so quickly as the Chinese with his ten balls. | small copper coins. The first step in the The decimal system would make a calcu- adoption of such a system was to establator of every villager, which would probably be of some use in saving them some farthings. He hoped the Government, so far from throwing any obstacles in the way of so desirable a change, would afford every facility for the introduction of the decimal system.

lish the tenth part of a pound, which would be 2s.; and the first step might therefore be, to strike a two-shilling piece, to which he should have no objection. It might be advisable to strike a two-shilling piece; and if the people of the country became used to the two-shilling piece, it would be a most important step towards the introduction of a decimal system. If the coinage of a two-shilling piece could do no good in that way, it would do no harm, as the present system could go on if that failed. If the prejudice were found to be so strong after the introduction of the two-shilling piece, there would be no harm done by that attempt. After that statement, he did not see that it was necessary for the hon. Member to press his Motion; and if he did, he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) should feel it his duty to move the previous question.

MR. A. STAFFORD O'BRIEN congratulated the hon. Member for Bolton on the partial success of his Motion, and thanked him for the information contained in it. It was satisfactory to hear from the hon. Members opposite that there was such a prejudice in the country in favour of old customs and old institutions. He regretted that the Master of the Mint had not spoken, as Ireland, which was in everything an exception to other countries, had departed from the decimal system, and the Irish tenpenny was long since departed; so that, perhaps, the Master of the Mint might be able to throw some historical light on the subject.

The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER said, that the mover of the Resolution, the hon. Member for Bolton, and the seconder, the hon. Member for Montrose, did not agree in what they recommended to the Government. The hon. Member for Bolton recommended the Government immediately to issue two descriptions of coin; and the hon. Member for Montrose recommended a Committee of Inquiry as to the best mode of introducing a decimal system; but his opinion was, that neither recommendation ought to be adopted. He was not by any means insensible to the advantages which were to be derived from a decimal system—a system which had been adopted more or less in a great many countries of Europe, and which had afforded very great facility in keeping accounts. It was a system which, if adopted by common consent in this country, would be found to effect a very great improvement in that respect; but he would remind the House that there was hardly anything with respect to which the minds of people, or perhaps their prejudices, were more difficult to change, than the coinage of their country. In France, the decimal system was adopted; but in many parts of that country, after the fiery ordeal of the Revolution, the people maintained the old de- MR. SHEIL said, that it would have nominations of coin. [Dr. BowRING: Not been much more officious than official in of weights.] No, not of weights; but he him to have expressed any opinion on this was proceeding to show that no violent at- subject before the Chancellor of the Extempt ought to be made to introduce a de- chequer had spoken. He (Mr. Sheil) had cimal system. The introduction of such not omitted to give it the best consideraa system ought to be effected gradually, tion in his power; he felt the importance and in such a manner that the people of substituting, if it was possible, simple might gradually become accustomed to the for compound arithmetic. He wrote to use of that description of coinage; and if the Chancellor of the Exchequer from Irethat were done, he had no doubt that they land in October last, and received from would finally adopt it. He was not, how-him an answer, from which he should read ever, prepared to go the length of estab- an extract: lishing such a coinage at once; and with respect to the inquiry alluded to by the hon. Member for Montrose, he would state that it was not necessary, as the commissioners appointed to inquire into the standards went fully into that question, and pointed out how the change could be made with little difficulty, unless as regarded

"I have no objection to the system of a decimal currency. But you must not, as your proposal does, take the penny as the basis, and make your coins multiples of a penny. The unit of British currency, the basis upon which everything else depends, and by reference to which the value of every other coin is determined, is the pound sterling. We should get into inextricable confusion if we departed from this. A pound sterling

is 123 grains and a fraction of gold of given pure-pound. On the reverse the value might be ness: a shilling has no value from the silver it engraved. That new coin would be subcontains, but as the 1-20th part of a pound ster- divided into ten other coins, each of which ling the actual coin is not intrinsically worth so much. So a penny does not derive its value from would be subdivided into ten farthings or the copper it contains, but as the 1-120th part of a cents. Then the royal, or florin, would be pound. If, therefore, we are to adopt a decimal worth one hundred cents; half a florin, or system, the first step is easy enough a two-shil- a shilling, would be worth fifty farthings, ling piece would be the tenth part of a pound. The difficulty begins with a penny, or the next or cents; sixpence would be worth twentycoin, whatever you may call it, below the two- five farthings, or cents; threepence would be shilling piece. I will not pursue the subject fur- worth twelve cents and a half. On all these ther, having pointed out what must be the begin- coins, with the old name, might be enning, if such a system is to be entertained at all. I am confident that when you consider this sub- graved the value in the new coinage; and ject in its more general bearings, you will see in the common transactions of life, with that it is not a matter lightly to be dealt with; the aid of the new tables, no difficulty and any scheme which is to overturn the con- would arise. There would be no error in firmed habit of a country for centuries, and the the conversion of threepences, sixpences, confirmed mode of keeping accounts of all kinds, ninepences, and shillings: the only one would be in the intervening sums, and it would amount to only the fraction of a He also communicated with Mr. Trevelyan, farthing. He, however, thought that nowho enclosed to him some exceedingly able thing should be precipitately done. observations made by Mr. James Penning- new coin worth two shillings should be first ton. Mr. Pennington, it was right to put into circulation, and when once the state, was not favourable to the intro-public were familiar with its use, another duction of a decimal system. After step might be taken, and ere long the destating M. De Morgan's plan, published cimal system might be safely introduced. in the British Almanac of 1841, and originally suggested by the celebrated Mr. Babbage-the plan, indeed, which his hon. Friend had to-night propounded-Mr. Pennington proceeds to state

requires the most serious consideration before it is attempted, and the greatest care in adjusting

all its details."

"In this way a decimal currency and a decimal coinage might no doubt be established; but mark the consequence-a labourer, whose wages were tenpence a day, and who at the end of a week might be in the possession of sixty pennies, or 240 cents, (alias farthings), would find that he could obtain for his 60d., or 240 farthings, not 58. in silver, but only 48. 10d. Again, a shopkeeper, who had been in the habit of selling an article for 3d., and who expected that when he ceived money of the value of 18., would find that he had received five per cent less than the sum he had calculated upon. In short, bickerings and misunderstandings in all dealings of less value than a shilling would continually occur."

had sold four of these articles he would have re

Such were Mr. Pennington's objections; and he (Mr. Sheil) had submitted them to the consideration of two gentlemen of the highest mathematical ability. They did not concur with Mr. Pennington. It was clear that new contracts would be made in the new currency for labour and everything else, and that these objections could not then arise. They could apply to antecedent contracts, where it was necessary to connect the old currency with the new, and there could be little difficulty in doing that. The sovereign would be retained the new coin, worth two shillings, call it a royal or a florin, would be the tenth of a

The

MR. W. BROWN said, that in America, when the alteration from the old system to the decimal system was at first introduced, there was a little difficulty experienced in carrying it out; but as soon as that difficulty was overcome, the advantages of the decimal system in facilitating calculations and preventing mistakes, were found to be very great.

SIR G. CLERK considered that there could be little doubt of the advantage of a decimal system of currency with regard to the keeping of money accounts; and wherever such a system had been adopted, its simplicity had recommended it to favour. But, unless the Government were prepared to adopt a compulsory measure, such as had been enforced in the United States, and to call in the existing coinage, he did. not think that the people of this country would voluntarily adopt a decimal system. He understood that the Chancellor of the Exchequer was not prepared to require that the public and all other accounts should be kept according to the decimal system; and, if this were the case, he wished to ask the right hon. Gentleman to consider whether he might not produce a great deal of confusion, and afford great facilities for fraud, by striking a 2s. piece, which would be so similar in size and weight to the halfcrown piece, and as to the value of which ignorant persons might easily be deceived. He wished to remind the right hon. Gen

tleman of the inconvenience which was oc- | accepted the throne of Greece in favour of casioned a few years ago by the issue of his younger son, it was stipulated that a threepenny pieces soon after the coinage of constitution should be given to the Greeks, groats. There was so slight a difference between the size and appearance of the coins, that the threepenny piece was not unfrequently passed for a groat.

the relinquishment of office by Mavrocordato, in 1844, the condition of Greece, so far from improving, was as bad as it had been at any previous period; and the accounts which were now received from day to day revealed a system of violence, of extortion, and of various outrages committed against life and property, while the expectations of improvement held out in 1843 had not hitherto been fulfilled. He be

At Lamia, on the 26th of November last, two

He found likewise, that, on the 3rd of
September, 1846, the commandant of the

5th battalion wrote to the Minister of War

on brigandage in Acarnania. He said

lieved he should be able to show, by refer- gendarmes and three soldiers entered the village ence to authentic papers, that these out-of Daitza, where they took and imprisoned the aurages were committed, not only by the thorities, and then having entered the cottages tacit sanction of the authorities, but under belonging to two men, Agrosloti Galatopoulo and the orders of the constituted authorities Christo Talana, seized the women, whom they treated with a brutality too horrible to describe, themselves—by the fearful and lamentable and then pillaged the house." violence of the soldiers-with the violation of the constitution-and by the open and avowed influence of other Powers, or at least of one other Power, in the political management of the country. The condition of Greece in 1847 was such as to create astonishment and regret in the mind of every gentleman who was interested in the fate of that country, and was such as to decide an English House of Commons to express an opinion-he hoped a unanimous opinion-of reprobation and horror. He should now proceed to show that the constituted authorities connived at and were themselves the perpetrators of these extraordinary cruelties and outrages against life and property. He found that M. Crizeis, the Governor of Etolia, addressing M. Coletti, used these remarkable expressions :

“After having presented this statement to the Ministers, it is now my duty to observe, that it is absolutely essential the Government should take prompt and efficacious means to remedy this state of things, or otherwise I request the Government to accept my resignation; because it is repugnant to me to remain in the government of a province where the officers in command, whether designedly or otherwise, excite the people to rebellion, compel them to take up arms against the Government, or do anything to relieve themselves from that oppression, personal, material, and moral, with

which the officers endeavour to crush them."

He held in his hand a petition presented to the Greek Chamber from Patras, authenticated by all the leading inhabitants of the place. That petition stated that

"The members of the family Dimeoi, arrested

by the Mirarque (the Government officer), were subjected to the torture for three days, and all their effects sold. Dimetri Nicalo Copulo, accused of an insignificant robbery three years ago, was put to the torture and expired soon after."

A petition presented to the King from Messina contained the following passage:

"I likewise determined to report to the Gothose who were in any way favourable to the sysvernment, on the most proofs in my power, all tem; but I am compelled to declare, upon my honour, that brigandage is chiefly excited and countenanced by the employés of the Government head, and guided by views and interests of a priat Vanitza, who are urged on by a well-known vate nature. The Minister knows full well that during the brief existence of my mission I was deprived of a military force sufficient for the exigences of the service, as well as of the presence of In the more recent accounts from Athens, he found the following most extraordinary statement, under the date of the 10th of February, 1847::

a civil officer."

"If brigandage has for a long time desolated Acarnania, Eusytania does not suffer less from acts committed, not by brigands, but by the chief of the moveable column, the Captain Mercuditi. We and revolting description of the tortures and exhave before our eyes letters which give a detailed actions committed by this officer, in the villages of Spinassa, of Klitzo, of Fourna, &c. lation of this province, which at all times has The popu been distinguished by the gentleness of its manners, its application to labour, and exemplary submission, is reduced to despair. Since the time when placed under the administration of the famous Galini, she indignantly sees herself exposed to a system of persecution of which she has lost the memory since the end of Ali Pacha's Go

vernment."

The fact was, he believed, that the out

rages committed on the Greeks formerly by the Turks were greatly exceeded by the outrages now committed on them by their own Government. To come to a later period, the 10th of April, he found under that date an account of some important proceedings that had taken place in the important province of Laconia:—

"Grave events have occurred in Laconia. One

of the most important towns of the Peloponessus, at issue here. The people had been prothe port of exports for the productions of the rich mised a constitution, and they had received province of Lacedæmon, Gythion, has been sacked and partly destroyed in a collision which took a constitution; he would proceed to show place on the occasion of the municipal elections how that constitution had been dealt with. between the Mavromichalis and the Tzaratahis, He found that the municipal revenues of two families who both rank among the friends of Athens, which had been respected by the the present system." Turks themselves, and which amounted to 8,000 drachmas a year, had been seized and squandered year by year by the Go

The House might perhaps be inclined to say, that an election squabble was not so uncommon an event in England as to in-vernment; and not a penny of it was exduce them to take much notice of it; but he would venture to say, that it was very seldom indeed that election squabbles in England proceeded so far as to the burning of a town. But he would call the attention of the House to the fact by whose authority this was done. There could be no doubt that the constituted authorities had interfered; and the House would then see how they interfered :