490 GENE UAL OBSERVATIONS. 



tity, in proportion to any possible rise in the 

 value of corn, from the progressive augmenta- 

 tion of population. Therefore the price of the 

 precious metals must fall, as there will be 

 a superabundant quantity in the market; and 

 I hardly think it too much to say, that within 

 the next fifteen years, gold will be depreciated 

 ten, and silver twenty-five per cent. Platina 

 may then possibly become a coin, and of su- 

 perior value to gold, for it is possessed of 

 many advantages. It is of greater specific 

 gravity, more difficult to cut or clip, and 

 cannot be adulterated by the addition of any 

 other metal without lessening its weight — so 

 that adulteration is easily detected ; and the 

 process of making it fusible, in order to turn 

 it into coin, is so very expensive, that no 

 individual would be induced to imitate the 

 standard coin. It is scarcer than gold ; and 

 I believe as yet the only part of the world 

 where it has been found, is the province of 

 Choco, in Colombia. The only drawback, 

 therefore, is the colour, which is less brilliant 

 than silver. 



The facility with which the people through- 

 out the country receive foreigners, is sin- 



