If raising or allaying the money could add to its value, or have any good effect on home or foreign trade; then no nation would want money. a 100 lib. might be raised or allayed to 2, to 10, to a 100 times the denomination it had, or more as there were occasion. but as ’tis unjust to raise, or allay money; because, then all contracts are payed with a lesser value than was contracted for; and as it has bad effects on home or foreign trade: so no nation practises it, that has regard to justice, or understands the nature of trade and money. if A. B. sell 12 chalder of victual for a 100 lib. payable in 6 months, with which he is to pay bills of exchange of that value, to be drawn on him then from France for wine he has commission’d; and in that time the money is raised or allayed to double, the 100 lib. A. B. receives will only pay half the bill he has to pay, being only equal to 50 lib. of the money he contracted for. nor will that 100 lib. buy the same quantity of goods of the country, that a 100 lib. bought before: it will pay where money is due, and satisfie past contracts made upon the faith of the publick, because the prince says every man shall take half what is owing him in full payment. but in bargains to be made, the value of the money will be considered; goods will rise, tho’ perhaps not to the proportion the money is raised; and such persons as do not raise their goods, equal to the money, are imposed on. When 6 pence is raised to 12 pence, the 6 pence is worth 12 pence; but the value of the pence is lowered to half-pence. To explain this matter better, I shall suppose when money is raised, goods rise, or not. If goods rise, then raising the money has not the effect designed. if a piece of serge is sold for 40 sh. and the shilling be raised to 18 pence, the piece of serge will be sold for 3 lib. this adds to the tale of the money, and pays debts with two thirds of what is due, but does not add to the money. this is the natural consequence of raising the money; for, it is not the sound of the higher denomination, but the value of the silver is considered.