Willson's preface addresses this Plea to President Grant, whom he praises highly for placing the Nation on the road to financial stability. Recognizing that paper currency is a "necessity of modern civilization," Willson advocates "the wisdom of retaining our national currency, and of retiring or canceling the national bank currency." Refuting the argument that the national currency with originated as a wartime necessity should be retired, he discourses the on the science of money, the origin of paper currency [from the 13th century], the various kinds of paper currency, and the proper management of monetary policy. NUC records only three locations.