429 
By no means. Tlie increased trade of 
the country requires it. 
But would not Bank of England notes 
be a much better substitute? 
Perhaps, (said he,) they might ; but the 
demand for their small notes has of late 
years increased so much, that they have 
been, under the necessity of re-issuing 
tiem ;.and their concerns are already so 
€xteusive, I presume, they are not desi- 
rous of more work. To degrade a re- 
spectable body of men, on account of the 
misfortunes or indiscretions of a few 
individuals, is vile. It is negenci ves 
Then you imagine, (said [,) that pro- 
Tincial notes do not raise the markets, 
SO as to oppress the poor? 
Why, sir, (be replied,) you might as 
well argue that our good reads raise the 
prices of food andraiment. What would 
you think of a man who should say, 
“© The multiplicity. and fineness of our 
roads willruinus! They facilitate trade 
—the farmer car carry his goods to mar- 
ket from remote piaces—he can give 
more rent—he raises the produce of his- 
Jand—the markets advance—O! ‘this na- 
tioa. will be ruined by the soi oag of 
itsroads! Besides, smooth roads tempt 
people from home—they set off in flinisy 
whirligigs, like Don Quixotte, in search 
of adventures, and drive like Jehu till 
they break their necks!” © Just so our 
alarmists cry out, © This provincial trash 
facilitates commerce—encourages the spe- 
eulator—enables the farmer and fore- 
staller to raise the market—they grow 
rich—they dash off in great style; till 
some of them, in a moment unlooked for, 
meet with a rugged place, over which 
they cannot steer, and down they fail!” 
But waving this nonsense: Did you ever 
kuow a poor man pay one farthing more 
for any necessary article of life, because 
ei ie offering. in payment a provincial 
note? Would it net be thought a most 
impertinent quesyon if any retail trades- 
man was to ask his customer, ‘* Pray, sir, 
what kind of stuff_do you intend to pay 
me with?’ Nodoubtsome would reply, 
‘‘ Do you suspect me of putting off bad 
notes?” And, supposing a persan should 
pay a triile more for this reason, (though 
unknown to himself), would he not, on 
discovery, think this an imposition, ‘and 
say; ‘1 took the note as cash, and will 
pay Hassuch, or return it.” I wonder 
that a iespectable banker, ina late pub- 
lic speech, should make such a distinc- 
tion as ‘he does betwixt what is called 
sizbby and respectable notes. He wards 
Defence of Country Banks. 
bankers, who, to save a valuable house 
[ Dee. ly 
off the charge (as to. their raising the 
markets) from the jatter, but leaves the - 
poorer bankers to shift for themselves. 
Now, I contend, that a note issued bya 
house not worth 30,0001. uo more cen 
tributes to advance the necessary articles 
of life, than a similar bit of paper issued 
by a frm worth 300,000l. 
As home-made money * rags,’ ’ are not 
scarce articles in this district, 1 suppose, 
(said i,) that those of the London fabric 
will not be much in circulation? 
No, sir, the people here, in general, 
prefer the produce of their own country. 
The good people in Lancashire admire, 
like the cockneys, the old lady in Thread- 
needie-street; but, in this county, the 
men love her pretty-faced cousins far 
better, though not quite so wealthy. 
And the reason 1s obvious—-Not one man 
in a hundred dares trust his own eyes 
when he sees one of these Londoners. 
He knows not whether it is really herself, 
or merely her shadow; or some bases 
born bantling, pretending alliance to 
Harry Hase, esq. and yet no more a-kin 
than you are; pretending to be what 
she is not; tempting him, by her good 
words and specious appearance, to ‘take 
her, and be hanged. But the pretty 
creatures, born and bred In this our 
neighbourhood, he knows and. loves. 
Their features are not easily counterfeited. 
Of all paper currency (he added), no 
doubt, Bank of England is the best; and 
the next to it, bills ofexchange, because 
they can be negotiated to all parts, and 
‘the security increasing with the endorsers. 
Now let me ask you one question, 
Where one pound has been lost by 
country-notes, do you not suppose one 
hundred has been lost by bills of ex- 
change? Yet it would be very old-wifish 
to say, “TE have lost 80 much by bad 
bills, Pll take no more.” 
Bills drawn by needy men, and by 
swindlers, are very numerous, and very 
truublesome, but this does not prove i 
system (so abused) is bad. Can y 
find a bank, where the eo iiiishébent 
was meant to deceive the public? Their 
failures, in general, arise from their libe- 
rality to thase whom they considered 
their best friends and customers. The 
merchant sends too many gonds to a bad 
market. At the year’s end, the manu- 
facturer must be paid—the merehant 
borrows of bis banker, depositing the 
best security he can—fresh claims come 
—no remittances—he again flies to his 
frowa 
