What inconveniency could there possibly be in making pence of a mixed metal of a much lower standard than the other coin. The coin would be less bulky, and the intrinsic value might be preserved. This is the custom all over Germany. The lower denominations of the coin are all of different fineness. The standard for what they call the _gros_; the 7, the 10, the 17, the 20 creutzer pieces, are all of different fineness; but still in the same sum, in whatever coin it is paid, according to the laws, there ought to be found the same quantity of fine silver. This enables them to coin pieces of very small denominations which have however the same intrinsic value with the other denominations of the coin, and which are neither of an unwieldy bulk, or of an inconvenient smallness. This is the regulation in Germany: I do not say that the regulation is well observed. Farthings of copper are good and convenient; a few of these ought always to be preserved in favour of the lower classes of the people, who thereby are enabled to keep down the prices of the small necessaries of life: a matter of the greatest importance to a trading nation. Nations ought to copy from one another what is good and convenient, and should be above the thraldom of little prejudices in favour of established customs, which have frequently nothing but custom to recommend them. [Sidenote: Mixed metal never to be bagged up with fine.] 4_to_, It must be observed that upon adopting the German regulation as to pence, such coin must not be allowed to be put up in bags of coin delivered by weight; nor made a legal tender beyond the value of the lowest silver coin. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAP. VII. _Of the Regulations observed in France, with regard to Coin, Bullion, and Plate._ It now only remains, that I lay before the reader what I have been able to gather, upon good authority, concerning the regulations in some of the principal nations of Europe, with regard to their mint: and this so far only as is necessary for illustrating our subject, and confirming the principles we have been laying down. [Sidenote: The marc is the unit of French weight at the mint.] The unit of weight in the French mint, is the _Marc_; composed of eight ounces, every ounce containing 576 grains. The marc consequently contains 4608 grains of Paris weight, called _poids de marc_. [Sidenote: The remedy of weight upon silver what.] By this weight the bullion is delivered to, and the coin is taken from the workmen in the mint, to whom the King gives an allowance of 36 grains upon the weight of every marc of coin delivered. This allowance is called _le remede de poids_. A marc therefore of French silver coin, is not to be reckoned at 4608 grains, but at 4572 grains effective. [Sidenote: The standard of fineness is 11 fine to 1 alloy.]