106 



Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, February, 1853. 



By Isaac Lea. Philadelphia, 1854. 8vo. — From the Author. 

 Report of the State Librarian to the Legislature of Pennsylvania, 



with a Catalogue of Books for the year 1854. Harrisburg. 8vo. — 



From Rev. W. R. Dc Witt, State Librarian. 

 The Medical News and Library. Vol. XIII. xNo. 147. March, 1855. 



Philadelphia. 8vo. — Fro7n Blanchard <Sf Lea. 

 Semi-Centennial Celebration: Fiftieth Anniversary of the Founding 



of the New York Historical Society. Monday, Nov. 20, 1854. 



New York. 8vo. — From the Society. 

 Seventh Annual Report of the President and Directors to the Stock- 

 holders of the Ohio and Pennsylvania Rail Road Company. 



Pittsburg, Jan. 1855. — From S. W. Roberts, Chief Engineer. 



Mr. Peale made a communication, in continuation of his re- 

 marks at a former meeting, on the subject of Coinage and me- 

 tallic currency. 



At this particular period, which may be considered an epoch in the 

 monetary affairs of our country, it is very desirable that some fixed 

 principle should be adopted in the coinage, with reference to the pro- 

 portionate number of pieces of different denominations, if any such 

 principle exists. At all events there can be no impropriety in endea- 

 vouring to throw such light as we possess into what is now an obscure 

 atmosphere, in the hope that a ray may fall upon a path that will lead 

 us towards our destination; which is, without doubt, that of supplying 

 a currency of solid precious metals, the only safe basis of financial 

 prosperity. 



Congress has wisely, at its last session, done away the folly that 

 previously existed, of a double legal-tender, at fixed ratios of gold and 

 silver, by demonetizing the latter, except to the limited extent of five 

 dollars: thus rendering the first the currency of the country, and 

 adapting the latter, protected by a moderate seniorage, to its true ob- 

 ject and destination, as the change and means of payment for all the 

 small transactions of ordinary life. 



Our country has now, there is little doubt, an abundance of gold, 

 both in coin, bars, and other forms of bullion, for all desirable pur- 

 poses of a solid basis, including that of a legitimate metallic currency, 

 and the supply is still on the increase. Silver seems to present no 

 dilTiculty, as to a supply for the lesser purposes, already noticed, al- 



