon for a
hundred guineas, in what does the acceptor pay me?
It is in his power to pay either in coin or in bank
notes, or in any other commodity which you con,
mire to be of an adequate value.
In point of fact what can I demand of him ? .
suppose that bank notes are a legal tender.
This being paid in paper, what must J do to get
gold for the further traffic of my correspondent I
If it is your design to export gold, you certainly
most purchase it either in foreign coin or in gold ,
lo bars, muted from foreign cob), or foreign bars
of gold. •
rf with tl hundred English guineas at Ratqburgis
you wish to purchase a bill upon London, whet
sterling amount would yoat eensider youreplf en.
titled to have that bill fur at present I It ja
mow to calcolgto the rate of exchange between
this country and Hateburgh before I can answer
that question.
If this, in the Arst Japtaacf. ly pond cilfeigt

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