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"power, there be a reasonable prospect of it's being supplied by the Public with sufficient Silver to keep it in successful 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 loss in the first instance as would eventually render coinage of the dollar or half dollar profitable.
"4th. Whether there be any reasons for considering that the British Government might in the latter case be expected to take over the Mint and, having increased its producing rate, coin as many millions of dollars as to render the working of the Mint so profitable as to pay its expenses and yield a profit.
"5th. 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 Hongkong coinage to such a premium by issuing any amount of dollars and half dollars as would be requisite to ensure their general adoption as the principal circulating medium on the coast of China.
As connected with the possibility of making the mint a paying concern, it is also to consider what profit is likely to be realised from the minting of