For gold refined by sulphuric acid, when alloyed with copper only, from
898/1000 to 1/1000, 5 fr. per kilogramme, = 1 fr. 86 c. per lb. troy.
For gold alloyed with copper and silver, whatever be the quantity of
silver, 5 fr. 75 c. per kilogramme, = 2 fr. 12 c. per lb. troy.
There are about ten bullion refiners by sulphuric acid in the environs
of Paris; two of whom, M. Poizat St. André, and M. Chauvière, are by far
the most considerable; the former working about 300 kilogrammes (= 804
lbs. troy) daily, and the latter about two-thirds of that quantity. In
former times, when competition was open in London, Messrs. Browne and
Brinde were wont to treat 6 cwts. of silver, or 9 cwts. of gold alloy,
daily, for several months in succession.
The result of _free trade_ in refining bullion at Paris is, that the
silver bars imported into London from South America, &c., are mostly
sent off to Paris to be stripped of the few grains of gold which they
may contain, and are then brought back to be sold here. Three grains of
gold in one Paris lb. of silver, pay the refiners there for taking them
out. What a disgrace is thus brought upon our manufacturing industry and
skill, by the monopoly charges in refining and assaying granted to two
individuals in our Royal Mint.