Hamish Riley-Smith

BULLION REPORT. Report, together with minutes of Evidence, and Accounts, from the Select Committee appointed to inquire into the cause of the High Price of Gold Bullion, and to take into consideration the state of the circulating medium, and of the exchanges between Great Britain and Foreign Parts. London, J.Johnson 1810

Octavo, original blue boards, uncut, xpp + (1) + 78pp + (1) + 237pp + (1) + 115pp, including the appendices, a fine copy.

First edition of one of the great works on money and banking and the chief source of inspiration and criticism in the English monetary controversy of the period. The Report attributed the depreciation of the currency to the excessive issues of the Bank of England (the "superabundance in its quantity" as David Ricardo called it), and recommended a resumption of cash payments in two years. The Bullion Report has been described by McCulloch as "one of the most valuable papers that has ever proceeded from a committee of the legislature. It was mainly written by Francis Horner, with help from William Huskisson and Henry Thornton, and embodies a comprehensive view of the principles which determine the value of paper money. It was said by many, including the government, to contradict the very principles laid down in it and remained a subject of much controversy for several years.
Goldsmith, 20056. Stephens, p.38

£2500

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