278 
State of Public jfairs in Septeniber. [Oct. 1, 
knov'-n as Marshal ISiey, were to niake 
an attempt on our coasts. It may 
he ealculateci, that only half of those 
embarked wculomake good a lanoingj 
but that it would be more advantageous 
to lose fifty thousand men in sucli an 
enterprize, than by disease and the silent 
effects of war, in opposing the modern 
Fabius in Portugal. Vve proved in 1803, 
that such an invasion could not ulti¬ 
mately succeed; but all the present race 
of these islands would, notwithstanding, 
have to rue the day on which it would 
take place. At such a moment let us 
seriously ask ourselves, as rational crea¬ 
tures_why—for what-for whom—and 
through whom, are we at war? Let us 
set the possible estrangement of Malta, 
which we could at any time have re¬ 
taken by simple blockade—against the 
miseries, the slaughters, and the cost of 
nearly nine years vindictive w^arfare. 
Let us in short banish our bad passions, 
dismiss our foolish and wicked pride, 
and earnestly seek peace— having done 
cjuite enough to secure Malta from pos¬ 
sible violation, and to prove that we are 
able to cope, single-handed, against 
France! 
It seems that Bonaparte is at Antwerp, 
and on the adjacent coast—that he has a 
large fleet in the Scheldt ready to sail, 
and that a renewed activity has taken 
place in his flotilla at Boulogne. In the 
mean time, our blockading squadrons 
have been reinforced; and should the 
enemy venture out, every thing will be 
done that bravery, and the confidence 
of victory, can effect to destroy them. 
110 
16 6 
0 
The following curious phoenomena oc¬ 
casioned by the present state of British 
currency deserve to be recorded. 
A guinea made of standard gold, s. d. 
weight 5 dwt. 9 grs. passes by 
law for only 
A ditto 3 grains lighter, is worth 
as bullion 
A crown piece made of sterling 
silver, weight 19 dwt. 8 grs. 
passes by law for only 
A bank dollar weighing 2 penny 
weightless, and the silver 2^d. 
per ounce worse, passes for 5 6- 
A half crown piece made of ster¬ 
ling silver, weight 9 dwt. 
16 grs. passes by law for only 2 6 
A banic token weighing 5 grains 
less, and the silver 2-|d. per 
ounce worse passes for . 3 0 
The lesser bank token of eighteen 
pence weighs 1 dwt. 2 grs. less 
than a good shilling and 6 
pence, and the silver 2^d, per 
ounce worse 
A person who buys an ounce of standard 
gold and pays for it in coin, will receive ten 
pence change out of 4 guineas and 2 seven 
shilling pieces, for which ten pence he will 
have given away 5 penny w'eights 2 grains of 
standard gold. The exchange in this case 
may be truly said to be against him. 
The one pound bank of England note pur¬ 
ports to be the representation of full 5 dwt. 
3 grs. standard gold, but at the present nomi¬ 
nal price it will purchase not quite 4 dwt. 
4 grs. its deficit is full 23 grains and its con¬ 
sequent depreciation is 3s. 8-^d. This is a 
serious loss indeed to the fund-holders, for 
whom there seems no remedy but a payment 
in specie, or a law’ to prevent the depreciation 
of the note. 
The following table shews the ominous falling-off of the Irish customs, even in 
nominal produce. 
CUSTOMS,—Gross Produce. 
Year ending 
Year ending 
Year ending 
Year ^^ndins 
Jan. 5 , jSoS. 
Ja:i. 5, i8oj. 
Jan. s, ib'lo. 
Jan. 5, i8u. 
Spirits • 
• 
• 
^.100,754 
288,466 
718,5-0 
205.466 
Sugar 
• 
« 
5r6,L 27 
612,419 
€03,909 
450,785 
Tea 
• 
% 
518,]65 
563,698 
300,946 
472,009 
Tobacco 
• 
* 
131,655 
161,1)48 
175,598 
169,497 
Wine 
0 
454,153 
336,060 
365 274 
*309,005 
,r.l,836,843 
1,991,691 
2,364,244 
1,606,752 
EXCISE.—Gross Produce. 
Malt . • • 
&|nrits . 
Tobacco . , 
F. 327,470 
1,286,244 
210,046 
358,593 
903,470 
276,588 
408,406 
250,159 
.313,266 
348,200 
685,176 
314,727, 
^.1,773,760 
l,538i761 
P51,85i 
1,345,-40.3 
Total of Customs and 1 
Excise cn the above > 
3,<51Q,6' 3 
T, 530,452 
3,316^092 
2,952,155 
