The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-12-27
What becomes of the Specie.

Ware all aware that there has been a
constant flow Of silver 20 the countries OF
the East but we never heard Of its return
inc. This has been 80 every since history
heoan. and the constant tide Of metal that
Is ever setting in that direction, and what
becomes Of it, has puzzled more Swans
than one.
The enormous absorption or silver by the
Eastern States OF the world is one OF the
most remarkable facts in the history OF The
precious metals. From the earliest histO-
rio times, the East has taken little else but
silver FOR its commodities. In the time
Of Pliny. the expectations Ofpreci0us metals
from the west was set down a. from $780,
900 10 $500. 900 a year. The Romans had
their chief entire port for the East m the
Island Of TaprODeua, now called Ceylon
and they carried on considerable commerce
with the Indians, Persians and E-niOpians.
The shawls and stufs OF the East found
their way 20 Europe long before the time o.
the Crusades The Arabs carried on large
and regular trade in these and other At
Iantic productions till the discovery Of the
Cane OF Good Hope diverted the course oil
commerce. The establishment Of the over
land route has operated % some extent iu
the other direction; but, however and By
whom the trade has been carried on, the
flow Of silver has been generally from the
West toward the East HlmD0t calcuia-
ties that 10 the year ls6O, the amount Oi
silver sent Eastward, annually was between
twenty-five and thirty millions Of dollars.
Between ls20 and 1853. the large amount OF
Sycee silver received from China. and the
export Of great quantities OF English goods
40 India. disturbed the flow Of silver East
ward, which has. however. since set iu
with more determination than ever. in
1854 the balance ia favor OF Tie Iest wa.
about thirty millions Of dollars Toe ex-
pOrtatiOn OF tie precious metals from Great
Britain alone, during The seven years end
ing with 1858, was more than tnirty-fiv'
millions OfdOliars per aunGm. ~ which al
but one eight part was lu silver A. th.
present time the value ~ tie imports anl
exports OIL gold and silver boo favor OF th'
East Is calculated a. from si1fg % eighty
millions Of dollars per ag1um Or NOR
than the total yield Oiall the silver nine.
In the world. The enormous product o
gold IN Australia aud California has hereto
fore enabled the Western nations o. par
with their silver without great llc1uven
fence, but the present rate ~ export ~ th
latter seems % demand some Lew arrange
ment, II any can be practicable. Nearly al
Orientials are given % boarding. j. Is De
Neved, says VI. Milaume, The French ec0n0
mist, that the Egyptians hide away nearly
twenty millions OF dOlars annually. TIT
EmperOrs Of Morocco hold 10 point OfhOn
or 10 on as many chambers as possible
with gold and silver. The present Emper
or IS said % have filed seventeen. ami u
have another In course OF being filed
Morocco never parts with the money 10 re
ceiyes; and 70 IS said or the part Ofre-pect
able witnesses. that more than $3.50, 600.
900 are boarded away in that country, anl
that the EmperOrs treasure IS OF the value
OF al least $500, 900, 600. -L0VNr1le Joar
nal