2sS A VOYAGE TO Book IX. 



But it muft be obferved, that though thefe colonies 

 are fo large, fertile, well peopled, and ñouriíhing, yet 

 the current money is not of metal, but of paper, in the 

 form of common coin, being two round pieces palled 

 together, and ftampt on each fide with the arms of the 

 colony: and of this there are pieces of all values from 

 the lowed to the higheil ; and with thefc they buy and 

 fell without making ufe of any metallic coin whatever. 

 But as thefe are liable to grow foul, or break with ufe, 

 there is a particular houfe which may be called a kind 

 of mint, this paper-money being made there j and ano- 

 ther in every town for the diftribution of it. To thefe 

 houfes are brought all fuch pieces as from any caufc 

 whatever can no longer pafs current : and here others 

 of like value are ifllied in the lieu of them. In this par- 

 ticular the difintereftednefs and probity of the directors 

 of this money are really admirable, as having it in their 

 power to enrich themfelves by caufing great numbers of 

 this fpecies to be ftruck, and putting them in their own 

 pur fes. 



The houfes for diilribution of this money receive 

 remittances of new from the chief houfe at Bofton, and 

 pafs accounts with the direólors by fending thofe which 

 have been brought for exchange. And fuch is the in- 

 tegrity of thefe judges, that even a flight fufpicion of 

 being capable of a trmd would be an injury to the 

 high reputation in Vv'hich they (land. But what fccms 

 ftrange and almoft incredible is, that they, in whofc 

 power it is to give what value they pleafe to the paper, 

 by the Ramps, of which they have tJie care, never have 

 been known to abufe their truft: but the wonder ceafes 

 upon reñecting, that the former eftabllihment of thefe 

 colonies is in a manner owing to Quakers; and that, to 

 the laws which they and the firit fettlers compiled, 

 the colonies chiefly owe that quiet and profperity they 

 ibll enjoy. The Quakers are a kind of feótaries, 

 who though zealoully fond of feveral ridiculous and 

 extravagant notions, cannot be fufficiently commended 



for 



