to $1,685,000,000. India has often been represented as destitute of
silver, but we have statements from Sir Roderic Murchison that the Kulu
valley is so rich in silver ore that it could yield a large product for
future ages. The silver country of Vasours comprises the mountainous
regions between the Beas, Sainji and Parbutti rivers. The mines, though
previously worked, are now almost forgotten. The same is the case with
the Manikarn mines, hitherto known to be incalculably rich. The annual
product of the silver mines of Africa is estimated at the present time
to be $40,000; and their total product to the present time has amounted
to $389,000,000.

Silver, to the amount of $2,913,000,000, is estimated to have been
obtained from the mines of the earth from the earliest times to the
commencement of the Christian Era; from the date of the latter event
to the discovery of America $521,000,000 were obtained; thence to the
close of 1847, an addition of $6,025,000,000 was made; thence to the
close of 1884, there was added $2,344,000,000; making a grand total of
$11,803,000,000. The average loss by abrasion of coin is estimated by
Professor Bowen at one per cent. per annum; and the loss by consumption
in the arts, and fire, and shipwreck at $5,000,000 per annum. A cubic
inch of silver is worth, at 48 3-4d., or 97 1-2 cents per ounce, $9.75;
a cubic foot, $16.848; a cubic yard, $454,896.

Silver, to the amount of $900,000,000, is estimated to have been in
existence at the commencement of the Christian Era; at the period of the
discovery of America it had diminshed to $135,000,000; after the latter
event it gradually increased, and in 1600 it attained to $391,000,000;
in 1700, to $1,410,000,000; in 1800, to $3,622,000,000; in 1842, to
4,998,000,000; in 1853, to $4,945,000,000; and at the present the amount
of silver in existence is estimated to be $5,504,000,000; which, melted