The Mont de Pidte is an institution of Italian origin. DE PIETE.] In 1661 a project existed for establishing Monts de Pietd in England. It is ex tremely doubtful whether a public insti tution for lending money on pledges would answer in London. Many branch establishments would be necessary, and they would scarcely be so economically conducted as the establishments belong me to private individuals. The rates of tn'erert charged by pawnbrokers are high ; but the average profits of their trade are not so great as might be in ferred from a hasty glance at the pre ceding tables, which nevertheless fully prove that having recourse to pawn brokers is an improvident mode of raising money. It is, however, a great conve nience to many persons who could not raise money for temporary purposes in any other way. Those pawnbrokers who take out a licence to receive pledges in gold and silver do a considerable amount of business in that way, and of course not with the poorest classes. In 1838 a company was formed in London, called the British Pledge Society,' which pro posed lending money at one-half the rate of interest allowed by the 39 & 40 George III. c. 99, and without making any charge for duplicates. This society also pledged itself to make good losses in case of fire, for which casualty pawn brokers are not liable. The bill of in corporation, after being read a first time in the House of Commons, was aban doned.
There is a Mont de Pidtd at Moscow on a very extensive scale, the profits of which support a foundling hospital.
They are numerous in Belgium. From a paper read by Rawson W. Rawson be fore the London Statistical Society in 1837, the following appear to be the terms of the Mont de Piete of Paris: " Loans are made upon the deposit of such goods as can be preserved to the among, of two-thirds of their estimated value; but on Fold and silver, four-fifths of their value is advanced. The present rate of interest is 1 per cent. per month, or 12 per cent per annum. The Paris establishment has generally from 600,000 to 650,000 articles in its possession, and the capital constantly outstanding may be estimated at about 500,0001. The expense of management amounts to be tween 60 c. and 65 c. on each article, and the profits are wholly derived from loans of 5 francs and upwards. Articles not redeemed within the year are sold, sub ject however, as in England, to a claim for restoration of the surplus, if made within three years." The statistical tables published by the French minister of commerce show the operations of the Mont de PiLtd of Paris and those of the large towns in France during the year 1833. The number of articles pledged in Paris in 1833 was 1,064,068; average sum advanced on each, 14s. 11d. The number of articles redeemed was 844,861: on 178,913 ar ticles the interest was paid and the dupli cate renewed ; 50,656 articles, on which the sum of 36,3911. had been advanced, were forfeited, being one-twentieth in number, but less than one-twentieth in value.