I return you the report on the mint1 which I have read over with a great deal of satisfaction. I concur with you in thinking that the mint must stand on both metals, that the alloy should be the same in both, also in the proportion you establish between the value of the two metals. As to the question on whom the expense of coinage is to fall, I have been so little able to make up an opinion satisfactory to myself, as to be ready to concur in either decision. With respect to the dollar, it must be admitted by all the world, that there is great incertainty in the meaning of the term, & therefore all the world will have justified Congress for their first act of removing the incertainty by declaring what they understood by the term, but the incertainty once removed, exists no longer, and I very much doubt a right now to change the ⟨value⟩2 & especially to lessen it. ⟨It would lead⟩ to so easy a mode of pa⟨ying off their debts.⟩ Besides the parties ⟨injured by this reduction⟩ of the value ⟨would have so much matter to urge in sup⟩port of the ⟨first point of fixation. Should it be⟩ thought ⟨however that congress may reduce⟩ the value of the dollar, I should then be for adopting for our unit: instead of the dollar, either one ounce of pure silver, or one ounce of standard silver, so as to keep the unit of money a part of the system of measures, weights & coins. I hazard these thoughts to you extempore and am dear Sir

respectfully & affectionately