566 ( ht the Rejinage of uuderslaiidard Silver. [June, 



of six weeks to two months. It ean now be effected in four hours. 

 The sulphate of copper removed in clearing up the scoriae is in another 

 department of the mint brought to yield the copper it contains in an 

 absolutely pure state, so enhanced in value that it sells for 44 Rs. the 

 maund of 100 Troy pounds, and thus pays for the saltpetre, acid, fuel, 

 wages of workmen and melting losses. The poisonous fumes of the lead 

 cupellation are avoided — and the rapidity with which 95 per 100 of 

 the bullion is returned to the mint strong room, being taken there 

 directly from the furnace, reduces the risk of loss by pilfering to an insig- 

 nificant amount. The importance of this can only be estimated by 

 those who may have to manipulate large quantities of bullion with 

 native workmen and overseers, under whose care silver is apt to acquire 

 the volatility of mercury, and disappear in a way that would appal a 

 refiner only accustomed to the habits of the metal in European 

 establishments. Against this cause of loss experience teaches me there 

 is no safeguard but the concentration of the processes under the 

 director's eye, the employment of the smallest possible number of per- 

 sons in the manipulation, and the return of the bullion under refinage 

 with the least avoidable delay. 



[Assay of silver.] 



In the commencement of this paper I alluded to our silver standard, 

 and to my desire to afford a few useful hints to officers having bullion 

 transactions with native states. Vast sums are annually paid in native 

 coinages of almost innumerable variety, of which the Nanashaye and 

 Balashaye rupees of Jaloun and the Deb-mohree rupees of Assam may 

 be cited as examples. It may be confidently stated that whatever be 

 the nominal fineness of these coins, the practice of the native mints is 

 to debase as much as possible, and their workmen are moreover well 

 acquainted with all the arts of pickling and blanching, hot stamping, &c. 

 which give the debased coin a most respectable surface. Some ready 

 method of assay, not affecting to be exact, but one closely approxima- 

 tive, would, I have been often assured, be deemed of much utility to 

 many public officers in the transactions referred to. Such a method 1 

 rake this opportunity to describe, prefixing a few words on the exact 

 systems of assay followed in the mints. 



In the English and Indian mints the ancient process of cupellation 

 is followed. Through the great kindness of my friend, Mr. Dodd, the 



