The herald., 1895-02-26
S. DANA HORTON
H. D. BARRows.

To the Editor OF The Herald:
Permit me to add few items that may
interest your readers concerning the
distinguished writer, 5. Dana Horton,
whose death at the age of 80 years, while
yet i'll the prime of life is reported in the
press dispatches of the oath instant.
Mr.. Horton was one of the most emf
nent writers on the science of money of
the present age. His first work, Silver
and Gold, privately printed in 1s76,a copy
of which he sent TO me, was succeeded
by many other standard historical and
scientific disquistions and addresses,
some of them in French, the principal of
which are: Historical Material for the
Stu v of Monetary Policy (51o pp),
Report of Proceedings of the Interna-
tional Monetary Conference. 1873 (91S
pp) The Silver Pound 900 pp), etc.
allist Il profound logician, and d very in
teresting and scholarly writer.
He was delegate OF the United States
to the International Monetary Confer
ences of 1873 and 1881, where his ;knowl-
edge of languages made him very useful
member. He was made the United States
official historian or reporter of the 1873
Conference
Whei NJ Cernuschi offered a valuable
prize for the best essay on a bimetalic
system. based on the French silver five
franc piece and the United States gold
dollar, l wrote to Mr.. Horton asking him
where certain statistical data was obtain
able, also if he himself intended to com
pete for the prize, and if he knew of any
other condition connected with the con-
test besides those briefly outlined in the
London Times. To which he responded
in the following letter, which the Herald
is at liberty to publish. | will add that
at that contest, thrty-nine essays were
submitted from different parts of the
world, and the prize 10000 francs( was
awarded TO Baron van Rochussen of the
Netherlands. Mr.. Horton death is a loss
to the world.
1t is to the credit of the administration
that it invited him to come to Washington
for consultation on the financial situation.
Washington, d. c., Jan. l, 1890
Henry d. Barrows, $40 South Main street,
Los Angeles, Cal.
Dear Sr:-Please excuse delay in res
poning to your letter of November l1th,
which is only this day at hand, having
been held in Pomeroy by reason of my
absence in Europe The New York Trib-
une has published from time to time an
alysis OF prices made by Colonel r. NJ.
Grosvenor, one of its editors. | should sup
pose that the Commercial and Financial
Chronicle, the Bankers Magazine or the
Journal OF Commerce might contain the
material you seek, and it is possible there
may be something available in govern
ment statistical publications, but | am
sorry to say | am unable to give you more
definite information. am equally at Il loss
to help you as to other countries, Except
to this extent, that | think you will find
part of what you want if you get all the
volumes of the Royal Commission on
Gold and Silver. This set together with
the report OF the Royal Commission on
the depression of trade, will contain,
| should say, part of what you want,
but does not come up to date. On the
chance that the information may serve
your convenience, | add that | have seen
full sets of both these reports IN the book
store of Robert Beall, on Pennsylvania
avenue, here.
With reference to Mr.. Cernuschi's prize
| must frankly reply that | have formed
no intention of writing for it. 1t may
perhaps amuse you to learn that | told
Mr. Cernuschi l thought he ought to write
for it himself, win the prize and then
renounce it in favor of the next best
man.
Replying to your further question, |
have no information as to any moditca-
ton of conditions, but | should suppose
that the statement you refer to in the Lon
don Times must be final and complete
Assuring you that | agreeably recall a
former correspondence, and tnat | am
glad to be of service in furthering none
tary study, | am very cordially yours,
$. Dana Horton.
?. S. | do not know that you have seen
my book The Silver Pound which | i'm
agine is to be found in some of the pub
lie Libraries in your state. You will per-
haps be interested in seeing how it was
received by the English press, and !
therefore inclose one of the publisher S
circulars. Ii no copy is available to you
and you will let me know, will send you
a copy, though | do not happen to pos
sess one at this moment.