_The Pennsylvania Gazette_, July 24, 1740
_Essay on Paper-Currency,
Proposing a New Method for Fixing Its Value_
_To the Author of the_ GENERAL MAGAZINE.
It appears by the Resolutions of the Honourable the House of
Commons of _Great Britain_, that it is their Opinion, that the
Issuing Paper Currencies in the _American_ Colonies hath been
prejudicial to the Trade of _Great Britain_, by causing a Confusion
in Dealings, and lessening of Credit in those Parts; and that there
is Reason to apprehend, that some Measures will be fallen upon, to
hinder or restrain any future Emissions of such Currencies, when
those that are now extant shall be called in and sunk. But if any
Scheme could be formed, for fixing and ascertaining the Value of
Paper Bills of Credit, in all future Emissions, it may be presumed
such Restraints will be taken off, as the Confusion complained of in
Dealings would thereby be avoided. Something of this Kind is here
attempted, in hopes that it may be improved into a useful Project.
But I shall first set down a few plain Remarks touching the
Fluctuation of Exchange, and the Value of Gold and Silver in the
Colonies; with some Observations on the Ballance of Trade; in order
to render what follows the more clear and intelligible.
I. Every particular Man, that is concerned in Trade, whose
Imports and Exports are not exactly equal, must either _draw_ Bills
of Exchange on other Countries, or _buy_ Bills to send abroad to
ballance his Accounts.
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