coins struck in them by the Roman emperors have Greek inscriptions, the exception supporting the rule.* I would ask any classical scholar, what reception a proposal would have received at Athens, or at Rome, to make use of some foreign or deceased language on their respective Coinages; say, the Persian for the former, and the Etruscan for the latter? Would it not have been deemed an insult on the country, to be expiated only by the death or banishment of the offender? And is the dignity of Her Majesty Queen Victoria's empire less than that of Greece or Rome in their palmiest days?† I opine not. In the dark ages of Europe, when Coinage may be said to have recommenced, it was naturally *This reasoning is equally applicable to her Majesty's Coinage in India, which should not have inscriptions in English, but in the language of the country. "The boast of Britain is her transmarine empire. The sun never sets on her dominion. In every continent and in either hemisphere she exercises, with comparative peacefulness, and with acknowledged beneficence, an almost unlimited sway. The number and variety of nations, of colours, of climes, of religions, and of laws, united into one vast whole under our Queen, reduce to an empty ostentation the antique or barbarous titles of emperor or czar. To rule the waves, indeed, would be an idle ambition, were it not that wherever those waves beat the shore, whether through the Australasian archipelago, or the peninsulas of tropical Asia, or habitable Africa, or the Antilles and forests of the New World, we have claimed or founded a home. The fairest regions, the most docile and industrious races, the most cardinal promontories, straits, and stations, are ours. With so proud a position, sitting apart and on high, yet girding the earth with the chain of our power, we have a right to some insular pride, and need take little heed of continental envy."-The Times. "The descendants of the Anglo-Saxons seem destined to be by far the most numerous and powerful race of mankind; occupying not only the British Isles, in Europe, but the whole of America, from Mexico to the Polar Seas, and the whole of Australia. The English language will soon be spoken by an infinitely greater number of civilized men than ever was the Greek, the Latin, or the French."-Lord Campbell's Lives of the Lord Chancellors of England, vol. i. P. 29. "My Lords, if you do not know the advantages of your colonies, Napoleon Bonaparte knew them well. It is by your colonial system, based upon the principles of protection, that you have extended your arms—I do not mean your military arms, I mean your commercial arms-to every quarter and every corner of the globe. It to your colonial system that you owe it, that there is not a sea on which the flag of England does not float; that there is not a quarter of the world in which the language of England is not heard; that there is not a quarter of the globe, that there is no zone in either hemisphere, in which there are not thousands who recognise the sovereignty of Britain-to whom that language and that flag speak of a home, dear though distant, of common interests, of common affections; men who share in your glories, men who sympathise in your adversities, men who are proud to bear their share of your burdens, to be embraced within the arms of your commercial policy, and to feel that they are members of your great and imperial Zollverein."-Lord Stanley's Speech on the Corn Laws, in the House of Lords, May 25, 1846. founded on the existing Roman Coinage. This, and the guidance of the clergy, the only men of letters in those days, led to the adoption of Latin legends; and what with them may have been almost a matter of necessity, England has continued as a matter of course. King Ecgbeorth put Latin inscriptions on his coins, A.D. 800, and, therefore, Queen Victoria must do the same, 1846!* Requesting now to refer to the Latin and English inscriptions accompanying this letter, I beg you to remark that on the obverses of the shilling and sixpence the Latin contains thirty-two letters; whereas in that which I propose for the reverses of the crown, halfcrown, and penny, where Her Majesty's title is given in words at full length, there are only thirty-one letters, consequently there cannot be an objection as to space; and I submit that "Britanniarum Regina" (Queen of the British Isles), is not so clear as "Queen of Great Britain and Ireland." In the former the information or statement is imperfect; for the reader must refer to some other record to ascertain the names of the British islands. In the English inscription these names are given, and no further information is required. This equally applies to the person who may have the coin * The objection I meet most generally urged against English legends is, "That they will only be understood by English subjects, or United States men," which is perfectly true; and, provided that Her Majesty's lieges do understand the legends on Queen Victoria's coins, I most willingly give up affording any other instruction, to all the rest of the world, than what they can derive from the English. And when we come to inquire what is the amount of instruction withheld, I believe the quantity ascertained will be found infinitesimally small. First. What portion of our coins travel abroad? Second. Of the travelling portion what proportion attracts any attention, except as bullion, for exchange or melting (when the metal, not the legend, will be the one thing looked at)? The first must be a very fractional part. The second will confine itself to continental collectors, not generally but of modern coins; and I would ask Mr. Curt how many persons of this class there may be in all Europe? Will Mr. Curt venture to say fifty? I think not; and then (which is really the serious question to us) will these fifty (if fifty there be) cease to collect English coins if our coins cease to have Latin legends? I again say (and I say it considerately and con scientiously) I think not! I therefore come to the conclusion, that with English legends our Coinage will maintain its place in foreign cabinets; and, even though it did not, yet if the legend is of any use, we should rather consider and give the preference to what may conduce to the convenience and benefit of Her Majesty's thirty millions of English loving subjects, and enable them, in their plain mother tongue, to read that our Sovereign Lady Queen Victoria, by the grace of God, (is) Queen of Great Britain and Ireland--and so I conclude with "Long live the Queen!" under consideration in A.D. 1846 or in A.D. 4846. Trusting that you will excuse this tax on your time, and perhaps on your patience, I remain, Sir, your most obedient Servant, |