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Mint of Ceylon Nov 13 1812
The Policy of allowing Colonial Coins to be Struck in any place but the Royal mint appears very Questionable,
The mint was Erected on an extensive Plan Scale Sufficient it was presumed to Provide Coin for all the dependencies of the British Crown Empire, if all the Coinage necessary for the United Kingdom & its dependencies is Carried on there the office will not be found too Large.
Silver is the Production of the Western World, in all times when Europe is a State of Tranquillity Silver must be cheaper in England than at Ceylon, is it then Good Policy to Establish a Mint in Ceylon because Silver happens to be dear in Europe at present, when we are Certain that in Future it will be dearer because necessary to Carry Silver to use it from home in order to Feed it
The East India Company use mints in Calcutta & other places but they Struck Coin in the name of the Sovereigns of that Countrey but it does not appear that the English Government has Ever intrusted a Colony with the use of a mint, for the currency of which Coins Struck under the authority of these officers that English nation must become Responsible, so delicate is the Trust Repaid in those who Coin money that the officers of the Royal mint are Compelld to Place a Small Sample of Each Every Coinage in a Pyx or closed box to be tried in the Presence of the Privy Council by a Jury of Goldsmiths on both Respecting weight & alloy. When Birmingham was by Parliament intrusted with an assay office for Plates a Similar Obligation was insisted upon, their Pix is regularly forwarded to the Royal mint as a check upon their assay masters. under these Considerations it must be Considered as a matter