首页 >出版文学> The High Price of Bullion>第7章
  IhaveomittedasmuchofMrPearse'spaperasregardedtheamountofbanknotesincirculationbeforetherestrictiononbankpayments,becausewhilstthepublicpossessedthepowerofobtainingspeciefortheirnotes,theexchangecouldnotputbemomentarilyloweredbytheamountofthebankissues。
  Theaverageamountofbanknotesfromtheyear1797to1809
  inclusive,inthefollowingtable,iscopiedfromtheReportoftheBullionCommittee。Theratesofexchangeareextractedfromalistpresentedbytheminttoparliament。TherehavebeenthreereturnsmadetoparliamentbytheBank,oftheamountoftheirnotesincirculationintheyear1810;thefirstforthe7thand12thofeachmonth;thesecondaweeklyreturnfromthe19thJanuary,1810,to28thDecember;andthethirdalsoaweeklyaccountfromthe3dMarchto29thDecember,1810。Theaverageamountofnotesabove5l。includingbankpostbills,accordingtothefirstaccountis*15,706,226ofnotesunder5l。*6,560,674
  Second……16,192,1106,758,895
  Third……16,358,2306,614,721
  3)48,256,56619,934,290
  Generalaverage16,085,5226,644,763
  Intheyearsmarkedthus*thevalueofsilverascomparedwithgoldexceededthemintvaluation,-thiswasthecaseparticularlyintheyear1801,whenlessthan14oz。ofsilvercouldpurchaseanounceofgold,-themintvaluationisas1to15。07;thepresentmarketvalueisas1to16nearly。
  AverageamountofBankofEnglandNotesincirculationineachofthefollowingyears:
  Notesof5l。andupwards,includingBankPostBills;Notesunder5l。;Total;HighestrateofExchangewithHamburgh;LowestrateofExchangewithHamburgh1798;*11,527,250;*1,807,502;*13,334,752;38。2Jan。;37。4Dec。
  1799;12,408,522;1,653,805;14,062,327;37。7Jan。;31。6Oct。
  1800;13,598,666;2,243,266;15,841,932;32。5May;31。0Feb。
  1801;13,454,367;2,715,182;16,169,594;31。8Oct。;29。8Jan。
  1802;13,917,977;3,136,477;17,054,454;34。0Dec。;32。0Feb。
  1803;12,983,477;3,864,045;16,847,511;35。0Dec。;34。0Jan。
  1804;12,621,348;4,723,672;17,345,020;36。0Dec。;34。8Feb。
  1805;12,697,352;4,544,580;17,241,932;35。8March;32。8Feb。
  1806;12,844,170;4,291,230;17,135,400;34。8Dec。;33。3Jan。
  1807;13,221,988;4,183,013;17,405,001;34。1March;34。2
  Sept。
  1808;13,402,160;4,132,420;17,534,580;35。3July;32。4Dec。
  1809;14,133,615;4,868,275;19,001,890;31。3Jan。;28。6Nov。
  1810;16,085,522;6,644,763;22,730,285;31。2June;28。6Dec。
  1811;;26。6Jan。;24。0MarchTheBankhavemadeareturnoftheamountoftheirnotesforeighteendaysinthispresentyear1811。Theaverageamountofnotesof5l。andupwardsincirculationforthoseeighteendays,includingbankpostbills,is*16,286,950
  Andofthoseunder5l。*7,260,575
  Total*23,547,525
  "If,"saytheReviewers,"considerableportionsofthecurrencyweretakenfromtheidle,andthosewholiveuponfixedincomes,andtransferredtofarmers,manufacturers,andmerchants,-theproportionbetweencapitalandrevenuewouldbegreatlyalteredtotheadvantageofcapital;andinashorttimetheproduceofthecountrywouldbegreatlyaugmented。"Itisnodoubttrue"thatitisnotthequantity"ofcirculatingmediumwhichaddstothenationalwealth,"butthedifferentdistributionofit。"If,therefore,wecouldbefullyassuredthattheeffectsoftheabundance,andtheconsequentdepreciationofthecurrency,woulddiminishthepowersofconsumptionintheidleandunproductiveclass,whilstitincreasedthenumberoftheindustriousandproductiveclass,theeffectwouldundoubtedlybetoaugmentthenationalwealth,asitwouldrealizeintocapitalthatwhichwasbeforeexpendedasrevenue。Butthequestionis,willitsooperate?Willnotathousandpoundssavedbythestockholderfromhisincomeandlenttothefarmer,beequallyproductiveasifithadbeensavedbythefarmerhimself?TheReviewersobserve,"Oneveryfreshissueofnotes,notonlyisthequantityofthecirculatingmediumincreased,butthedistributionofthewholemassisaltered。A
  largeproportionfallsintothehandsofthosewhoconsumeandproduce,andasmallerproportionintothehandsofthosewhoonlyconsume。"Butisthisnecessarilyso?Theyappeartotakeitforgranted,thatthosewholiveonfixedincomesmustconsumethewholeoftheirincome,andthatnopartofitcanbesavedandannuallyaddedtocapital。Butthisisveryfarfrombeingthetruestateofthecase,andIwouldask,Donotthestockholdersgiveasgreatastimulustothegrowthofthenationalwealthbysavinghalftheirincomesandinvestingitinthestocks,therebyliberatingacapitalwhichwillultimatelybeemployedbythosewhoconsumeandproduce,aswouldbedoneiftheirincomesweredepreciated50percentbytheissuesofbank-notes,andthepowerofsavingwereinconsequenceentirelytakenfromthem,althoughtheBankshouldlendtoanindustriousmananamountofnotesequalinvaluetothediminishedincomeofthestockholder?Thedifference,andtheonlydifferenceappearstometobethis,thatintheonecasetheinterestonthemoneylentwouldbepaidtotherealowneroftheproperty,intheotheritwouldultimatelybepaidintheshapeofincreaseddividendsorbonusestothebankproprietors,whohadbeenenabledunjustlytopossessthemselvesofit。IfthecreditoroftheBankemployedhisloaninlessprofitablespeculationsthantheemployerofthesavingsofthestockholderswouldhavedone,therewouldresultareallosstothecountry;sothatadepreciationofcurrencymay,asfarasitisconsideredasastimulustoproduction,bebeneficialorotherwise。
  Iseenoreasonwhyitshoulddiminishtheidle,andaddtotheproductiveclassofsociety。Atanyratetheeviliscertain。
  Itmustbeaccompaniedwithadegreeofinjusticetoindividualswhichrequiresonlytobeunderstoodtoexcitethecensureandindignationofallthosewhoarenotwhollyinsensibletoeveryhonourablefeeling。
  WiththesentimentsoftheremainderofthearticleImostcordiallyagree,andtrusttheeffortsoftheReviewerswillpowerfullycontributetooverturnthemassoferrorandprejudicewhichpervadesthepublicmindonthismostimportantsubject。
  ItisoftenobjectedtotherecommendationoftheBullionCommittee,namelythattheBankshouldberequiredtopaytheirnotesinspecieintwOyears,that,ifadopted,theBankwouldbeexposedtoconsiderabledifficultyinprovidingthemselveswiththerequisiteamountofbullionforsuchpurpose;anditcannotbedenied,thatbeforetheRestrictionBillcanberepealed,theBankwouldbeinprudenceboundtomakeampleprovisionforeverydemandwhichmightbypossibilitybemadeonthem。ItisobservedbytheBullionCommittee,thattheaverageamountofBanknotesincirculation,includingBankPostBills,intheyear1809,was19millions。Duringthesameperiodtheaveragepriceofgoldwas4l。10s。exceedingitsmintpricebynearly17percent,andprovingadepreciationofthecurrencyofnearly15percent。A
  diminutionthereforeof15percentintheamountoftheBankcirculationin1809,should,ontheprinciplesoftheCommittee,raiseittopar,andreducethemarketpriceofgoldto3l。17s。
  101/2d。;andtillsuchreductiontakeplace,therewouldbeimminentdangertotheBankaswellastothepublic,thattheRestrictionBillshouldceasetooperate。Now,admitting(whichwearefarfromdoing)thetruthofyourprinciples,saytheadvocatesfortheBank,admittingthataftersuchareductionintheamountofBanknotes,thevalueofthereminderwouldbesorised,thatitwouldnotbetheinterestofanypersontodemandspecieattheBankinexchangefornotes,becausenoprofitcouldbemadebytheexportationofbullion;whatsecuritywouldtheBankhavethatcapriceorill-willmightnotrenderthepracticegeneralofdiscontinuingtheuseofsmallnotesaltogether,anddemandingguineasoftheBankinlieuofthem?NotonlythenmusttheBankreducetheircirculation15percent。ontheirissuesof19millions,-notonlymusttheyprovidebullionfor4millionsof1l。and2l。noteswhichwouldremainincirculation,buttheymustalsofurnishthemselveswiththemeansofmeetingthedemandswhichmaybemadeonthemtopaythesmallnotesofallthecountrybanksinthekingdom,-andallthiswithintheshortperiodoftwoyears。Itmustbeconfessed,thatwhethertheseapprehensionsarelikelyornotlikelytoberealized,theBankcouldnotbutmakesomeprovisionfortheworstthatmighthappen;andthoughitisasituationinwhichtheirownindiscretionhasinvolvedthem,itwouldbedesirable,ifpossible,toprotectthemagainsttheconsequencesofit。
  Ifthesamebenefitstothepublic,-thesamesecurityagainstthedepreciationofthecurrency,canbeobtainedbymoregentlemeans,itistobehopedthatallparties,whoagreeinprinciple,willconcurintheexpediencyofadoptingthem。LettheBankofEnglandberequiredbyParliamenttopay(ifdemanded)allnotesabove2ol-andnoother,attheiroption,eitherinspecie,ingoldstandardbars,orinforeigncoin(allowancebeingmadeforthedifferenceinitspurity)attheEnglishmintvalueofgoldbullion,viz。3l。17s。101/2d。peroz。,suchpaymentstocommenceattheperiodrecommendedbytheCommittee。
  ThisprivilegeofpayingtheirnotesasabovedescribedmightbeextendedtotheBankforthreeorfouryearsaftersuchpaymentscommenced,andiffoundadvantageous,mightbecontinuedasapermanentmeasure。Undersuchasystemthecurrencycouldneverbedepreciatedbelowitsstandardprice,asanounceofgoldand3l。17s。101/2d。wouldbeuniformlyofthesamevalue。
  Bysuchregulationsweshouldeffectuallypreventtheamountofsmallnotesnecessaryforthesmallerpaymentsfrombeingwithdrawnfromcirculation,asnoonewhodidnotpossesstotheamountof20l。atleastofsuchsmallnotescouldexchangethemattheBank,andeventhenbullion,andnotspecie,couldbeobtainedforthem。GuineasmightindeedbeprocuredattheMintforsuchbullion,butnottillafterthedelayofsomeweeksormonths,thelossofinterestforwhichtimewouldbeconsideredasanactualexpence;anexpencewhichnoonewouldincur,whilstthesmallnotescouldpurchaseasmuchofeverycommodityastheguineaswhichtheyrepresented。Anotheradvantageattendingtheestablishmentofthisplanwouldbetopreventtheuselesslabour,which,underoursystempreviouslyto1797,wassounprofitablyexpendedonthecoinageofguineas,whichoneveryoccasionofanunfavourableexchange(wewillnotenquirebywhatcaused)wereconsignedtothemeltingpot,andinspiteofallprohibitionsexportedasbullion。Itisagreedbyallpartiesthatsuchprohibitionswereineffectual,andthatwhateverobstacleswereopposedtotheexportationofthecointheywerewithfacilityevaded。
  Anunfavourableexchangecanultimatelybecorrectedonlybyanexportationofgoods,-bythetransmissionofbullion,orbyareductionintheamountofthepapercirculaiion。ThefacilitythereforewithwhichbullionwouldbeobtinedattheBankcannotbeurgedasanobjectiontothisplan,becauseanequaldegreeoffacilityactuallyexistedbefore1797,andmustexistunderanysystemofBankpayments。Neitheroughtittobeurged,becauseitisnownolongerquestionedbyallthosewhohavegiventhesubjectofcurrencymuchoftheirconsideration,thatnotonlyisthelawagainsttheexportationofbullion,whetherincoinorinanyotherform,ineffectual,butthatitisalsoimpoliticandunjust;injurioustoourselvesonly,andadvantageoustotherestoftheworld。
  TheplanhereproposedappearstometounitealltheadvantagesofeverysystemofbankingwhichhasbeenhithertoadoptedinEurope。ItisinsomeofitsfeaturessimilartothebanksofdepositofAmsterdamandHamburgh。InthoseestablishmentsbullionisalwaystobepurchasedfromtheBankatafixedinvariableprice。ThesamethingisproposedfortheBankofEngland;butintheforeignbanksofdeposit,theyhaveactuallyintheircoffers,asmuchbullion,astherearecreditsforbankmoneyintheirbooks;accordinglythereisaninactivecapitalasgreatasthewholeamountofthecommercialcirculation。InourBank,however,therewouldbeanamountofbankmoney,underthenameofbank-notes,asgreatasthedemandsofcommercecouldrequire,atthesametimetherewouldnotbemoreinactivecapitalinthebankcoffersthanthatfundwhichtheBankshouldthinkitnecessarytokeepinbullion,toanswerthosedemandswhichmightoccasionallybemadeonthem。Itshouldalwaysberememberedtoo,thattheBankwouldbeenabledbycontractingtheirissuesofpapertodiminishsuchdemandsatpleasure。InimitationoftheBankofHamburgh,whopurchasesilveratafixedprice,itwouldbenecessaryfortheBanktofixapriceverylittlebelowthemintprice,atwhichtheywouldatalltimespurchase,withtheirnotes,suchgoldbullionasmightbeofferedtothem。
  Theperfectionofbankingistoenableacountrybymeansofapapercurrency(alwaysretainingitsstandardvalue)tocarryonitscirculationwiththeleastpossiblequantityofcoinorbullion。Thisiswhatthisplanwouldeffect。Andwithasilvercoinage,onjustprinciples,weshouldpossessthemosteconomicalandthemostinvariablecurrencyintheworld。Thevariationsinthepriceofbullion,whateverdemandtheremightbeforitonthecontinent,orwhateversupplymightbepouredinfromtheminesinAmerica,wouldbeconfinedwithinthepricesatwhichtheBankboughtbullion,andthemintpriceatwhichtheysoldit。Theamountofthecirculationwouldbeadjustedtothewantsofcommercewiththegreatestprecision;andiftheBankwereforamomentsoindiscreetastooverchargethecirculation,thecheckwhichthepublicwouldpossesswouldspeedilyadmonishthemoftheirerror。AsforthecountryBanks,theymust,asnow,paytheirnoteswhendemandedinBankofEnglandnotes。Thiswouldbeasufficientsecurityagainstthepossibilityoftheirbeingabletoomuchtoaugmentthepapercirculation。Therewouldbenotemptationtomeltthecoin,andconsequentlythelabourwhichhasbeensouselesslybestowedbyonepartyinrecoiningwhatanotherpartyfoundittheirinteresttomeltintobullion,wouldbeeffectuallysaved。Thecurrencycouldneitherbeclippednordeteriorated,andwouldpossessavalueasinvariableasgolditself,thegreatobjectwhichtheDutchhadinview,andwhichtheymostsuccessfullyaccomplishedbyasystemverylikethatwhichishererecommended。