DAVIS. 



MASSACHUSETTS CURRENCY. 



197 



The Suffolk files furnish us with two papers which give the fluctuations 

 in silver somewhat more in detail than the foregoing table between 1700 

 and 17ocS, inclusive. This record is copied from a book kept by Edward 

 AVinslow, who was sheriff of Suffolk County, and it has therefore a 

 certain official character. * 



From scattered sources we can fill in the missing quotations from 1738 

 to 1749, with sufficient accuracy for our purposes, f As to the rate of 

 exchange at the latter date, the confusion was so great that no person 

 knew just what it was, but silver was generally quoted at about 60s., 

 and exchange at about 1100. In 1700, the Province was practically on 

 a specie basis, and exchange was quoted at its normal rate, 133. Doug- 

 lass gives silver in 1702 at 6s. lOic?. Hutchinson practically adopts 

 the same rate.| If tlie piece of eight was jiermitted to circulate on the 



* Suffolk files. 40,289 and 46,659. There is a table incorporated in tlie draught 

 of an act which failed of passage, given in the Massachusetts Archives, Vol. CL, 

 p. 473, wliicli includes the rates from 1710 to 1727. Another is to be found in the 

 Diary and Letters of Thomas Hutchinson, p. 53. Felt gives the table from the 

 Arcliives, Historical Account of Massachusetts Currency, p. 83. 



t The important points being 1744, 30s.; 1745, 36s.; 1746, 41s.; 1747, 60s.; 

 1750, 60s. 



X History of Massachusetts, Vol. II. p. 393. 



