Page:Conversations, between James Block, Esq. and Millar, the editor of the Monthly Miscellany.pdf/12

12

tons in whole; therefore the National Debt in copper would (illegible text) them all nearly three times over.

IX. Suppose the number of the members of the three estat(illegible text) Parliament to amount to 1200, and allow the weight of each (illegible text)ber to be 168 lbs. Would their weight in gold discharge the ⟨National⟩ Debt?

Ans. 1200 members multiplied by 1 1/2 cwt is 90 ⟨tons⟩ only: whereas the weight of the National Debt ⟨in⟩ gold is upwards of 9522 tons; which is upwards ⟨of⟩ 105 times the weight of 1200 persons at 1 1/2 cwt. ⟨each⟩

X. Suppose this sum to be either in a cubical piece of ⟨gold⟩ silver, or copper: What would be the length of one of its sides⟨?⟩

Ans. In Gold 25 1/12 feet cubic. In Silver ⟨upwards⟩ of 72 feet cubic. In Copper upwards of 138 feet ⟨cubic⟩

XI. If all the inhabitants on the whole globe of the earth, ⟨were⟩ to pay up our National debt among them. (which, by the bye, ⟨they⟩ are under no obligation to do) How much would each person's ⟨share⟩ of the national debt be?

Solution. Of the numbers of mankind, auth(illegible text) have differed widely in their opinions. Riccioli ⟨estimates⟩ the numbers of mankind at 1000 ⟨millions⟩ Vossius 500 millions, Brackenbridge 400 millions, ⟨and⟩ Teller at 370 millions. If we take Riccioli's ⟨estimate⟩ it will be one pound to each, Vossius' will be (illegible text) pounds to each, and Teller's estimate nearly t(illegible text) pounds to each persons share.

XII. Great Britain is allowed to contain nearly 12 million inhabitants. If we allow 6 persons on an average to each fa(illegible text) the number of families will be two millions. Suppose this ⟨number⟩ of families to pay up the national debt among them. How ⟨much⟩ will each family's share of the national debt be? Ans. £(illegible text)

XIII. Suppose this sum was either in guineas shillings, or ⟨halfpence⟩, and laid singly down in a strait line, each touching ⟨another⟩ edge: How far would the line of each of these coins extend?

Ans. In Guineas upwards of 15,031 1/4 miles; ⟨which⟩ is more than 3/5 round the equator of our earth. ⟨In⟩ Shillings 12 1/2 times round the globe, or to the ⟨moon⟩ and one fourth part back again. In Halfpence 3(illegible text) times round the earth, or 31 1/2 times betwixt the ⟨earth⟩ and the moon, or upwards of 4 1/2 times round the ⟨moon's⟩ orbit, encompassing the earth.