The Goldsmith will go the cheaper way to work, and rather than he’ll give 5 _s._ 10 _d._ to a Merchant for an ounce of Plate, he’ll fling in a Crown and 6 _d._ into the melting Pot, and though the Laws against melting down Coyn be never so severe yet people will venture any thing for gain, as you may see Clippers do daily; especially if their Consciences don’t check ’em, and few mens Consciences will scruple making the most of their own. And as the accurate Mr. _Lowndes_ observes, notwithstanding ever since _Ed. 3d_’s. time prohibitory Laws have been against melting down Coyn, _pag._ 68. and the profit of melting it sometimes very inconsiderable, _pag._ 69. the practice hitherto was never prevented. But it may be said money shall be coyned of an intrinsick value or near thereabouts (Coynage only allowed) in proportion to the present value of Silver, be it more or less as it shall alter from time to time, and so the abatement for Coynage shall always keep the Estimate of the Coyn above the Intrinsick value of the Silver, but instead of bringing remedy this will make the Case tentimes worse, for then upon every rise of Silver the Goldsmiths and others will melt down all that was Coyn’d at a lower Price, and if the form of the Coyn don’t direct ’em to be dextrous, the Prentices shall follow the old Trade of weighing money Night and Day too. So that without going farther upon this Topick, I may lay it down as a Conclusion or Maxim. _That if the Intrinsick Value of Coyn be subject to alteration the Coyn is always in danger of being melted down._ CHAP. VII. _Of Hoarding up of the Silver Coyn._ People who have several uneasinesses upon ’em at one and the same time, are very apt to attribute ’em all to one, which is the most hated, the most invidious, or at least the most visible cause, though in reality every one may have sprung from a several and very different root. Thus our present War with _France_ is to some few people odious, to many invidious, and to all visible, and this therefore must be the cause of all National Calamities. Whereas many things are better with us now than if we had no War; a frequency of Parliaments, an universal vigilance, a care of Shiping; a choice of able Ministers, (and not unskilful Favorites in most places of greatest Trust;) an intire Allyance with the most useful Neighbours; an honest imployment for all dissolute Men; an honourable provision for younger Sons of Gentlemen; a perfect understanding between the King and his People; an almost total desistance from an unreasonable and disadvantageous Commerce with _France_; a more brotherly Correspondence with the Dissenters (being all equally engaged in the Publick danger). We have great Honour by the Bravery of our Arms, and the most important assistance we give to all _Christendom_ against _French_ and _Turk_. Our King is become the _Generalissimo_ of _Europe_, and his Fleet give Laws in all Seas.