4^0 MEMdlR ON tHK 



engaging afped, and as a fpeclous motive of 

 humanity : it b, as we are told, that the lives 

 of the fubje£lsof the empire may not be ia- 

 crificed, Thefe valuable mcrals, therefore, 

 being procured from other nations, the Chi- 

 nefehave Introduced no other current money 

 than caches^ and halfpence. Of thefe there 

 are two forts, one of brafs, and the other of 

 copper. They are both mixed with toute- 

 nag ; but the alloy being much lefs in the 

 halfpence, they are of more value. 



Various Chinefe characters may be oh- 

 ferved on thefe pieces. Thofe at the top 

 and bottom exprefs the name of the em- 

 peror in whofe reign they were coined ; 

 and thofe on the fides fignify valuable cur- 

 rent things^ that is to fay, current money. 



There are fomc bankers who carry on a 

 trafEc with tliem ; but in bufmefs of this 

 kind, the Europeans never have any con- 

 cern. In China there is no current 



money, 



