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that during the forty- five years which preceded 1848, France had 
coined gold at the rate of less than one million sterling per annum — 
less than is now issued each year by the Koval Mint of Sydney — 
and that the coinage of England during the seven years preceding 
1850 amounted to little more than four millions per annum. 
Assuming that these unprecedented additions to the stock of gold 
in circulation must sooner or later depreciate the value of money, we 
should naturally proceed next to inquire what the effects of such a 
depreciation are likely to be on the condition of different classes of 
society ; in what manner, and to what extent, it may affect the in- 
terest of landlords and tenants, debtors and creditors, labourers and 
capitalists, annuitants, shareholders, stipendiaries, families prospec- 
tively dependent on policies of life assurance, and others having an 
interest not only in the present but the future value of money ; what 
precautions such impending changes should suggest with reference 
to investments ; what legislative measures, if any, they invite ; what 
are likely to be their effects in lightening the pressure of our public 
debt, or increasing the exactions of Government for the current 
service of the State ; whether, and to what extent, these changes are 
likely to be modified or retarded by countervailing causes ; and how 
far the tendency to dearness caused by a depreciation of money may 
not be compensated by the tendency to cheapness which improve- 
ments in agriculture, in manufactures, and in the various depart- 
ments of industry and production, never fail to carry in their train. 
These are inquiries of great interest and importance, but they open 
up too wide a field to be entered on at present. The more imme- 
diate question is — Are there indications that a depreciation of money 
is imminent, or has it already actually begun ? 
2. On the Chronology of the Trap-Rocks of Scotland. By 
Archibald Geikie, F.G.S., of the Geological Survey of Great 
Britain. Communicated by Robert Chambers, Esq. 
The first part of this paper contained a review of the existing 
nomenclature of trappean-rocks, and the following arrangement was 
given as that which the author had found to be most useful for prac- 
tice in the field : — 1 si, Ash and volcanic conglomerate. 2d, Inter- 
bedded augitic traps (greenstones and basalts). 3 d, Interbedded 
felspathic traps (felstones, porphyries). 4th , Intrusive augitic 
VOL. iv. 2 T 
