344 Mr. J. Napier on Spurious Coins. 



Such, then, is a brief statement of the several causes and circumstances 

 attending damp walls, which, I think, ought to suggest precautions 

 against tliese effects, so far as practicable. And were the question of 

 health, comfort, and economy to form an element in the calculation 

 in building a house, the evils referred to should be avoided ; but I 

 am afraid that in most of the houses constructed of late, especially for 

 the working classes, such questions are seldom proposed ; and should 

 they occur, the fear of half a per cent, less interest is an effective 

 negative. 



I wish I could enter into the questions as to what is the maximum of 

 moisture in the air, a healthy person may live in, sleeping and waking, 

 and how far his system can resist the effects of his being surrounded 

 within a few feet by an evaporating surface, absorbing rapidly the heat 

 given off by the body. Such questions may not be easily answered, and 

 probably no fixed standard could be given ; but I am afraid that a con- 

 tinuation of these conditions would be at a risk to the constitution of the 

 most healthy. I have, however, endeavoured to give some data to 

 those whose knowledge and means of inquiry may extend to the ascer- 

 taining of these important points, which I think of some importance to 

 a community such as ours, when the fact of not being able to pay a rent 

 of £20 or £30 will place a family under circumstances where the aver- 

 age rate of life will be shortened by 20 years, and where the chances 

 are, that the family receive a moral taint difficult to overcome, as the 

 circumstances have a strong tendency to weaken the influence of either 

 moral precept or example. 



Mr. J. R. Napier exhibited a Vacuum Gauge for Steam Engines. 

 Mr. J. Napier also read a paper on " Spurious Coins." 



MR. JAMES NAPIER ON SPURIOUS COINS. 



The present inquiry into the character of spurious coin, originated 

 with my friend Mr. Arch. M'Laren of the Glasgow Stamp Office, who, 

 in the course of a number of years, had collected a great many, and felt 

 curious to know their general character and if they possessed any in- 

 trinsic value. This inquiry, like most others, soon became interesting to 

 us both, and with Mr. M'Laren's consent, I shall now read the results, in 

 which some members of the Society may also be interested. 



Gold Coins. 



As may be anticipated, spurious gold coins are not so plentiful as 

 either silver or copper ; this may be accounted for by gold being more 

 difficult to imitate in all its general qualities as a coin, than the other 

 metals, and also in much more care and attention being bestowed upon 



