of
me, an exchange operations which the legalizing of the Japan Yen would render impossible: and he begged of me again in the interests of Hongkong trade to legalize what he called a far better coin than the Mexican dollar.
During my last year in Japan, I had an opportunity of carefully examining the Mint at Osaka; and I enclose for the information of Her Majesty's Government an interesting Report that was made for me by Mr. Gowland, the English Assayer. What I saw at the Imperial mint, and my interviews with the various officers connected with it, gave me a most favourable impression as to the high character and efficiency of the Mint. With the appliances I saw in operation, twenty-five thousand silver Yen can be turned out per day; and, with an additional Assayer and an extension of the weighing department, Mr. Gowland calculates on a production of fifty thousand per day.
I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's Most Obedient Humble Servant,