§ Mr. Humesaid, he had seen a very extraordinary proclamation about the coinage and issue of half-farthings. He begged leave to ask of the right hon. Gentleman opposite, whether it were a hoax, or whether such a coinage was really about to be issued?
Mr. Gladstonesaid, the question of the hon. Member would have been more properly put to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, as the Master of the Mint had nothing to do with issuing those proclamations. The coin in question was not intended exclusively for this country, though it was thought that in many instances it would be found useful. Such a coin was constantly circulated in some of our colonies, and if it were found useless or inconvenient here, it could be sent out to those colonies.