TJie Relative Stability of Gold and Silver. 185 



Table showing weights of silver and gold respectively which would 

 exchange for one quarter of wheat in the imderineutioned years, 

 calculated according to the average prices in the London market 

 in each year, gold being taken at the Bank of England price of 

 jQ^, lys. gd. throughout. 



From this table I have taken certain representative 

 years and the period 1 845-50, and, comparing the respective 

 purchasing powers of gold and silver in terms of wheat at 

 to-day's prices with their respective purchasing powers in 

 terms of wheat in each of the years and periods mentioned, 

 I find that both metals have appreciated. I give the 

 results in the following table : — 



