§ MR. SINCLAIR AYTOUNsaid, he would beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether he has any objection to lay upon the Table of the House Copies of any Correspondence or Papers with respect to manufactures in London, Paris, and Brussels for the melting of English sovereigns; and, if he will state whether he is in possession of any evidence that such a manufacture at present exists in Brussels?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, I have no Correspondence upon the subject to lay upon the table. Of course, I should not have made the statement I did unless I had strong reason to believe that such a manufacture was carried on at Brussels. The question is equivalent to asking me whether I made a statement for which I had no ground whatever. There is nothing, so far as I am aware, contrary to law in melting down sovereigns; and it seems to me that our regulations in making no charge for mintage are expressly framed to promote that practice.
§ MR. SINCLAIR AYTOUNMay I be allowed to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will lay upon the table any Papers containing the evidence on the subject?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERCertainly, the hon. Gentleman may be allowed to ask me that question, and I hope I may also be allowed to decline answering it.