4
225
had been ordered)
5.
by
the Secretary of State. Therefore in my despatch of the 25th last June, I stated that whilst I would make arrangements to defray the cost of the $60,000 subsidiary coinage then en route, and the further $60,000 expected six months later, I considered it unadvisable, for reasons stated, to recommend similar consignments of subsidiary coinage every six months, as recommended by all.
It would however appear, owing to a mistake either here or in England, but which I cannot at present trace to this Government, that $90,000, instead of $60,000, are now being supplied, and possibly the same amount of subsidiary coins may be expected within six months, making a total of $180,000, instead of the $120,000 anticipated in my despatch of the 25th June.
This mistake is especially unfortunate at this moment, because the Bank's having withdrawn about 900,000 ounces of the bullion deposited at the mint, and that establishment having in fact no more bullion to operate on, I have been making arrangements for the coinage here of silver 10 cent pieces to prevent the mint staff entering unemployed. If the demand for