CO129-113 - MacDonnell - 1866 [5-6] — Page 96

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of the immense and massive flywheel is to reverse the steam; but any one acquainted with locomotive machinery is aware how long a time it takes to overcome the mo- mentum of a heavy moving mass travel- ling at a speed of something like 60 miles an hour. Breaks might easily be applied which would effect the desired object. With this slight degression we return to His Excelloney's visit.

After leaving the rolling room Sir Richard and Lady Macdonnell proceeded to the stamping room where the round dumps of silver receive the obverse and reverse impression which creates them into dollars. A dump having been banded to Lady McDonnell she placed it in one of the stamping machines and the FIRST LEGAL DOLLAR was coined in Hongkong.

The dies cannot be considered Master- pieces of the die sinkers art. In beauty of appearance the New Hongkong dollar is considerably inferior to the florin or even the old balf crown. It is thought however that the dies will give more perfect impressions after being short time in use, and that such will be the case is much to be hoped. The present stamp being shallow and deficient in sharp- ness will soon be obliterated by the con-

tinual process of shroffing. The milling also is anything but good; it can be easi ly counterfeited by the simple mechanism of a file, and an ordinary amount of inge- nuity which Chinese smashers have most decidedly proved that they possess, mexi- can dollars being most successfully imi- tated. Possibly however these defects in the new coins may be owing to a slight want of adjustment in the machines-au error which practice alone can correct.

Before leaving the building His Excel- lency and the party visited the assay room, which is by no means the least interesting portion of the building; two modes of assay are in use. The French mode, în which the silver to be tested is dissolved

in nitric acid aud precipitated by a solu tion of common salt in water, the turbidity

or clearness of the liquid remaining being

an evidence of the presence of alloy or the absolute purity of the metal treated; the other method being by melting in a small furnace; the subsequent steps being the same as those adopted at the London mint.

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Too much praise cannot be accorded to the general arrangements of the mint or the intelligence of those to whom its arrangements and working are inatrusted. Great care seems to have been taken to render it as secure from robbory as it can be in a colony owning rascals of so ingenious a turn of mind as the Chineso. In addition to a regular guard of European troops quar- tered in the building a gunboat has been moored off the side fronting the harbour, and we are furthermore authorized to pu- blish the following statement of the ar- rangements which have been made to se- oure immediate assistance in case of an open attack being made on the building.

The following signals have been arrnged in case of an attack being made on the Mint.

The Gunboat at the Mint to show a blue light and fire a rocket on any attempt being made or alariu given of an attack, this signal to be repeated by H. M.S. Princess Charlotte who will fire a gun towards the shore; the sentry placed in front of McGregor's Barrack, would thereupon give an immediate alarm, when a Picquet composed of 2 Offi- cers and 53 N. C. O. and men (previously warned for the duty,) would turn out as rapidly as possible and proceed at once to the Mint; a similar party would also get under arms and follow, from Fletcher's Bar- racks. The Guard stationed within the Mint would no doubt repel all attack until assistance arrived, and it is to be presumed also that the Police would not be idle meanwhile.

So extensive an influence will natur- ally be hereafter exerted by Hongkong over the money market of the East, that the position of the Colony must be con- ! siderably improved vis-a-vis the de- pendencies of all nations in this part of the world. Moreover no better scheme could bave well been devised whereby to intro- duce through a natural channel a more extensive use of coin in place of bullion throughout the Empire of China. When it is once found that foreigners are so unwill. ing to accept the latter, that the new coine possess advantages for purposes of trade superior to those offered by Sycee or the Spanish and other dollars the Chinese will readily learn to accept them at their just value. The success or non-success of the mint cannot be a doubtful question; either it will be a total success or a total failure. We hope and predict the former.

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