Dead weight. The name given to that portion of the British national debt which is not represented
by investments or reproductive expenditure; it includes the permanent debt of the government of
Great Britain to the Bank of England, amounting to £11,015,100, which serves as backing for (as
security for) a corresponding amount of notes (paper money) issued by the bank. This item
appears as a credit item in the weekly return of the bank under the heading "Issue department."