TO THE COURT OF AVA. 
m 
opportunity of expressing myself more at large 
respecting this question. Without the free ex¬ 
portation of gold and silver, no considerable 
trade can be, or ever has been, carried on be¬ 
tween two great countries. The nations of 
Europe among themselves permit the free ex¬ 
port and import of gold and silver. The Chi¬ 
nese, the Siamese, the Persians, and the Arabs, 
permit it. Are you richer than these nations, 
because you prohibit it ? Do you expect to 
lose your wealth by allowing gold and silver to 
be exported, when you see that other nations 
have not done so ? If you prevent the expor¬ 
tation of gold and silver, their prices will be 
lower with you than in other countries, and 
you will only pay higher for all foreign com¬ 
modities. You say that gold and silver has not 
been imported from our country. The cause 
of this is, that it cannot be imported to a profit, 
because it is lower priced in your country than 
in ours. Other goods that will bring a profit 
must therefore be imported. If you permit 
the free exportation of gold and silver, they 
will sometimes be lower and sometimes higher 
with you; and sometimes lower, and some¬ 
times higher with us. Sometimes they will be 
exported from the one country, and sometimes 
from the other. Merchants will then find it 
p 2 
