1 MARCH 1856, Page 15

DECIMAL COINAGE AND ACCOUNTS.

London, ma lebruary 1856. San—Mindful of your editorial injunction, I proceed to state quern bre- vissime what I hope you will permit to see the li,ght, though I piuis over the exposition of known error, and substitute (by anticipation) a strong con- viction for what I trust the result will ere long prove to be a clear and in- disputable fact.

The easiest, most efficacious, and most conciliatory mode of introducing a complete, comprehensive, and permanent system of decimal coinage and accounts, seems to me to be that which is comprised in the following four suggestions.

1st. That, in deference to the advocates of the " pound " baths, the pre- sent coins (with the exception of the florin) be left absolutely as they are, until respectively superseded by others found practically to be mare con- venient.

The florin from 1st January next, to be reckoned as equivalent to 25 pence instead of 24, or 100 farthings instead of 96.

2d. That, in deference to the advocates of the " penny " basis, the only Gains leaned from the Mint, in gold or silver, from let January next to 31st December 1860, be—a pistole noble, or new sovereign, of the value of 200 tie ; a new florin or new half-crown, of 25 pence ; and a franc, new shil- ling, or tenpanny, of 10 pence. 3d. That in deference to the advocates of the "farthing" basis, the accounts of all Government departments and of the Bank of England, all new Bank of England notes and post-bills, and all sums in papers laid before Parliament, be expressed, from let January.next, either in guineas, florins, rials, and farthings, respectively distinguished in such accounts, he. by the initial letters A. D. C. M. (denoting, like the present a. d., the Latin words Aurei, .Decima, Centesima, Millesima); or else in guineas and farthings (or mules) only ; the guinea being equivalent to 250 ponce or 1000farthings. 4th. That, as harmonizing all and in every way simplest and best, the Mint standards, from 1st January next, be regulated in the following man- ner—

The only measure of weight used in the Mint to be the decimal pound, i.e. the French livre usuelle or half-kilogramme, equal to 7717 Troy grains ; subdivided into 10 decimal ounces, 109 decimal drachms, 1000 decimal sera- plea or pennyweights, 10,000 decimal grains, and 12,000 granules. The decimal pound of standard gold (eleven-twelfths pure, as at present) to be coined into 60 guineas of 250 pence or 1000 farthings each ; 75 pistoles, nobles, or new sovereigns of 200 pence or 800 farthings each ; and other coins of proportionate value.

The decimal pound of standard silver (eleven-twelfths pure, the same as standard gold) to be coined into 1000 non-seignoraged pennies, 1060 seagu- orazed pennies, and other coins of respectively proportionate values.

e decimal pound of standard co (pure) to be coined into 99 annas,

25 pennies, 50 .

'es, and 100 .

In conclusion, let me repeat, that the two things :squired are—mine for the million, figures for the millionaire.