An Inquiry into the Principles of Political Oeconomy (Vol. 2 of 2): Being an essay on the science of domestic policy in free nations. In which are particularly considered population, agriculture, trade, industry, money, coin, interest, circulation, banks, exchange, public credit, and taxesSteuart, James, Sir
General
An Inquiry into the Principles of Political Oeconomy (Vol. 2 of 2): Being an essay on the science of domestic policy in free nations. In which are particularly considered population, agriculture, trade, industry, money, coin, interest, circulation, banks, exchange, public credit, and taxes
Steuart, James, Sir
Economics
The better to explain this combination, we must recall to mind, that the
payment of the _grand balance_ in coin or bills is unavoidable to banks.
We have said that this balance is commonly paid by exchangers, who pick
up the coin in circulation; a thing the bank cannot prevent. This we
have called exhausting a part of (B): the consequence of this is, to
make the proprietors of (C) come upon the bank, and demand coin for
filling up (B): to this the bank must also agree. But by these
operations (C) comes to be diminished, below the level necessary for
carrying on trade, industry, and alienation: upon which I have said
there commonly comes an application to the bank to give more credit, in
order to support domestic circulation, which if complied with, more
solid property is consequently melted down.
This swells the mass of securities, and raises (A) to its former level.
But here the bank has an option to refuse more credit: in the former
operations it had none. Now if the bank, from a terror of being drained
of coin, should refuse to issue notes upon new credits, for the demands
of domestic circulation; in this case, I say, they fail in their duty to
the nation, as banks, and hurt their own interest. As to their duty to
the nation, I shall not insist upon it; but I think I can demonstrate
that they fail in point of combination, with respect to their own
interest, and that is enough.
I say, then, that as long as there is one single note in circulation,
and any part of a grand balance owing, that note will come upon the bank
for payment, without a possibility of its avoiding the demand. Refusing
therefore credit, while any notes remain in the hands of the public, is
refusing an interest which may help to make up the past losses: but of
this more hereafter.
In the next place, I think I have demonstrated, that so soon as the
_grand balance_ is paid, it is impossible that any more demands for coin
can come upon the bank for exportation. Why then should a bank do so
signal a prejudice to their country, as to refuse to lend them paper,
which the ready-money demands of the country must suspend in
circulation? And why do this at so great a loss to themselves? It has
been said above, and I think with justice, that this recruit, issued to
fill up circulation, adds to the mass of bank securities, and very
properly represents that part of the income of the solid property of the
country, which the bank must dispose of to foreigners, in order to
procure from them the coin or bills necessary for answering the demand
of payment of a _grand balance_.
In this light nothing can appear more imprudent, than to refuse credit.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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