For GREECE: M. Delyannis, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary from Greece, at Paris. For ITALY: The Chevalier Artom, Councillor of the Italian Legation at Paris; M. Giordono, Inspector of the Royal Corps of Mines and Commissioner to the Universal Exposition. For les PAYS BAS, (Holland): M. Vrolik, former Minister of Finance; M. Mees, President of the Bank of Holland. For PORTUGAL: M. the Count d'Avila, Peer of the Realm, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary from Portugal to Spain, Commissioner General at the Universal Exposition; M. the Viscount de Villa Major, Peer of the Realm, Member of the International Jury. For PRUSSIA: M. Meinecke, of the Superior Privy Council of Finance; M. Herzog, Privy Councillor in the Ministry of Commerce, Commissioner to the Universal Exposition. For RUSSIA: M. de Jacobi, Privy Councillor, Member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences at St. Petersburg. For SWEDEN AND NORWAY: M. Wallenberg, Member of the Upper Chamber of the Swedish Diet, Director of the Bank of Stockholm; Mr Broch, Member of the Norwegian Storthing, President of the Central Norwegian Commission for the Universal Exposition. For SWITZERLAND: His Excellency M. Kern, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary from Switzerland, at Paris; M. Escher, Master of the Mint of Switzerland; M. Feer Herzog, Member of the National Council of Switzerland. For TURKEY: His Excellency Djemil Pacha, Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary from the Sublime Porte, at Paris; the Colonel Essad Bey, Attaché of the Embassy and Director of the Ottoman Military Academy at Paris; his Excellency MihranBey-Duz, Member of the Grand Council of Justice, Director of the Mint at Constantinople, and Special Delegate from the Ottoman Empire. For WURTEMBERG: The Baron de Soden, Privy Councillor of the Legation of Wurtemberg. M. CLAVERY, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Paris, Principal Secretary. M. ROUX, attached to the Vice-Presidency of the Council of State, Adjunct Secretary. APPENDIX No. 2. Monetary Convention concluded December 23, 1865, between France, Belgium, Italy, and Switzerland. His Majesty the Emperor of the French, his Majesty the King of the Belgians, his Majesty the King of Italy, and the Swiss Confederation, equally animated by the desire to effect a more perfect harmony in their monetary legislation, and to remedy the inconvenience to trade between their respective countries resulting from the diversity of their small silver coins, and to contribute to the uniformity of weights, measures, and coins, by forming a monetary union, have therefore resolved to conclude a convention for that purpose, and have named their commissioners plenipotentiary, as follows: For FRANCE: M. Marie Louis Pierre Felix Esquirou de Parieu and M. Theophile Jules Pelouze. For BELGIUM: M. Frederick Fortamps and M. A. Kreglinger. For ITALY: M. Isaac Artom and M. Valentin Pratolongo. For SWITZERLAND: M. Kern, minister plenipotentiary, &c., and M. Feer Herzog, member of Swiss national council. These commissioners, having interchanged their respective credentials, agreed upon the following articles: ARTICLE 1. Belgium, France, Italy, and Switzerland unite to regulate the weight, title, form, and circulation of their gold and silver coins. No change is made for the present in legislation relative to copper coins for the four countries. ART. 2. The high contracting parties bind themselves not to coin, or permit to be coined, any gold other than in pieces of 100, 50, 20, 10, and 5 francs in weight, standard, tolerance, and diameter, as follows: All these coins shall be of the fineness or standard of .900, with a tolerance of two thonsandths above or below the legal standard. The tolerance in weight shall be for the 100 and for the 50 franc pieces, one thousandth above or below; for the 20 and 10 franc pieces, two thousandths; for the 5 franc pieces, three thousandths. The weights and diameters are these: Gold coins.-100 francs, weight 32.258.06 grams, diameter 35 millimetres: 50 francs, weight 16.129.03 grams, diameter 28 millimetres; 20 francs, weight 6.451.61 grams, diameter 21 millimetres; 10 francs, weight 3.225.80 grams, diameter 19 millimetres; 5 francs, weight 1.612.90 grams, diameter 17 millimetres. The different states will receive all the above coins when not worn to one-half per cent., or the devices effaeed. ART. 3. The contracting governments bind themselves not to coin, or permit to be coined silver pieces of 5 francs, except in the following weight, standard, tolerance, and diameter The weight of each 5-franc piece shall be of 25 grams; its tolerance in weight, three thousandths; its fineness, .900; its tolerance in standard, two thousandths, and diameter 37 millimetres. They will receive the above pieces at par, unless reduced one per cent. by wear, or the device is worn off. ART. 4. The high contracting parties will coin hereafter pieces of two and one franc, 50 and 20 centimes, only under the following conditions of weight, standard, tolerance, and diameter. The fineness of these pieces shall be of .835; their tolerance of standard, three thousandths; their tolerance of weight, five thousandths for the first two, .007 for the 50centime piece, and .010 for the 20-centime piece. Their weights and diameters as follows: Silver coins.-Two francs, weight 10 grams, diameter 27 millimetres; one franc, weight five grams, diameter 23 millimetres; 50 centimes, weight 2.50 grams, diameter 18 millimetres; 20 centimes, weight one gram, diameter 16 millimetres. The above pieces shall be recoined by the respective governments when reduced by wear, or when their devices shall have become effaced. ART. 5. Pieces of two and one franc and of 50 and 20 centimes of a different coinage from the above shall be withdrawn from circulation by the 1st of January, 1869. This term is extended for the pieces of two and one franc, issued in Switzerland, by the law of January, 1860. ART. 6. The silver coins authorized in article four shall be a legal tender between individuals of the states in which they are issued to the sum of fifty francs. The nation issuing them shall receive them in any amount. ART. 7. The public banks of each of the four countries will receive the coins of article four to the sum of 100 francs in payment to said banks. The governments of Belgium, France, and Italy will receive the Swiss two and one franc pieces of 1860, under the same conditions, as equivalent to the coins of article four, and under the reservation relative to wear. ART. 8. Each of the contracting governments binds itself to receive from banks or individuals the small coins they have issued, and return the equivalent in current coin, (gold or five-franc silver pieces,) provided the sum presented be not less than 100 francs. This obligation shall extend two years beyond the expiration of this treaty. ART. 9. The high contracting parties agree not to issue a greater amount of these two and one franc, 50 and 20 centime pieces of article four, than six francs for each inhabitant. The amount thus fixed in accordance with the last census and the presumed increase of population is fixed at For Belgium.. For Switzerland. Francs. 32, 000, 000 239, 000, 00 141, 000, 000 17, 000, 000 Exclusive of the above sums the different governments can issue of coins already in circulation in the following proportions: France in 50 and 20 centime pieces, by the law of the 25th May, 1864, about 16,000,000; Italy in two and one franc, 50 and 20 centime pieces, by the law of the 24th August, 1862, about 100,000,000; Switzerland in two and one franc pieces, by the law of 31st January, 1860, about 10,500,000. ART. 10. Hereafter the year of issue shall be stamped on all the gold and silver coins issued by the four governments. ART. 11. The contracting governments shall annually state the quantity of their issue of gold and silver coins, and the amount collected for melting. They shall likewise give notice of important facts in regard to the reciprocal circulation of their issues. ART. 12. Any other nation can join the present convention by accepting its obligations and adopting the monetary system of the Union in regard to gold and silver coins.. ART. 13. The execution of the reciprocal engagements contained in the present convention is left to the high contracting powers, who bind themselves to pass laws for the purpose as soon as possible. ART. 14. The present convention shall remain in force till the 1st of January, 1880. If it be not repealed a year before the expiration of that term, it shall remain in force for an additional period of fifteen years, and so on until repealed. ART. 15. The present convention shall be ratified, and the ratifications exchanged at Paris, within six months, or less time, if possible. MY DEAR SIR: You are of course aware that there is a special "International Committee" now in session at Paris, organized by the Imperial Commission of France, to sit simultaneously with the Universal Exposition," and composed of delegates from most of the 66 nations therein represented. Its object, among others, is to agree, if possible, on a common unit of money for the use of the civilized world. It is not improper to mention, that the opinion of the committee appears to be running strongly in favor of adopting as the unit the existing French five-franc piece of gold. May I ask what, in your opinion, is the probability that the Congress of the United States of America would agree at an early period to reduce the weight and value of our American dollar, to correspond with the present weight and value of the gold five-franc piece in France, and how far such a change would commend itself to your own judgment. I also ask the privilege of submitting your answer to the consideration of the committee. With high respect, your obedient servant, Hon. JOHN SHERMAN, &c., &c., &c. SAMUEL B. RUGGLES. APPENDIX No. 4. Mr. Sherman to Mr. Ruggles. HOTEL JARDIN DES TUILERIES, May 18, 1867. MY DEAR SIR: Your note of yesterday, inquiring whether Congress would probably, in future coinage, make our gold dollar conform in value to the gold five-franc piece, has been received. There has been so little discussion in Congress upon the subject, that I cannot base my opinion upon anything said or done there. The subject has, however, excited the attention of several important commercial bodies in the United States, and the time is now so favorable, that I feel quite sure that Congress will adopt any practical measure that will secure to the commercial world a uniform standard of value and exchange. The only question will be, how this can be accomplished. The treaty of December 23, 1865, between France, Italy, Belgium, and Switzerland, and the probable acquiescence in that treaty by Prussia, has laid the foundation for such a standard. If Great Britain will reduce the value of her sovereign two pence, and the United States will reduce the value of her dollar something over three cents, we then have a coinage in the franc, dollar, and sovereign, easily computed, and which will readily pass in all countries; the dollar as five francs, and the sovereign as 25 francs. This will put an end to the loss and intricacies of exchange and discount. Our gold dollar is certainly as good a unit of value as the franc; and so the English think of their pound sterling. These coins are now exchangeable only at a considerable loss, and. this exchange is a profit only to brokers and bankers. Surely each commercial nation should be willing to yield a little to secure a gold coin of equal value, weight, and diameter, from whatever mint it may have been issued. As the gold five-franc piece is now in use by over 60,000,000 of people of several different nationalities, and is of convenient form and size, it may well be adopted by other nations as the common standard of value; leaving to each nation to regulate the divisions of this unit in silver coins or tokens. If this is done, France will surely abandon the impossible effort of making two standards of value. Gold coins will answer all the purposes of European commerce. A common gold standard will regulate silver coinage, of which the United States will furnish the greater part, especially for the Chinese trade. I have thought a good deal of how the object you propose may be most readily accomplished. It is clear that the United States cannot become a party to the treaty referred to. They could not agree upon the silver standard; nor could we limit the amount of our coinage, as proposed by the treaty. The United States is so large in extent, is so sparsely populated, and the price of labor is so much higher than in Europe, that we require more currency per capita. We now produce the larger part of the gold and silver of the world, and cannot limit our coinage, except by the wants of our people and the demands of commerce. Congress alone can change the value of our coin. I see no object in negotiating with other powers on the subject. As coin is not now in general circulation with us, we can readily fix by law the size, weight, and measure of future issues. It is not worth while to negotiate about that which we can do without negotiation, and we do not wish to limit ourselves by treaty restrictions. In England, many persons of influence and different chambers of commerce are earnestly in favor of the proposed change in their coinage. The change is so slight with them, that an enlightened self-interest will soon induce them to make it; especially if we make the greater change in our coinage. We will have some difficulty in adjusting existing contracts with the new dollar; but as contracts are now based upon the fluctuating value of paper money, even the reduced dollar in coin will be of more purchasable value than our currency. We can easily adjust the reduction with the public creditors in the payment or conversion of their securities, while private creditors might be authorized to recover upon the old standard. All these are matters of detail to which I hope the commission will direct their attention. And now, my dear sir, allow me to say in conclusion, that I heartily sympathize with you and others in your efforts to secure the adoption of the metrical system of weights and measures. The tendency of the age is to break down all needless restrictions upon social and commercial intercourse. Nations are now as much akin to each other as provinces were of old. Prejudices disappear by contact. People of different nations learn to respect each other as they find that their differences are the effect of social and local custom not founded upon good reasons. I trust that the Industrial Commission will enable the world to compute the value of all productions by the same standard, to measure by the same yard or metre, and weigh by the same scales. Such a result would be of greater value than the usual employments of diplomatists and statesmen. I am very truly yours, SAMUEL B. RUGGLES, Esq., &c., &c., &c. JOHN SHERMAN. RUSSIA. Mr. Fox to Mr. Seward. PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPshire, SIR Having returned from my visit to Russia on the 13th instant, I discharge a duty by enclosing to you herewith the following papers introductory— a memorandum of papers in Russian : 1. Autograph letter of Peter the Great. 2. A poem by Derschavin, a lyric poet of the time of Catherine II, with autographic corrections and remarks. 3. An autographic poem of Puschkin. 4. A letter of Schukowsky, Governor of Alexander II. 5. A fragment, autographic, of Gogol 6. The First Snow, a poem by Countess Rostopchine, (autographic.) 7. A fac simile from the Russian history of Karamzin; and, 8. An autographic remark by Schafarik. I received these, last August, from Mr. Pogodin, a distinguished citizen of Moscow who requested me to present them to some national institute, or museum, in Washington. I ask you to acknowledge their receipt, and give such direction to them as in your judgment shall best fulfil the wishes of the donor. I have the honor to be your obedient servant, G. V. FOX, Late Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Hon WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. Mr. Seward to Mr. Fox. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 20, 1866. SIR: I have received your communication of the 17th instant, and its accompaniments, which M. Pogodin, requested you to present to some national institute or museum in this city. I have placed them among the archives of the department, and I beg that you will accept my thanks for your kindness in allowing me the privilege of disposing of these interesting autographs. I am, sir, your obedient servant; G. V. Fox, Esq,, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. |