short of storeroom for the Sèvres china, he might be led to justify his own foresight in appointing Hamilton to the practical establishment of the public credit; and exclaim in the language of Daniel Webster, "He smote the rock of the national resources, and abundant streams of revenue gushed forth."
SIGNING GOLD CERTIFICATES.
It is said that at least seven-tenths of all the disbursements of the United States Government take place at this office. As many as 11,000 individual pension checks averaging some $26.00 each, are frequently paid in one day. The treasurer is kept busy signing bonds, gold certificates, and other documents, writing his name on some occasions three thousand times during the business hours of each morning.
Adjoining the massive Greek temple just described stands a rusty-looking, unpretentious two-story structure, hardly noticed by the busy multitude who are continually passing and re-passing it, surrounded as it is by so much grandeur in architectural display. Yet it is one of the objects of special interest to all those who are familiar with the mine of precious metals contained within its dingy walls. The New York Assay Office was organized in October, in 1854, and is the most important institution of its character in the country. The edifice itself was originally built for the United States Bank, in 1823. A curious incident in its history
