Japan. India. and other oriental countries. of whose prepossessions we must not lose sight. For years silver. for reasons not fully understood. has been the object of unusual denmand among these Asiatic nations. and now forms the almost universal medium of circulation. absorbing rapidly the silver of coinage. The enormous proportion fixed between silver and gold by France. and which we are asked to copy. is denuding that country of the former metal. Our own monetary system. though less faulty. is not suitably adjusted in this respect. The silver dollar. for instance. a favorite coin of the native Indian and distant Asiatic. has wellnigh disappeared from domestic circulation to reappear among the Eastern peoples. with whom we unore than ever seek close intimacy. As they prefer this piece we would do well to increase rather than discontinue its coinage. for we must not deprive ourselves of the advantages which its agency will afford. and "it would be useless to send dollars to Asia inferior in weight and value to its wellknown Spanish and Mexican prototype." So when ]Mir. SHERMAN and Mr.