REMARKS ON THE COINAGE.

Mr. URBAN,

IN

(Concluded from p. 17.) Jun. 9. N 1799, the Committee not being prepared with any devices for the improvement of the Coins, it was with great propriety ordered that the coinage of silver should be stopped. This was done that individuals might not receive that advantage which the low price of silver bullion then af forded, but which the Committee was not ready with any plan to give the Government a share of with them,

The Lords of the Committee of Council, with a truly laudable zeal for the improvement of the Coins, having expressed a wish to receive designs from eminent Artists, a circular letter was issued by the Royal Academy to its Members. In consequence several of the Academiciaus sent in drawings or models, but they unhappily did not fall in with the taste of the Committee, which, in course, took no notice either of them or of the Academicians t. The sale and exportation of guineas, which so forcibly proved the soundness of the principle on which they were coined, was stopped in the year 1811, by a statute for that purpose, the Act of 5 and 6 of Edward VI. having been

evaded by giving for them Bank Notes, instead of coined money.

Such was the confidence reposed in this new Statute, that a coinage of gold, at the usual weight, was issued in 1813, and the same weight was continued in an indenture between the King and the Right Hon. Wm. Wellesley Pole, which bore date ou the 30th of Sept. 1814, and when the Committee of Council for Coins resumed its deliberations, in 1816, after the return of peace, it with great pro priety recommended, in a Report to the Prince Regent, the inviolable preservation of that weight for the gold coins, whilst the silver should be reduced from 62 shillings the Pound to 66, according to the provisions of a statute, 56 Geo. III. chap. 68.

In consequence a Silver Coinage was formed in 1817, and guarded by a new-invented graining on the edge, but so superior is the activity of wickedness to that of honesty, that counterfeits were delivered without the walls of the Bank, whilst the genuine coins were issuing within.

The Statute having very wisely continued the weight of gold coins at the old standard, a new coinage was issued of pieces at 20s. each, under the denomination of Sovereigns. The issuing continued about twelve months: long enough to disbeen issued for the convenience of pose of all the Sovereigns which had the neighbouring States, to which they were exported, and which kindly condescended to receive them.

the true principles of Coinage, by The Bauk then, being ignorant of been determined, unwisely stopped which the weight of these pieces had the issue of them, and thus deprived our Mint of the glory of supplying other Mints with money free of the expence of coinage.

The last numismatic event which is recorded in the Annals of Coinage,

is the striking of crown pieces, the first in the reign of George III.

Of this event I know not how to speak in appropriate terms. According to the former ideas of Coinage, the pieces should be considered as money, intended for circulation and use, but from the careful manner in which each of them was put up before the issuing, it should seem that the Mint rather regarded them as medals, to be preserved in the cabinets of the curious.

Beyond the extent of the "Annals of Coinage," and, in course, not noticed there, is a project for gold coins, (if coins they may be called) of at least 60 ounces each, which the Bank is to give in exchange for its Notes, until the resumption of Cash Payments at a certain period.

This plan has, as I conceive, some marks of peculiar propriety.

As the first of these hardy pieces is to be exchanged at the rate of 41. 18. per ounce, it is probable that not one of them will ever be called for: and as the last are to be given by the Bank at the Mint price of gold, whatever the value in the market may be, the probability is, that another restrictive Bill may be found necessary, and the Report, which established such payments, will become, what it is already very nearly, mere waste paper.

Now, Mr. Urban, who, with all these interesting facts before him, will presume to assert that the theory and the practice of Coinage have not been improved upon during the reign of George the Third ?

Have we not

silver coins of such exquisite beauty, that Artists could not refrain from the imitation of them, even before they were publickly issued ?

Have we not gold coins so precious, that the Bank is obliged to lock them in its coffers, lest foreign nations should rob us of them?

And have we not a possibility of Coins, such as no people upon earth had ever the ability to strike before? Coins of gold of at least five pounds weight. A size so convenient for the use of the poor, and so little cumbersome to the pockets of the rich!

I could occupy several of your columus, Mr. Urban, with their appropriate panegyrick, but I have already trespassed too much upon you, and therefore shall conclude. Yours, &c.

R.M.R.

66

"To THE COUNTESS OF

M

ADAM, your Ladyship appears

to be so anxious to obtain

from me every information in my power concerning my friend the Persian, that I have just thrown together such matters as, I trust, will in some measure, satisfy your curiosity.

"I lament that it is not in my power to do more, but such as it is, it is much at your Ladyship's service, to dispose of as you may think fit. I have the honour to be, your-Ladyship's very devoted humble Servant, RADSTOCK.

"Portland-place, Jan. 10, 1810.”

"ABOUL HASSAN is in person above the common stature, and this is in no small

degree increased by a high cap covered with a shawl, and heels a full inch and a half high. He is about 35 years of age. His features are perfectly regular; his eyes have a peculiar softness in them, though sometimes animated to the highest degree; his nose aquiline, his teeth the most regular and beautiful imaginable, and his profile as fine as the pencil could trace. His countenance is open and full of candour, and when in its natural state is no less mild than dignified. When conversing and highly pleased, it has a sweetness that nothing can exceed; and when animated by argument, it bespeaks a soul replete with energy, and a depth of understanding rarely to be met with. His manoers are truly captivating, graceful, and as engaging as can be conceived, whilst, at the same time, they are such as ever to command respect, and remind even his very intimates, that he is the representative of a great monarch. I have visited the Ambassador every day since his arrival, excepting one, when in the evening he told Mr. James Morier that his heart was sick, as he had not seen his friend Lord Radstock during the whole day.' I sometimes call upon him twice a day, and have dined with him five times. A few days ago he gave us a grand dinner, at which were present, Lord Winchilsea, Lord Teignmouth, General

Gren

Grenville, Sir Gore Ouseley, Mr. Vaughan, and four or five others. Sir Gore Ouseley sat at the head of the table, and the Mirza on his left, it being the side near the fire. Nothing could surpass the grace and ease with which he did the honours of the entertainment: I do not mean as to attending to his guests eating and drinking, but to the general tenor of his conduct and behaviour, and unceasing complacency, towards them. He drank but one glass of wine at dinner, and none after, although he acknowledged he liked wine, and we kept our seats little short of three hours. This act of his forbearance and abstaining, from religious motives, might have served as a lesson to his Christian guests;-but bere candour bids me own they seemed by no means inclined to follow so excellent an example, though certainly nothing like excess was committed: I merely men. tion the circumstance as comparative, and offering a sort of contrast. When the conversation was serious, the Mirza's at. tention, questions, and replies, alike bespoke a refined and superior understanding; and when jocose, he displayed his perfect knowledge of repartee, and was all life and merriment. The company were highly pleased, as you will believe, and it was really no easy matter to say in which of the above opposite characters this amiable Asiatic shone most conspicuous. His mind appears to be as po lished as are his manners, and, though he is, as might be expected, utterly ignorant of European Literature, Sir Gore Ouseley says, that he has a perfect knowledge of that of his own country, as he often quotes historical facts relative to Persia, and occasionally cites Hafiz, Sadi, and others of their most celebrated poets. I accompanied His Excellency the other night to the opera for the second time, and I will throw together, promiscuously as they may occur, his observations and remarks, so far as they came within my knowledge; for not understanding the language, you may readily suppose, how much of what he says escapes me.

He

The Ambassador was received at the King's door, and with the same ceremony as if he had been of the blood royal. This marked attention pleas. ed him much, and he expressed his gratitude with much seeming warmth. appeared to be but little struck with the beauty or grandeur of the Theatre, and to my surprise, held the dancing very cheap. He laughed heartily at the folly of bringing forward Peter the Great and his Empress as dancing to divert the throng. What!' exclaimed he, is it possible that a mighty monarch and his queen should expose themselves thus ? how absurd! how out of nature! how perfectly ridiculous! Were I to translate the look that followed these words,

it would be thus: Surely a nation that can suffer so childish and preposterous an exhibition, and be pleased with it, can have little pretensions either to taste or judgment.' Soon after, he jokingly said, When I get back to my own country, the King shall ask me, 'What did the English do to divert you?' I'will answer, Sir, they brought before me your Majesty's great enemies, the Emperor and Empress of Russia, and made them dauce for my amusement.' This he repeated with the highest glee, as if conscious of saying a witty thing. He possesses much feeling. As a proof of this, he was so affected with a pathetic scene, representing a king and queen with their children in chains, and in a dungeon, (in which, by the bye, there is the finest acting I almost ever beheld,) that the tears ran down his cheeks during the whole of the performance. When I complimented him the next day on this display of his feelings, he instantly replied, Who could have done otherwise on beholding a king and queen, and their children, in such a complicated scene of misery and distress ? And at the end of the comic opera, at which he often laughed heartily, I asked him which he liked best, the serious or the comic opera? Without a moment's hesitation he replied, the serious, when I am inclined to cry and the comic, when I am in a humour to laugh.'

Ouseley.

Ouseley. This man's mind seems to be ever on the stretch, and filled with interesting and important objects only. His mission is, consequently, the primary one; his next is, the attainment of useful knowledge. His questions and answers are endless, when food for an inquisitive and reflecting mind presents itself: but they are ever to the purpose, scarcely any thing frivolous escapes him, though at times, particularly at table, no one seems to enjoy pleasantry more, even to playfulness. He knows not only bow to time a joke, but he can take one with the same good breeding; never saying or doing that which can distress others, or even appearing confounded or abashed, by the lively little sallies which he seems even to court, to promote convivial mirth. I was told the other day, that when he dined at Lord Wellesley's, a rallying scene passed between them that would have done credit to our most refined wits.

"The objects which hitherto seem to bave made the strongest impressions on the Mirza's mind are Greenwich and Chelsea Hospitals, the Bank, St. Paul's, Westminster Abbey, and Westminster Bridge. He desired to have the exact dimensions of the latter, but the fogs and damp weather have hitherto prevented him seeing any external objects with pleasure and satisfaction. He was highly delighted with his reception, both at the India House and Bank; at both which places he was received in a truly magnificent style. He conversed with the Governor of the Bank for nearly half an hour, and nothing could be more pertiment thau all his questions were.

He

then visited the several rooms, and saw and had explained to him the mode of carrying on the business. On observing the ingenuity and facility of striking off the one-pound notes, he asked-'Is this man paid by the day, or for the number which he produces By the day.' 'But I suppose he is compelled to strike a cerlain number? Yes; but on emergen. cies, when more are required, they work longer and are paid extra wages.' Those are very wise regulations, for they encourage industry, whilst they are a check upon idleness.'

"Last Sunday evening the Mirza sent a message to Mrs. Morier, requesting that she would permit him to pay her a visit. This being accepted, he shortly after made his appearance, and remained with her and her family and myself nearly two hours. On enquiring what were the books he saw upon the table, he was informed that they were the Bible and some books of sermons. He then desired to have explained to him the nature of the latter, and seemed to approve much the GENT. MAG. February, 1820.

study of such books on days set apart for devotion. The Miss Moriers then sang an hymn to him, without telling him what was the nature of the music. When they had ended he thanked them, adding, I am sure that must be sacred music, it affected me so very much.' He said that among the many of our customs which he approved, he admired none more than that, of not suffering the servants to remain in the room, when they were not wanted. He added, that he was endeavouring to introduce this excellent custom into his own house, and for that purpose he was for ever driving his servants out of the room, but they returned like flies, in spite of all he could do. I never beheld him in such high spirits and so merry as he was during that whole evening.

Every thing seemed to conspire to please him; the smallness and neatness of the house gave him an idea of comfort he had never experienced before. He repeated more than once, What could any person in the world wish for more than you have here?' Mrs. Morier shewed him a miniature of one of her daughters when a child. This delighted him so much that Mrs. M. begged he would accept it. He was so pleased with this present that he would not part with it for a moment during the rest of the evening; but kept stroking it with his hands, as if it had been a favourite little animal. He is uncommonly fond of children, and the younger they are the more be likes them. The first time he saw my youngest daughter, who is eleven years of age, he seemed quite enchanted with her, and made her sit by him the whole evening, when she was not dancing. He afterwards saw a little girl of Mr. Elliot's, who is not yet six years of age, and he seemed still more delighted with her, if possible, than he was with my daughter. I asked him at what age girls were married in Persia"? he said, about sixteen.' I remarked, that in India they married at a much younger age; he replied, it was true, but in Persia they liked children as children, but women as wives.' He has but one wife, which he says is enough for any man, adding,

6

that there can be no good or use in having more.' The first time be heard my daughters sing a trio, he was much struck with it, saying, this music quite delights me, but at the same time it puzzles me beyond measure, for, though I can plainly discover that all of them are singing in different tones, yet it seems to produce but one sound; all is in unison, as if their very souls understood each other.'

"I find I have been throwing all these little

little sayings and doings together in a most irregular way, and without the slightest adherence to form, or order; but the fact is, I write merely from memory, and just as the thoughts occur. As to the simple facts themselves, you may rely on them; and as to the rest, if I have given you a tolerable idea of the man I have been endeavouring to sketch, it is of little consequence whether I begin with his head or his heels.

"Should it be considered that I have not entered into this man's character so much as might have been expected, considering the frequent opportunities I have of seeing him; let it be remembered that I do not understand one syllable of the Persian language, and that the Mirza's knowledge of ours extends not beyond a few familiar phrases which he learnt during his passage to England. It is true that I sometimes request Sir Gore Ouseley or Mr. Morier to tell me what the Mirza is saying, but good breeding, and indeed common decorum, brings these questions and interruptions within such narrow limits, that it is but rarely I venture to ask for an explanation of that which I am so anxious to learn.

"A circumstance has just come into my recollection, which certainly ought not to be omitted. On the third or fourth day of the Ambassador's arrival, the Turkish Ambassador paid him a visit. 'What are you about?' cries the Turk.

I am writing English!' Writing English! why you have scarcely been here three days, whilst I have been in England seven years, and know not a syllable of the language, or how to form even a single letter.'

"Thanks to Mr. J. Morier's kind at

tention and instruction, the Mirza writes daily copies that would do credit to any boy of twelve or fourteen. So much for the Persian Ambassador. Whatever more I can collect concerning him that is worth notice, you shall have it.-Adieu."

A you have so long been eminent was my inducement to take up Polydore Vergil; and the following is, with a few additions, an abstract of his "Brief Commentary on the Lord's Prayer."

After blaming, in his Letter of Dedication to the Bishop of Rochester, the substitution of incredible legends of Saints for this Prayer, he mentions "that his present subject was made choice of, though there had been similar Commentaries by Cypriau, Augustin, and others, from a hope that, since we most readily assemble

thoughts that are our own, on future occasions of using the prayer, those most sacred truths which it contains might imbue the writer's mind.— London, Nov. 5, 1524. G. Mathew."

The place where prayers should be usually offered," in secret," "in our closet," seems fixed in order to apprize us of the likeliest way, as well as absolute necessity, of collecting the full vigour of our souls before we address the great Discerner of the heart. Let us be mindful how many there are in every land, of every denomination, whom, in the very first words of this prayer, we own brethren; for all are God's children : all have a federal right to call him Father, who have received his Christ # to them bath he given " power to become the Sons of God." May we never forget, amid the disquietudes of this stage of wrong, that Heaven in which our treasures and our hearts should be! We were early received into his visible Church in the Name' of God. How do we dishonour it, when we break our baptismal vow! Surely, against using it heedlessly or wantonly, least of all to warrant a lie, no additional check should be wanting. That first object of seeking "the kingdom of God," begins to come in us when, through sanctification of the Holy Ghost, He lives and reigns in our souls. Be the watchword in our struggle with sin, "Inherit the kingdom prepared from the beginning of the world."

The most entirely our own, the most arduous of all sacrifices is that of the will, a principle variable, conflicting, headstrong; yet the petition, "Thy Will be done!" renounces it, unless conformed to God's will. Blessed exchange (let us exclaim), of a blind disordered leader, for an allwise guide! of bitter constraint, for cheering resignation! of earth, for heaven!

It is intimated that our prayer should ascend daily, by no more than our daily bread" being asked for. It is of three kinds: 1st, The word of God, that bread which came down from Heaven, and makes the partakers immortal. 2dly, Sacramental bread, the sign of union with Christ. Sdly, The food and sustenance of the body, for which we depend on our heavenly Father, and having earned which we should be content.

Ere