The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-12-24
A Review Of Del Mars
"Barbara viIIiers."

| system OF full legal tender gold and
silver coins struck by the. state for
the convenience of the public and the
benefit of trade; and not as now,
merely upon the behest Of the bank
ing fraternity. In that year $500
this supernal power was surreptitiOus-
ly filched from the prerogatives of
the crown. The evil work was then
carried TO other countries, especially
to the United States of America,
where in 1873 it was copied with a
faithfulness to its model that could
only have been born of design"
When European trade opened with
India in the 10th century. a pound OF
gold metal could be exchanged or pur-
chased in Asia for 6 to pounds of
silver metal, this being the ratio paid
for bullion at the Indian minis.
There was but little silver In India
because the natives were ignorant Of
how to reduce silver-bearing ores.
There was considerable gold, mostly
ir the form of jewelry and other
works OF art. The currency consisted
chiefly Of copper and dillon" Tor
plated) coins. Owing to these cir
NusiiotaASCo, oayo UIls iJCl Nlal tllC
exchange Of western silver for eastern
gold became one OF the chief sources
of profit to Europeans engaged in the
Oriental trade" The Spaniards, in
1912, began shipping silver to China
and India from Acapulco, Mexico, by
way of the Philippines. Presently
these shipments ran up to a.miIlion
dollars year, when Potosi became
prolific, and the Indian ratio was
changed to for /.
Now, the policy of England had al
ways been opposed to the melting or
exporting of any OF her coins. Penal
statutes had been enacted, beginning
with Edward III. and down to Henry
down to the time of Charles IL. 1t
embraced not only English coins, butt
also those of foreign fabrication which
were legal tender by statute in Eng
land. The East India company was
refused permission by Queen Eliza
beth to ship out any of the Spanish
coins then circulating in England, but
finally gave permission to bring In
foreign bullion, have it coined, and
then exported. The "portcullis" coins
identical in weight, ETC., with the
Spanish coins) resulted from this.
AS the coinage ratio in England was
Is for /, the East India company was
10th to be prevented by statute from
exchanging a pound weight of gold
in England for Is pounds weight Of
silver, then shipping the silver to In
Ola, where it could be exchanged for
2-3 pounds Of gold; which, when
brought back to England, would COM
mand rs in silver. Sixty-six per cent
profit was too much to be cheated out
OF by foolish monetary legislation!
The law must be changed. And how?
Charles H., sensual weakling, had
on the very first day of the restora-
ton according to Bishop Burnett),
May 81, 1860, begun an intrigue with
Barbara Villiers, beautiful and vi
vacious, but depraved and sordid
young woman. 1t is not the purpose
of this review to enlarge upon the
character of Barbara Villiers; that has
been sufficiently laid bare in the writ
ings of Bishop Burnett, Harris, Defoe,
Evelyn, Clarendon, and Others. Suf-
flee it to say she was used as an in
strument in the hand of the gold
smiths and bankers of 10 lizard street
to secure the repeal of the obnoxious
laws which prevented the East India
company from making cent per cent,
but which gave the people of England
a tolerably staDle monetary system.
"a nree months after her relations
hegan with the king" relates Mr.. Del
Mar ''she was granted by letters of
patent two pence by tale out OF ev-
cry pound troy OF silver money which
should thencefor be coined by virtue
Of any warrant or indenture made
and to be made by his majesty
from the 9th day OF August. 1860. for
~ years.
THE movement which eliminated
in the coinage act OF 1906" continues
MIR. Del Mar, though Il apparently
originated with the East India COM
pany. had long been supported by the
landlord class, whose interests had
caused them 90 view with alarm the
influx of the precious metals from
America which began with Potosl. Ae-
Cording 10 Brantome. the fears Of the
French landlords from this source had
amounted almost Ca phrensy, The
NnruulN de IaVannaa oVen nronnaah