C
445
sight of is the convenience of trade, which is promoted by
the free circulation of bullion, just as it suffers restrict-
ion now from the occasional delays in the receipts of coins
both from England and from India.
andfrom
6. Finally, it is, I venture to say, well
worth consideration whether, in view of the complex nature of
the difficulties that beset our path at the present moment
in China, and of the fact that the Mexican coin is getting so
very scarce, a British dollar, bearing the image and superscrip-
tion of Her Most Gracious Majesty should not be issued for
circulation wherever acceptable in the Chinese Empire. Not
only would such a provision assist in upholding British pres-
tige generally, but it would powerfully aid in the preserva-
tion of the commercial supremacy which Great Britain has so
long enjoyed in China, and for the continuance of which we
are all naturally most solicitous.
(sd) C.P.Chater.
HongKong.25th.Sept.1900.