CO129-121 - Sir MacDonnell - 1867 [3-4] — Page 52

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

49

the repugnance

of

the latter more

fully

-private

described by Sir Rutherford in a

communication to the establishment of any

silver

24.

Jam

currency. On that subject I may remark that

I am nevertheless still intending to transmit

to Sir Rutherford for distribution a few dozen Tael pieces coined here because I think it a duty to exhaust

every effort to induce the adoption

by the Chinese of some Silver coins as medium of Exchange;

No 185 of the 11th last

my Despatch

and in

January

I stated

some

reasons

for supposing it possible that the

Chinese might be induced to

accept

Tael

pieces

with

favor, as representing the unit

by which they keep their accounts, and also

because, when they melt our Coins into sycee

and bars, they do so in a

wasteful

manner

entailing a loss equal to the seignorage charged

by the Mint.

25.

I

am

bound

to add that I

cannot yet report the

result of this further experiment. I enclose Mr Kinder's explanation of the delay.

I am

bound however to add that increased information

leaves

me little hope of a successful result. It

appears that the Tael is a

variable weight,

differing slightly in the various provinces of the Empire. Again I believe that the whole body of Chinese Officials throughout the

Empire

is interested in

maintaining the present

barbarous system of payment by

mere weight, because under pretence of light weight

or

Silver of inferior touch being offered,

they

also

obtain

by means of scales adapted to the purpose

a douceur?

Edit History

2026-05-19 16:56:47 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct
Live
View comparison
AI Proofread
49 the repugnance of the latter more fully -private described by Sir Rutherford in a communication to the establishment of any silver 24. Jam currency. On that subject I may remark that I am nevertheless still intending to transmit to Sir Rutherford for distribution a few dozen Tael pieces coined here because I think it a duty to exhaust every effort to induce the adoption by the Chinese of some Silver coins as medium of Exchange; No 185 of the 11th last my Despatch and in January I stated some reasons for supposing it possible that the Chinese might be induced to accept Tael pieces with favor, as representing the unit by which they keep their accounts, and also because, when they melt our Coins into sycee and bars, they do so in a wasteful manner entailing a loss equal to the seignorage charged by the Mint. 25. I am bound to add that I cannot yet report the result of this further experiment. I enclose Mr Kinder's explanation of the delay. I am bound however to add that increased information leaves me little hope of a successful result. It appears that the Tael is a variable weight, differing slightly in the various provinces of the Empire. Again I believe that the whole body of Chinese Officials throughout the Empire is interested in maintaining the present barbarous system of payment by mere weight, because under pretence of light weight or Silver of inferior touch being offered, they also obtain by means of scales adapted to the purpose a douceur?
Baseline (Original)
49 the repugnance of the latter more fully -private described by Sir Rutherford in a communication to the establishment of any silver 24. Jam currency. On that subject I'may remark that I am nevertheless still intending to transmit to Sir Rutherford for distribution a few dezon Jael pieces coined here because I think it a duty to exhaust to induce the adoption every effort to induce by the Chinese of some Silver coins as medium of Exchange; No 185 of the 11th last reasons a * my Despatch and in January Istated some for supposing it possible that the - Chinese might be induced to pieces with accept Jael favor, as representing the unit by which they keep their accounts, and also because, when they melt our Coins into phoes M2. Enclosure No 2. and bars, they do so in a wasteful manner entailing a loss equal to the peignorage charged by the Mint. 25. I am Barry that I I cannot yet report the result of this further experiment. Ienclose Mr Kinder's explanation of the delay. bound however to add that increased information leaves I am ат me little hope of a successful result. It variable weight, appears that the Tack is a differing slightly in the various provinces of the Compire. Again I believe that the whole body of Chinese Officials throughout the is interested in in Empire maintaining the present Acers barbarous systion of payment bey mere weight, Forsteins, because under pretence of light weight or Can it Silver of inferior touch "being offered, " us also donth by means of reales adapted to the purpose 4 dowser?
2026-05-19 16:56:47 · Baseline
View content

49

the repugnance

of

the latter more

fully

-private

described by Sir Rutherford in a

communication to the establishment of any

silver

24.

Jam

currency.

On that subject I'may remark that

I am nevertheless still intending to transmit

to Sir Rutherford for distribution a few dezon Jael pieces coined here because I think it a duty to exhaust

to induce the adoption

every effort to induce

by the Chinese of some Silver coins as medium of Exchange;

No 185 of the 11th last

reasons

a *

my Despatch

and in

January

Istated

some

for supposing it possible that the -

Chinese might be induced to

pieces

with

accept

Jael

favor, as representing the unit

by which they keep their accounts, and also

because, when they melt our Coins into phoes

M2.

Enclosure No 2.

and bars, they do so in a

wasteful

manner

entailing a loss equal to the peignorage charged

by the Mint.

25.

I

am

Barry

that I

I cannot yet report the

result of this further experiment. Ienclose Mr Kinder's explanation of the delay. bound however to add that increased information

leaves

I am

ат

me little hope of a successful result. It

variable weight,

appears that the Tack is a

differing slightly in the various provinces of the Compire. Again I believe that the whole body of Chinese Officials throughout the

is interested in

in

Empire

maintaining the present Acers barbarous systion of payment bey

mere weight, Forsteins, because under pretence of light weight

or

Can it Silver of inferior touch "being offered,

" us also donth by means of reales adapted to the purpose

4 dowser?

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.