The present panic has been in the process of development for jame considerable time. But the immediate cause, it is alleged, is due to speculation. it has been suggested that rigid restriction be exorcised over speculative transactions. The Ministry is now engaged in a close investigation of the cnse, and if concrete evidence is produced of speculation, rigid measures will be adopted to put a stop to it. It is farther alleged that Shanghai over-stocked with silver. Further importation of silver bar will be disastrous. This, however, is not the principal cause, We doubt very much whether the importation of silver would decrease éf a tax were Smposed on silver. Tt is a question whether it is beneficial to the pub-Jig to have a limited quantity ut silver. Even if we succeed in reducing the quantity of silver and elevate the price to a certain extent, the effect will be domestic and mot international, because this striction will not affect the price of silver abroad. These two suggestions for restriction of speculation and quantity are only meant for temporary measures and are being carefully considered.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.