The measures have been used to preserve and increase money, have in some countries been opposite to what has been used in others: and opposite measures have been used in the same countries, without any differing circumstances to occasion them. Some countries have raised money in the denomination, when others have lowered it; some have allay’d it, when others who had allay’d it have rectified it; some have prohibited the export of money under severest penalties, when others have by law allowed it to be exported; some thinking to add to the money, have obliged traders to bring home bullion, in proportion to the goods they imported. most countries have tryed some or all of these measures, and others of the same nature, and have tryed contrary measures at one time, from what they used immediately before, from the opinion, that since the method used had not the effect designed, a contrary would: yet it has not been found, that any of them have preserved or increased money; but on the contrair. The use of banks has been the best method yet practised for the increase of money. banks have been long used in Italy, but as I am informed, the invention of them was owing to Sweedland. their money was copper, which was inconvenient, by reason of its weight and bulk; to remedy this inconveniency, a bank was set up where the money might be pledged, and credit given to the value, which past in payments, and facilitate trade. The Dutch for the same reason set up the bank of Amsterdam. their money was silver, but their trade was so great as to find payments even in silver inconvenient. this bank like that of Sweedland, is a secure place, where merchants may give in money, and have credit to trade with. besides the convenience of easier and quicker payments, these banks save the expence of casheers, the expence of bags and carriage, losses by bad money, and the money is safer than in the merchants houses, for ’tis less lyable to fire or robbery, the necessary measures being taken to prevent them. Merchants who have money in the bank of Amsterdam, and people of other countries who deal with them, are not lyable to the changes in the money, by its being allay’d or altered in the denomination: for, the bank receives no money but what’s of value, and is therefore called bank-money; and tho’ raised in current payments, it goes for the value it was pledged for in bank-payments. the AG O of the bank changes a quarter or a half p. cent, as current money is more or less scarce. Banks where the money is pledg’d equal to the credit given, are sure; for, tho’ demands are made of the whole, the bank does not fail in payment.