Trial of the Pyx. 17 



The ceremony of the trial of the Pyx has thus been 

 explained as explicitly as the limits of one paper in the Intel- 

 lect [JAL Observer would allow, but the questions remain to be 

 asked, Is it desirable to perpetuate the venerable performance ? 

 or has it not become an obsolete form, which might as well 

 die out ? We are disposed to think that the latter question 

 should be answered affirmatively, and this, notwithstanding 

 the publication of an elaborate defence of the practice in the 

 form of a Parliamentary paper, written mainly by the Chief 

 Clerk of the Exchequer.* Many cogent reasons might be 

 assigned for the conclusion we have arrived at on the question 

 of the retention or abolition of the trial of the Pyx, and for 

 our adhesion to the opinion that it has become an utterly 

 useless, as it is a troublesome and costly proceeding. One or 

 two of thosereasonsmay beintroduced before leaving the subject. 

 The first is that as the business of the Mint is at present 

 conducted, it is quite impossible — physically and morally im- 

 possible — for any gold or silver coin " out of remedy " to leave 

 the Mint, or to be deposited in its Pyx boxes. The operations 

 of every department of that establishment are so governed 

 by checks, as that no such thing can happen. The next is 

 that if defective coins — defective as regards standard of weight 

 or of fineness — did escape, a trial of the Pyx to which they 

 belonged, five or six years after they had gone into circulation, 

 would be of no earthly use, except to excite the risible faculties 

 of the public generally. The truth is that the daily trials of 

 the Pyx at the Mint are, in our time, of infinitely more service 

 than the irregularly performed ceremonies at Westminster or 

 elsewhere, and which depend not upon necessity or rule, but on 

 the area of the Pyx boxes. The only really good argument in 

 favour of its continuance is, that it is the prelude to a dinner at 

 a City hall. In all other respects it is little other than a solemn 

 farce. It is probable that the question of the continuance of 

 the trial of the Pyx will be fully discussed during the next 

 session of Parliament, and we have the satisfaction of thinking 

 that a contribution is here made towards a more perfect know- 

 ledge of the subject, and which may lead to a satisfactory 

 solution of the problem. The fact that the ancient office of the 

 Exchequer is itself on the eve of being abolished, as a distinct 

 department, and that the duties relating to the Pyx trials will 

 at all events have to be transferred, seems to suggest the period 

 for discontinuing those duties entirely, as apart from the Mint. 



* Mr. H. W. Chisholm. 



VOL. XI. — NO. I. 



