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whilst nevertheless for months no employment given to the Mint. The import of
Coin and Bullion I then estimated at 50
Millions of dollars annually.
I understand
on very good authority that at
this moment there are
nearly 7 millions
of dollars in Coin and Bullion within
this city of which the Banks hold about
So fine,
an amount whose magnitude, for how proving a healthy condition of trade, denotes its general sluggishness and the diminished opportunities for lucrative
operations.
-76
When business was more active the
average amount of Bills and other securities
probably neared nine than
eight millions of dollars, whilst the
average amount actually
held at present does not
much exceed four millions and a half -
a value considerably less,
by at least
more than a third than the Bullion and
Coin now stored in the city.
In venturing to give the above
approximate calculations I have
of course no means
of vouching their accuracy,
I nevertheless put them forward as deserving attention, being based on information supplied by the parties most conversant with the Monetary and general business transactions of the Port:
77
Those transactions are not
exclusively connected with the China trade but
nevertheless may
all be regarded as
collaterally at least springing therefrom.
11