An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations · Adam Smith
GOLD.
Portugal coin } Guineas } B--310 per mark. Louis d'ors, new } Ditto old 300 New ducats 4 19 8 per ducat. Bar or ingot gold is received in proportion to its fineness, compared with the above foreign gold coin. Upon fine bars the bank gives 340 per mark. In general, however, something more is given upon coin of a known fineness, than upon gold and silver bars, of which the fineness cannot be ascertained but by a process of melting and assaying. [38] This paragraph was written in the year 1775. [39] See the accounts at the end of this Book. [40] Before the 13th of the present king, the following were the duties payable upon the importation of the different sorts of grain: _Grain._ _Duties._ _Duties._ _Duties._ Beans to 28s. per qr. 19s. 10d. after till 40s. 16s. 8d. then 12d. Barley to 28s. 19s. 10d. 32s. 16s. 12d. Malt is prohibited by the annual malt-tax bill. Oats to 16s. 5s. 10d. after 9-1/2d. Pease to 40s. 16s. 0d. after 9-3/4d. Rye to 36s. 19s. 10d. till 40s. 16s. 8d. then 12d. Wheat to 44s. 21s. 9d. till 53s. 4d. 17s. then 8s. till L 4, and after that about 1s. 4d. Buck-wheat to 32s. per qr. to pay 16s. These different duties were imposed, partly by the 22d of Charles II. in place of the old subsidy, partly by the new subsidy, by the one-third and two-thirds subsidy, and by the subsidy 1747.
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