— i Report ef the Secretary of the Trtafury, on the sub- ] jiil of a Mint. Tlie Secretary of the Treasury having attentively j considered the fiibjetft referred to him by the ] order of the House of Reprefetuati ves at" the fifteenth of April lad, relatively to the estab lishment of a Mint, mod refpetitfully submits the result of his enquiries and reflections. A PL AN for an eftablidiment of this nature, invokes a great >T~Y. vaiiety of considerations, intricate, nice, and impoitant. The general date of debtor and creditor ; all the relations and consequences ot price; the essential interedsof trade and indudrv; the value of all properly ; the whole income both of the State and of individuals, are liable to be sensibly influenced, beneficially, or otherwise, by the judicious, or injudicious regulation of this interfiling object. . It is one likewise, not more necefTary than difficult to b" right ly adjuded ; one which has frequently occupicd the rrdefltons and rcfearches of politicians, without having harmonised their opinions on some of the moil important of the principles which enter into its difcuflion. Accordingly, different systems con tinue to be ad»ocatc(!, and the fydems of different nations, after much invedigation, continue to differ from each other. But if a right adjudment of the matter be truly of such nicety and difficulty, a quedion naturally arifrs, whether it may not be mod advifeable to leave things, in this relpeft, in the Hare in which they are ? Why, might it be asked, since they have so long pro ceeded in a train, which has caused no general sensation of in convenience, diould alterations be attempted, the precise effeftof which cannot with certainty be calculated ? The answer to this quedion is not perplexing.—The immtnle disorder which a£tually reigns in so delicately and important a concern, and the (till greater disorder which is every moment podible, call loudly for a reform. The dollar, originally contem plated in the money tranfa&ions of this country, by fucceflive di minutions of its weight and finenefs, has fudained a depreciation of 5 per cent. And yet the new dollar has a currency in all pay ments in place of the old, with scarcely any attention to the dif ference between them. The operation of this in depreciating the value of property, depending upon pad contracts ; and (as far as I inattention to the alteration in the coin may be luppofed to leave prices ftationarv) of all other property is appaient. Nor can it require argument to prove, that a nation ought not to differ the value of the property of its citizens to fluctuate with the fluilua tions ot a foreign mint, and to change with the changes in the re gulations of a foreign sovereign. 1 his,neverthelcfs, is the con dition of one, which having no coins of itsown, adopts with im plicit confidence thofeof other countries. Theunequal values allowed in different pans of the Union to coins of the fame intrinsic worth ; the delcttive species of them, which rmbarraffes the circulation of some of the States ; and the diflimilarity of their fevcial monies of account, are inconvenien ces, which if not to l>e ascribed to the wantof a uat-oeal coinage, will at least be mod effeflually remedied by the edablifhmeut of one ; a meafurc that will at the fame time give additional security against impositions, by countei feit as well as by base currencies. It was with great reason, therefore, that the a-.teniion of Con gress, under the late confederation, was repeatedly drawn to the fdablifhment of a mint; and it is with equal reason that the fu'j jeft has been resumed ; now that the favorable change which has taken place in the duration of public affairs, admits of its being carried into execution. But though the difficulty of devidng a proper edablifhment ou»ht not to deter from undertaking so necessary a work ; yet it ennnot but inspire diffidence in one, whose duty it is made, to propose a plan for the purpose, and may perh.ips be permuted to be relied upon as some excuse for any errors which may becharge able upon it, oi for any deviations from founder principles, which may have been suggested by others, or even in pait atted upon by the former government of the United States. In order to a right judgment ot what ought to be done, the fol lowing particulars require to be difcuffrd : :d.°What ought to be the nature of the money unit of the United States ? 2. What the proportion between gold and diver, if coins of both metals are to be edablifhed ? 3d What the propoition and compodtion of alloy in each kind ? 4th. Whether the expence of coinage (hall be defrayed by the government, or out of the material itfelf ? ,sth. What shall be the number, denominations, dzes, and de vices of the coins ? 6th. Whether foreign coins (ball be permitted to be current or not; if the former, at what rate, and foi what period. A prc-requidte to determining with propriety what ought to be the money unit of the United States, is to endeavour to form as ac curate an idea as the nature of the cafe will admit of, what it ac tually is. The pound, though of various value, is the unit in the monev of account of all the States. But it is not equally easy to pronounce what is to be conddered as the unit in the coins. There being no formal regulation on the point (the resolutions of Con grefsol the 6th of July, 1785, and Bth of August, 1786, having never yet been carried into operation) it can only be inferred from usage or practice. The manner ot adjusting foreign exchanges, would fcem to indicate the dollar as belt entitled to that charac ter. In thefc, the old piaflre of Spain, or old Seville piece of eight rials, ot the value of four (hillings and dx-pence derling, is evidently contemplated. "1 he computed par between Great-Bri tain and'Pennfylvauia will ferre as an example. Accord : ng to that, one hundred pounds derling is equal to one hundred and hxty-dx pounds and two-thirdsof a pound Pennfylvama currency; which corresponds with the proportion between 4J6 derling and 7/6 the current value of the dollar in that dale, by invariable usage. And as far as the information of the Secretary goes, the fame coin parifon holds in the other dates. But this circumdance in favour of the dollar, loses much of its weight from two considerations. That Ipecies of coin has nevei had any fettled or dandard value, according to weight or duenefs, but has been permitted to circulate bv tale, without regard to ei ther; very much as a mere money of convenience ; while gold has had a fixed price by weight, and with an eye to its dnenefs. This greater dability of value of the gold coins, is an argument of force for regarding the money unit as having been hitherto vir tually attached to gold, rather than to diver. Twenty-four giains and 6-8 of a grain of fine gold, have cor responded with the nominal value of the dollar in the several dat s; •without regard to the fuccedive diminutions of its intriridc ■worth. But if the dollar {hould, notwithdanding, be supposed to have the bed title to being considered as the present unit in the coins, it would remain to determine what kind of dollar ought to be under stood, or, in other words, what precise quantity of fine diver. The old piadre of Spain, which appears to have regulated our foreign exchanges, weighed 17 dwt. 12 grains, and contained 386 grains and 15 mites of fine diver. But this piece has been long since out of circulation. The dollars now in common currency are ot recent cate, and much inferior to that, both in weight and finenefs. The average weight of them, upon different trials in large masses, has been found to be 17 dwt. 8 grains. Their fine nefs is less prec'fel} ascertained ; the results of various essays made by different persons, under the direction of the late fupcrirtendant of the finances and of the Secretary, being as various as the essays themselves. The difference between their extremes is nest less ban 24 grains in a dollar, of the fame weight and age ; which is too much for .any probable differences in the pieces. It is rather to be prelumed that a degree of inaccuiacy has been occasioned by the want of proper apparatus, and in general, of practice. The experiment which appears to have the best pretentions to exa£l nefs, would make the new dollar to contain 370 grains and 933 thoufandih parts of a grain of pure silver. According to an authority, ori which the Secretary places re liance, the standard of Soain for its silver coin in the year 1761, was 261 parts fine and 27 paits alloy ; at which proportion, a dollar of 17 dwt. 8 grains, would con fill of 377 grains of fine fil vcr, and 39 grains of alloy : But there is no queflion that this standard has been iince altered confidcrably for the worse ; to what precise point is not as well afceriained as could be wished ; but from a computation of the value of collars in the markets both of Amflerdam and London (a criterion which cannot materially mislead) the new dollai appears to contain 368 grains of fine sil ver, and that which immediately preceded it about 374 grains. In this Hate there is some difficulty in defining the dollar, which is to be understood as Constituting the present mo ney unit ; on the supposition of its being moll applicable to that species of coin. The old Seville piece of 386 grains and 15 mites fine, comports belt with the computations of foreign ex changes, and with the more ancient contrasts relpe&ing landed property; but far the greater number of contra6ls Hill in opera tion concerning that kind of property, and all those of a merely personal nature, now in force, mud be referred to a dollar of a different kind. The a£tual dollar at the time of contra&ing is the only one which can be supposed to have been intended, and it has been seen, that as long ago as the year 1761, there had been a material degradation ot the standard. even in regard to the more ancient contracts, no person has ever had any idea of a scruple about receiving the dollar of the day, as a full equivalent for the nominal sum, which the dollar originally imported. A recurrence therefore to the ancient dollar would be in the greatest number of cases an innovation in fatt, and in all, an in novation in refpeft to opinion. The actual dollar, in common circulation, has evidently a much better claim to be regarded as the a£lual money unit. The mean intrinsic value of the different kinds of known dol lars has been intimated as affording the proper criterion. But when it is recollected, that the more ancient and more valuable ones are not now to be met with at all in circulation, and that the mass of thofc generally current is composed ot the newelt and most interior kinds, it will be perceived, that even an equation ot that nature would be a considerable innovation upon the real present (late of things ; which it will certainly be prudent to ap proach, as far as may be confident with the permanent order, de signed to be introduced. An additional reason for considering the prevailing dollar, as the fhndard of the present money unit, rather than the ancient one, is, that it will not only be conformable to the true existing proportion between the two metals in this country, but will be more conformable to tnat which obtains in the commercial world, generally. (To be continued.) Manuel Noah, BROKER, No. gi, Race-Street, between Second and Third-Streets, BUYS and SELLS Continental & State Certificates, Pennsylvania and Jersey Paper Money, And all kinds ofI>ECURITIES of the United States, or of any Philadelphia, Feb. 1790, IMPERIAL, HYSON, SOUCHONG, andBOHEA T E REFINED SUGARS, COFFEE, and SPICES, &c. Of the firfl Quality—by Retail, No. 17, Third-Street,between Chefnut and Market-Streets, N. B. A few Tickets inthe New-York Lottery, ■which is to be drawn tht firjt of April next, jor [ale. New Line of Stages. THE Subscriber has eftablifhrd a line ot STAGES from Hart ford to Bollon, by way of Norwich and Providence, which will run thro twice a week during the Winter Season, and three times a week duyng the Summer Season. Gor>d Carriages, Horses, and careful Drivers are provided. PafTengers pay three Pence per Mile, and are allowed 14 pound Baggage each. Extra Baggage pays at the rate of three Pence per Mile for every 150 wt. As the Mail is to go in these Stages for the year 1 791, fixed hours for flatting from the refpe£live Stage Houses is absolutely neceffary—from which there can be nodevia tion. Norwich, Dec. 14, 1790. The Stage for the Eastward leaves Hartford Mondays and Thursdays, Norwich Tuesdays and Fridays, Providence Wednesdays and Saturdays, For the Weflward, leaves Boston- Mondays and Thursdays, Providence Tuesdays and Fridays, Norwich Wednesdays and Saturdays. JESSE BROWN. 69—iw 3 m THE Copartnerfliip of HE WES and ANTHONY having ex pired the 31ft ultimo, they rcqueft those, who have any de mands, to exhibit their accounts and receive their money; and hofc who arc indebted, are desired to make speedy payment, to either of the Subscribers, at their Compting-Houfe, No. 5, Chef nut-Street-Wharf. J O S I A H H E W F.-S, Philadelphia, Jan. 15, 1791 N. B. They have yet on hand, and for SALE, at their STORE abovementioned, HYSON, Souclvong, and Bohea TEAS, Three cases Caflia, Pimento in bags, Muscovado Sugar, A few Cases old Batavia Arrack, One cask of Durham MuAard, New England Rum m hogsheads and barrels, A quantity of prime Boston Beef, Spermaceti, right whale and tanners' Oil, Best pickled Mackrel, 6by B—7 by 9 —8 by 10 —9 by 11 —and 10 by 12 Window Glass, A quantity of excellent carrot Tobacco, And an elegant CHAN DELIER. INFORMATION WANTED. JQ" THE Subscriber requejh, if any gentleman can give him information of a parchafe of Lands made by a Mr. Daniel Richardet, in the year 1781 and 1782, in fame part of the United States, he will be so kind as to inform his Brother, by diretting a line to him, at the Print-rr's office. S. RICHARDET. January, 1791 740 particular State, A S JOSEPH ANTHONY Martinico Coffee, (aaw6w.) PRICE CURRENT. PHILADELPHIA. PER QUANTITY. FEBRUARY 12.—Dollars at 7/6. ANCHORS pr. lb. 6}d Al!um, En<^li(h, pr. cwt. 36/ Ditto, Roch pr. lb. \cd Arties, pot, per ton, 35 a 37/1 or Arrack pr. gall. icj 12s 6d Brandy, common, j*6d -Cogniac 8r 4d Braz;!etto, pr. ton. 12/ a 16/ Bricks pr. M 30 s Bread, (hip pr. cwt. ißj6i 19 s Ditto, pilot 3,5s Ditto, small water 45/ Beer, American, in bot. / , pr. doz. £ 0 4 pr. bbl. 30/ f Oak pr.M feet, 4/IOJ 4/181 | Merch. pine 4/10s 4/ 15 s Sap, do. 2l'ys6d 3/ O I -N. Eng. 2/5/ 2/ js 6d L Cedar 4/ 4/5J The above are the Shallop prices ; jor the Yard prices add 1 pr M. Brimstone in rolls pr. cwt. 24 s ( Irish pr. bbl. 55 s 60s u ) Bolon 55' CQ (Country 481501 Butier pr. lb. 12d in kegs 10d Cedar,red timber pr.foot 2S2i6d Chocolate pr. lb. % i?d Coal pr. bulhel nZd Coffee pr. lb. is 2d Cinnamon ißi 20j Caflia 4? Cheese, English u 6d Country 6d 7£d 2 fSper. pr. lb. 3 s $d 3s6d Q Myrtle Wax tszd *3 | Mould,tallow \\d\id O (.Dipped 9^9h4 Cotton 1* \d u B*/ Cutrants 1*62/ Cloves 15* Copperas pr.cwt. 15J iys6d Cordage 6oj 6256 d Cocoa 62i€d 6756 d Duck, Rufiia, pr. piece Boj 85J Ravens 65J 70J Flour, Superfine, pr. bbl. 451 Common, 42.? Bur middlings,beft 37s Middlings 341 Ship-fluff pr. cwt. 14/ i6j Flax pr. lb. 8d 9d Fustic pr. ton, 135J 150s Feathers pr. lb. 2j 4d Flaxfeed pr. bulh. 5J 3d Glue, pr.cwt. 7/ ioj 8/ Ginger, whiterace 52s 6d Ditto, common 50 s Ditto, ground pr. lb. is 2d Ginseng, 2s Gunpowder, cannon,pr. ? quarter calk, ) 3 0S Ditto, fine glazed 37J 6d G'n, Holland, pr. gall. 5s pr. cafe, 3°' 35' \ Wheat pr. bufn BiSdgs R >' e .5' _ OatS \sßd2s6d < <( Iridian corn 2s6d 3r w Barley 4J gd Best ftielled 20s Buckwheat 2j6 Hams pr. lb. yd &d Hemp, pr. ton, 50/56/ hoops, pr. M 5/ 6/ Herrings, pr. bbl. 20s Hides, raw pr. lb. yd 10d Hops 2s^d?s6d Indigo, French, 7s 6d 12s ■ Carolina 4 s 7s 6d Irons, fad pr. cwt. [ Callings 2256 d 30 j "Z | Bar pr. ton, 29/30/ 2 < pi g 5 1 Sheet 60/65/ Nail rods 36/ Junk, pr. cwt. 27 s 35* Lard, hogs- 9d 10d Lead in pigs 40J 42J 6d in bars 4ss 505 Lead, white 80j 85; ■ r ed 4- J 6d Leather, foal pr. lb. i.r 2d is\d Lignum vita: pr. ton 42J 45s Logwood 7/ 5 s 8/ M ai, Indian, pr. bbl. iqj Rve 28f Mackare!,befl; 60s -Common 30J 52.) 6d Mace pr. lb. 701 Mustard 2j 4d Madder, best isStlisgd Molafles pr. gall. Marble, wrought, pr. foot, 131- Mart spars 6s js6d Mahogany 8 d 12 d Nutmegs pr. lb. 60s 67s 6d Nails, iodi?.d&c 2od— 8d &kdqd t r i ' 3 C Liniced, pr. gall. 31 gd j 1 rain 1 j 2s j Spermaceti 3s *d I Whaie is 10d 2s q Olive 61 6</ I Ditto pr. cafe 28J 30J 1 Best sweet in ) c , c flafk S ,pr.box,s s«6''6oj L--bafkets 12 bottles 28* Oak. timber pr. ton 40* Porter in casks, pr. gal!. Vs 1 °ndon,pr.doz.i2* 6d 15J TREASURY DEPARTMENT,I January 25, 1791. J THE Public Creditors are reminded that, in order to the pro per dispositions for paving the Interest in the several States, it is neceflary that the amount to be paid in eaeh fliould be pre vjoufly known at the Treasury. And as the expiration of the fii'ft quarter is not far distant, it is wilhed that those who have not yet done it, may be expeditious in making and fignifying their elec tion, pursuant to the a£t making provision for the debt of the United States. Porter, American pr. do*. jj r Pitch, pr. bbl. Pork, liurltngton, Lower county 70jij-.r Carolina 6oc Peas, Albany ys6dSs^,l Pepper, pr. lb. 2,c Pimento 11 6,/ Rice pr. cwf. o^ T Rosin pr. t>bl. jr, lUifins, befi, pr. Jicj Ditto pr.jar , )S Duto pr. box 17s 6tt r |amdica pr. gal). 5 j 6d 61 j Antigua s g J Windward p> "j Birbadoes 4 j I Country, N. E. 3 J 3 .[,i L raffia is\d 2s6d SafTafras pr. ton 60s Saltpetre, pr. cwt. 6/10 s Sulphur, flour 40/41/ Shot SCJ _j f German pr. cwf. 60*70/ W ) English, 82s fid y American pr. ton 40/60/ (Crowley's pr. fag;. 4/io.r Snake root pr. lb. 1 s 6d 2sBJ Soap, Common cd 6d ■ Brown 6 d Castile 84 gd Starch 1 Snuff is6d 3 s 6d Spermaceti, refined, * 01 Sail Cloth, English, ) r , . pr. yard, 'J »« ««<f Boston, No. I —No. ir. 2s .u RulTia (heeling, pr. p. go* pLump, pr. lb. is Pi ; l.oaf, finale refined is6d Ditto, double do. isio'd | Havannah, white j id f Ditto, brown, BJlOd I Mufcovada.pr.cwt Spirits Turpentine pr. gall. 3sqd . Allum pr. bu(h. 2J2Sgd _j 1 Liverpool 2sbd < \ Cadiz Ps (Lisbon us id m6d Ship build. W.O. frames ) 80/ P- $ 85x Do. LO. & red C. do. 61 61 Shingles, fhoit, p. M. i 5 .( 20 .r long dreiTed gos 1 ocr itling, heart, go.i 15OJ Scani — Jd P . 4 2J 45 s r I"ipc pr. 1 sco pieces 12/ £■W. O. hogthcad ;/ > \ R. °. do. 5 i s , <|Le° g , n 5 i <n Bai "l 4/15/ L Heading 8/ioi ' Otter, bed pr. piece 30* Minks nCd gr Fox, grey QJ £f rf d 61 7 j Martins 2 • Fishers 2s6d y t/> Bears iisSd 25J Racoons 2s 41 Musk-rats 9 d isbi Braver, pr. lb. 5s aej in hair Tar,N. Jersey, 24 gal. p. bbl. gs Carolina, 32 gall. 131 Turpentine iys6d • Spirits, pr.gall. 9d . C James R. new bcft 32J6d ""i inferior 23/2,51 o old 3 5 s 38.r Rappahannock 22s 64 C J Colo. Maryland 40J 60/ Dark 20 s Long-leaf 20j F.aftern-fliore 15 s 16s ! Carolina, new 23J 25s L old oox V. JU.. ( Hyson pr. lb. js&j qd v: I Hyson fk-n, 4/ 4s 6d Souchong, bcft 7s6d 8/ H I Congo, 3*^3*9^ [Bohca, 2J yd Tallow, refined gd Tin pr. box, no/ii2j6i Verdigreafe pr. lb. 4* 4J 6d Vermillion, Varnifti, of 2j 3-^ J' Madeira, pr. pipe 40/80/ Lisbon % 40/ Tenetiffe 22/ioj 24/ u Fayal pr. gall. 3*i</3.<3</ J Port pr. pipe 39/ 40/ Ditto pr. gall. r " Do. in bottles, pr. doz. 30/ Claret 3OJ 451 1 Sherry pr. gall. 6s gd gs Malaga 4s 5s Wax, Bees pr. lb. 2S is 2d Whale-bone, long pr. lb. 113 d lhort, pr. lb. is logi ' COURSE OF EXCHANGE. Bills of Exchange, London, go days, 7o Ditto 60 days Ditto 30 days 73§ Amsterdam, 60 days, pr. guilder, 3J5 30 days 3s 1 d France, 60 days,pr.s liv. 6s 8d 30 days 6s \o<£ 77 1 (» 2! 3 J
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