259
Cover,
there be
a reasonable
prospect
of it's being supplied by the Public with sufficient Silver to keep it in successful i. e. paying operation.
3rd Whether, if the Public be found unwilling to supply
the
necessary amount of Bullion, there be a reasonable prospect of the Government purchasing Bullion at such a rate as to render the working of the Mint profitable so as to pay it's expenses.
4½ Supposing that no profit
can
be made through Bullion supplied by either the Public or the Government, whether there be a reasonable expectation of forcing the Hong Kong coinage to such a Premium by
any amount of loss in the first instance as would eventually render coinage of the dollar or half dollar profitable.
case
5th Whether there be
any reasons
for considering that the British Government might in the latter case (4) be expected to take over the Mint and, having increased its producing powers, coin as many millions of dollars and half dollars as might be requisite to insure their general adoption as the principal circulating medium on the Coast of China.
6th As connected with the
possibility of making the Mint a