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
I answer, that if the banks, in such a case, do not follow the plan I
have proposed, the consequence will be, that two hundred thousand pounds
of their paper will be, the first year, taken out of the domestic
circulation of Scotland; will be carried to the bank, and coin demanded
for it. If the coin is found in the bank, it is well; it goes away, and
leaves the paper circulation of Scotland at 800,000_l_. This void must
occasion applications to the bank for credits to supply it. Is it not
then the interest of the bank to supply it? We have said in the former
chapters that it is. But now let us suppose it objected, that if banks
should issue notes at such a time, their cash having been exhausted,
they would be obliged to stop altogether, upon a return of those notes
issued upon additional credits.
To this I repeat again, because of the importance of the subject, that
notes issued to support the demand of circulation never can return upon
the bank, so as to form a demand for coin; and if they do return, it
must be in order to extinguish the securities granted by those who have
credit in bank (I except always that regular demand for coin, at all
times necessary for circulating the paper for domestic uses) and if
those notes return of themselves, without being called in, this
phænomenon would be a proof that circulation is diminishing of itself:
but supposing such a case to happen, it is plain that such return can
produce no call for coin; because when the notes return it is not for
coin, but for acquitting an obligation or mortgage, as has been often
repeated.
Notes are paid in, I say, because circulation has thrown them out. Now
if circulation has thrown them out as superfluous, it never can have
occasion for coin in their stead; because coin answers the same purpose.
But then it is urged that they do not return, because circulation has
thrown them out, but because coin is wanted: be it so. Then we must say,
that circulation is not diminished, as we at first supposed; but that
the return of another year’s balance, makes a new demand for coin
necessary.
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