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Franklin, Benjamin

"Philadelphia 1726-1757"


XIV. The Trustees or Managers of this Bank to be impowered and
directed to supply all Persons that should apply to them, with Bills
of Exchange, to be drawn on the Colony's Banker in _London_, at the
aforesaid Rate of 133 _l_. 6 _s_. 8 _d_. of the said Bills of Credit
for 100 _l_. Sterling. The Monies thus brought in, to be laid out
again as before, and replaced in _England_ in the said Bank with all
convenient Speed: And as these provincial Bills would have, at least,
as good a Credit as those of any private Person; every Man, who had
occasion to draw, would, of Course, be obliged to dispose of his
Bills at the same Rate.

XV. It is by Means of this Bank, that it is proposed to
regulate the Rate of Exchange; and therefore it would be necessary to
make it so large, or procure the Trustees such a Credit in _London_,
as should discourage and prevent any mischievous Combinations for
draining it and rendering the Design useless. I know of no
Inconvenience that could arise by allotting double the proposed Sum
for that Service, but that the annual Interest would be lessen'd;
which in some Governments has been found a useful Engine for
defraying the publick Expence. But if only a Credit should be
thought needful, over and above the said Sum, and upon some Emergency
Recourse should be had to it, the Interest-Money would soon afford
sufficient Means for answering that Credit.


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