Common-wealths, those Mettals were in the Proportion of twelve to

one. It is also reported in Pliny, (without mentioning any

certain time) That antiently the Romans did value a scruple of

Gold at twenty Sestertii of Silver, which, if it were when the

Sestertii were at the greatest weight, made the Proportion of

twenty for one: and if it were when they were at their least

weight, it made the Proportion of fifteen for one. But there is a

clear Passage, in the 8th Book (sect. 11) of the 4th Decade of