This principle seems to have been admitted by the Legislature; for when the subject of Copper Money was under the consideration of the House of Commons, at a period not very remote, the Journals shew that an opinion then prevailed, "_that the most effectual means to secure the Copper Coin from being counterfeited, was, that the denominative value of such Coin should bear as near a proportion as possible to the intrinsic_ value of the metal of which it was formed."[50] [Footnote 50: Journal, House of Commons, Vol. xviii. p. 178.] In fine, it is a question worthy of attention, whether in order to prevent clamour, and to shut out at once all pretence for circulating any of the old Copper money, _good or bad_, after the period when Mr. Boulton shall be able to furnish a sufficient quantity of halfpence and farthings for circulation, it might not be proper to consider how far it would be practicable as a measure of State policy, to introduce a clause into the proposed Bill, empowering the Treasury, within a given time, to receive all the old Copper Coin, good and bad, at a certain price per ton, allowing a _bonus_ to the honest holders of it of 20 per cent. above the current price of Copper.--This would at once clear the country of counterfeit halfpence and farthings, and would reconcile the holders to the loss; while the pecuniary sacrifice to Government would be more than compensated an hundred-fold by a compleat and instant renovation of this species of coinage.--As the chief part of the bad halfpence are good copper, they could be recoined, or sold, as might appear most beneficial. It is earnestly to be hoped that the further regulations proposed will be adopted; and followed up, by an extensive coinage of Silver money, so as to shield the honest part of the Community against a system of fraud, rapid beyond all example in its growth, and unparalleled as to its extent.[51] [Footnote 51: It was suggested in a former edition of this work, that a coinage of _seven shilling_ pieces of _gold_ would be of great utility.--The expedient was adopted by Government at the end of the year 1797.] Certain it is, that base money contributes more to the support as well as to the _increase_ of the number of those mischievous and abandoned members of the community, who exist _wholly_ by different kinds of fraud, than any other device which they pursue to enable them to live in their present state of idleness and debauchery, and to indulge in luxury and extravagance.