I shall venture one concluding remark. Professor H. H. Wilson, the learned Director of this Society, in his paper on the Rock Inscriptions, published in the 12th volume of the Journal, has shown that the King Asoka could not have been the contemporary of Antiochus the Great, whilst the Piyadasa of the inscriptions was so, or even posterior to him; he also shows that "the term Piyadasa was applied to more than one person, and not the proper designation of one individual in particular."

Now the Piyadassi of the Cingalese records is invariably found associated with Asoka as his contemporary and friend; and although the introduction of Buddhism into Ceylon is attributed to his influence, no mention is made of his having promulgated any moral or religious code of his own, or of his having exercised any power or influence on the continent of India. In all these points he is distinguished from the Piyadasa of the inscriptions.

Moreover, the same chronological grounds which, in Mr. Wilson's argument, preclude the idea of the sovereign Asoka and the Piyadasa of the inscriptions being considered as the same personage, weigh with equal force against their being contemporaries.

Taking all these facts into consideration, I am of opinion that the Piyadasa of the inscriptions and the King of Ceylon are distinct individuals, belonging to different eras.

In the preceding endeavour to trace the history of the city of Anuradhapura, from its origin as a village, in the time of Wijayo, in the year 543 B.C., the year of Buddha's death, to the present day, the dágobas and religious buildings have been described with special reference to the periods of their structure, in order to indicate their importance as historical monuments; and the inscription on the rock of Mehentélé has been brought into prominent notice, in consequence of its containing the name of Dewánan-piyatissa, of Ceylon, whose reign commenced in the year B.C. 307, the eighteenth after the accession of Dharmasoka, the great Buddhist sovereign of India, who is mentioned in the Mahawanso, treated of at length in the great work of Eugene Bournouf, and who is proved by Professor Wilson to have been a grandson of Chandragupta; and as this sovereign is stated in the Mahawanso to have succeeded to the throne of India B.C. 381, an important date is thus fixed.

The historical names which, in this fragment of a Ceylonese inscription, have been accidentally brought to light, will naturally dispose the inquirer into Indian antiquities to wish for more of these records. Some few, both in the Láth characters and in others of a different structure, have been copied from time to time; and the im

provements now going on in the northern portion of that island, by the clearing of the woods and dense jungle with which it is generally covered, and by the opening of new tracks of communication, are constantly bringing others to notice. They are, however, I believe, for the most part as yet utterly unregarded. To call attention to these would, I think, be very desirable, and, I would humbly infer, not unworthy of the consideration of this Society. There are, I have no doubt, many intelligent persons in that country, who, upon the suggestion that these "monuments of past days" might be of historical interest, would gladly lend their aid. Nothing is wanting but a knowledge of the fact that copies of them would be acceptable to the Asiatic Society and the learned in Oriental antiquities.

The coincidence of some of the Láth characters given by the late Mr. Prinsep, in the eighth volume of the Journal of the Bengal Asiatic Society, with those of the few inscriptions already copied from rocks in Ceylon, has induced the Author of this paper to lithograph and send out copies of Mr. Prinsep's alphabetical table for distribution in Ceylon, and he would gladly see his own humble efforts succeeded by others more influential.

ART. X.-An Account of the Paper Currency and Banking System of Fuhchowfoo. By H. PARKES, ESQ.

[Read 8th January, 1848.]

AMONG the various wonderful inventions, marking the astonishing advances which the Chinese had so early made towards civilization, is that of Paper-Money, which dates as far back as the year 119 before our era. The cause that led to its introduction was the low state of the finances of the Government, who, after various other experiments, issued at last regular paper assignats, which, from the ponderous nature of the rude coin then in use, and the security that the warranty of government afforded, soon obtained extensive circulation. The government who had thus introduced this new currency, made it an object of much legislation; and various were the schemes that were started and remoulded, in the hope of permanently establishing its use. But the numerous intestine wars, and the repeated subversion of dynasties that followed, tended seriously to detract from the credit of the government; and thus, owing to its bad faith, and the excessive issues, a complete failure of the system was the result, after a lapse of five centuries having been spent in unsuccessful attempts to establish it. Government paper-money seems to have disappeared in the early part of the late Ming dynasty; and the Manchus, on their accession, never attempted to revive its use. Το Klaproth we are indebted for very elaborate researches on this interesting and oft-discussed subject.

But the Chinese being so essentially a commercial people, it is not surprising that they should see the utility of a paper currency, and the facilities that it affords to mercantile transactions. When, therefore, they had quietly settled down under their new Tartar rulers, we find them taking up the matter among themselves, and by their quiet unostentatious way of proceeding,-their plans being projected as their wants occasioned,-there is little doubt, though the progress made be but slow, that what proved a failure with the legislature, will ultimately succeed in their hands.

But their banking is still only in a primitive state; and the various large centres of trade seem each to have originated its own system, for we find that this differs at almost every locality. A lack of uniformity must necessarily be met with in any extensive country, possessing but poor means of internal communication; and when

provements now going on in the northern portion of that island, by the clearing of the woods and dense jungle with which it is generally covered, and by the opening of new tracks of communication, are constantly bringing others to notice. They are, however, I believe, for the most part as yet utterly unregarded. To call attention to these would, I think, be very desirable, and, I would humbly infer, not unworthy of the consideration of this Society. There are, I have no doubt, many intelligent persons in that country, who, upon the suggestion that these "monuments of past days" might be of historical interest, would gladly lend their aid. Nothing is wanting but a knowledge of the fact that copies of them would be acceptable to the Asiatic Society and the learned in Oriental antiquities.

The coincidence of some of the Láth characters given by the late Mr. Prinsep, in the eighth volume of the Journal of the Bengal Asiatic Society, with those of the few inscriptions already copied from rocks in Ceylon, has induced the Author of this paper to lithograph and send out copies of Mr. Prinsep's alphabetical table for distribution in Ceylon, and he would gladly see his own humble efforts succeeded by others more influential.

ART. X.-An Account of the Paper Currency and Banking System of Fuhchowfoo. By H. PARKES, ESQ.

[Read 8th January, 1848.]

AMONG the various wonderful inventions, marking the astonishing advances which the Chinese had so early made towards civilization, is that of Paper-Money, which dates as far back as the year 119 before our era. The cause that led to its introduction was the low state of the finances of the Government, who, after various other experiments, issued at last regular paper assignats, which, from the ponderous nature of the rude coin then in use, and the security that the warranty of government afforded, soon obtained extensive circulation. The government who had thus introduced this new currency, made it an object of much legislation; and various were the schemes that were started and remoulded, in the hope of permanently establishing its use. But the numerous intestine wars, and the repeated subversion of dynasties that followed, tended seriously to detract from the credit of the government; and thus, owing to its bad faith, and the excessive issues, a complete failure of the system was the result, after a lapse of five centuries having been spent in unsuccessful attempts to establish it. Government paper-money seems to have disappeared in the early part of the late Ming dynasty; and the Manchus, on their accession, never attempted to revive its use. Το Klaproth we are indebted for very elaborate researches on this interesting and oft-discussed subject.

But the Chinese being so essentially a commercial people, it is not surprising that they should see the utility of a paper currency, and the facilities that it affords to mercantile transactions. When, therefore, they had quietly settled down under their new Tartar rulers, we find them taking up the matter among themselves, and by their quiet unostentatious way of proceeding,-their plans being projected as their wants occasioned,-there is little doubt, though the progress made be but slow, that what proved a failure with the legislature, will ultimately succeed in their hands.

But their banking is still only in a primitive state; and the various large centres of trade seem each to have originated its own system, for we find that this differs at almost every locality. A lack of uniformity must necessarily be met with in any extensive country, possessing but poor means of internal communication; and when