Page:Conversations, between James Block, Esq. and Millar, the editor of the Monthly Miscellany.pdf/9

9, Mr Block: How much space no you think the Debt, if it were all in guineas would occupy?

Block. I cannot pretend to say exactly. Two, or, sugar hogsheads, full of guineas, would certainly to a far greater sum than would pay all the  Debt.

Millar. The Paisley Weavers would be ashamed shew their ignorance to be so great as you have  yours to be just now. I have been at the trouble drawing up a few problems concerning the  Debt. After you hear them read, you will never think, that two or three Sugar Hogsheads full of, or a hundred either, will be able to pay off National Debt. The truth is, that few persons on in a Newspaper, that we have "Eleven  millions of National Debt", have the smallest idea  what an enormous sum the National Debt is. , they can form no idea in their minds between the ble of that sum and the hundredth part of it. , I am of the opinion, that the solution of these will give a more distinct conception of the  of this Debt, Although Mr. Cobbet, and, have stated the National Debt at 1100 millions,  calculations I take it only at a £1000,000000.

Suppose this sum, of one Thousand Billions of pounds, were in Guineas, Shillings, or Half pence, allowing each of these to be an inch in diameter, and distributed in equal rowsː many English acres would they cover?

151 $1⁄2$ acres guineas; 3,188 $1⁄5$ acres shillings; 76,525 acres half pence.

Suppose this sum were either in Guineas Bank of England d Notes, Three Shilling pieces, Shillings, Sixpences, Penny ,or HalfpeneeHalfpence [sic], and allowing one to tell over 60 of them in, for ten hours in the day, and 313 days in the year, which days for Sundays deducted: How long, at that rate, would to tell over the National Debt?

84 years and 163 days for Guineas.

88 years and 233 days for Pound Notes.

591 years and 235 days for Three Shilling pieces.