'Inquiries concerning the 800000 Mexico and Pillar Dollars purchased by her Majesty & coyned into two Real pieces for the Spanish service'

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Inquiries concerning the 800000 Dollars of Peru & Mexico & Pillar pieces of eight\Dollars/, purchased by her Majesty for the Spanish service\Spanish serv & coyned into two Ryal pieces for the Spansih service./. {sic}

|Qu 1.| What is the proportion of the Spanish weights to the English \Troy/ weights \to the Spanish weights/ used for weighing of gold & silver? |A:| Twenty ounces Troy weigh 9600 grains Troy & twenty ounces Spanish weigh about 8840 of the same grains\within 10 or 20 grains over/. If the Gentlemen who are sent by her Ma^ty as Comm^rs from her Ma^ty into Spain for should carry with them a pound weight Troy with ounces penny weights & grains exactly made, they may weigh 20 spanish ounces \at the Mint Spanish Mint/ & thereby determin these \Spanish/ weights of {illeg} exactly. {illeg} And it is to be observed that the Spanish pound consists of sixteen Spanish ounces, but the pound Troy conte{illeg}s|in|s only twelve ounces Troy and th{e}|is| ounce conteins 20 penny weights & the penny weight 24 grains

|Qu. 2.| What was the weight of the {illeg}|8|00000 pieces of 8\Mexico & Pillar pieces Dollars/? A. ^{illeg} A thousand of these Mexico pieces of 8\Dollars as they are {now} brought by the Merchants from Mexico/ should weight 875 {illeg}|o|unces Troy but the Merchants find that they usually weigh{ed} \but/ 872 ounces at w^ch rate{s} 800000 pieces\Dollars/ should weigh {illeg}|6|976000 ounces Tory. {illeg} Let the book|s| \in Spain/ be examined where the weight of the 800000 pieces {illeg} 8 were\Dollars/ \was/ entred & upon delivery of the same. And say by the Rule of three, As the {illeg} twenty ounces Troy to twenty ounces Spanish {so} is the whole weight {both}\of the Dollars/ |in| spanish to the whole weight in English ounces {illeg}|&| so also is the weight of a 1000 \Dollars/ in spanish ounces to y^e weight of a 100 in English ounces. And not that For example If the Spanish {be} English ounce \should/ be to the Spanish ounce as 9600 to 8840 & the whole \Spanish/ weight of the 800000 Dollars was {illeg} \should be found in the books to be/ 7574389 Spanish ounces, the whole \English/ weight \in {illeg} English/ will be found by the Rule of three to be \found/ {illeg} 6976000 ounces Troy.|,| And note th & the whole weight of a thousand will be \found/ 872 ounces Troy. And note that if the weight of a thousand prove to be 872 ounces Troy, or within an ounce or two over or under the {illeg}|d|elivering weighing & entring the weight of the 400000 pieces of 8 \Dollars may be presumed to/ have been faily {sic} perf{illeg}|o|rmed: but if a thousand weighs above an ounce or two less then 872 ounces, {illeg} there is reason to make further enquiry into the matter. |For they were bought upon a supposition that a 1000 would weigh 875 ounces.|

|Qu. 5|4|| What ought to be the whole weight of all the Two-Ryal pieces coined out of the all the 800000 pieces of 8? |Answ.| By the assay I find that the {illeg} \Mexico {illeg}|Dollar|s {fine} are 11 ounces 1^dwt fine &/ Two-ryal pieces are one per cent worse in fineness then the Mexico pieces of 8\Dollars/ be encreased one per cent & you will have the whole weight of the Two Ryal pieces including the seigniora{illeg}|g|e As if the whole weight of the pieces of 8\Dollars/ were 7574389 spanish ounces, the whole weight of the Two-ryal pieces ou{illeg}|g|ht to be 7650133 Spanish ounces. And note that Pillar Qu. pieces are of 8 are about a penny w^t better then the Mexico &|&| so need not Qu. 4 be considered apart.

Qu. 4|5|. What number of Two Ryal pieces ought to be coined out of all the 800000 Dollars? Ans. By the weight of four of them \w^ch was {illeg}^dwt 13^dwt 12^gr/ I found that one with another they weight about {illeg}|3|^dwt 9^gr Troy, one w^th another. Let 100 of the {illeg} be weighed at which rate an 100 of them should weigh 16 ounces 17^dwt 12^gr {illeg}|Tro||y| \& 100 of should weigh about 20 ounces Spanish/ Let 100 of them be weighed in Spain \both in Spanish & English weight/ & there {shoul} the weight will be had more exactly. And if another 100 {illeg}|&| a 3^d 100 be weighed & a medium be taken the weight will be had still more exactly. Then say by the Rule of three. As an 100 is to the weight of an hundred (whether in English or Spanish ounces) so is the {illeg} is to the number of an hundred so is the whole wei{illeg}|g|ht \of the two Ryal pieces/ to the whole number of As if an hundred weigh 16 ounces 17$\frac{1}{2}$^dwt & the whole weight be {illeg}7{illeg}50133 them. |And not that an 109 of them will be about\weigh about/ 20 ounces Spanish within a few carats over or under.|

Qu 5|6| What is the number of the two Ryal pie{illeg}|c|es remaining to the Queen after the deduction of the seigniorage. Answ. In forreign Mints there is usually \{a Duty} called/ {illeg}|a| seigniorage \or Duty/ paid for co{illeg}|i|nage. In the Engl{illeg}|i|sh Mint 12 ounces Troy was cut {out}\is coined/ into 12 cowns {sic} & two Shillings & the two{illeg} shillings was formerly deteined by the {illeg} called the Seigniorage for maintaining the Mint & defraying the

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charges of coinage, & the twelve crowns was returned to the Merchant for his twelve ounces of standard Silver. In the Mexico twenty ounces of silver is|o|f their standard is cut into coined into 21 pieces of eight, w^ch makes it probable that one of those pieces may be deteined by the M{illeg}|i|nt & the for seigniorage {illeg}|&| the other 20 returned to the Merchant for his 20 ounces. In K. Charles his Mint 20 ounces spanish ounces are cut into about 104 two ryall pieces & perhaps 4 of those pieces may be deteined for seigniorage {illeg}|Bu|t what the Seigniorage is in that Mint must be learned from the Mint it self. Also the weight & Books of that Mint are to be consulted to know the whole weight & the whole number of the Two Ryal pieces & And this seigniorage being deducted {illeg} the remainder will be the Queens money {illeg} coined out of the 800000 Dollars.

For know more exactly the weight & tale of these moneys the books of that Mint should be consulted. For there the weight & tale of all the moneyes coined out of the pieces of 8 will be found entred. And if the\Those books are also to be consulted for the gross/ weight of all the Ingots w^ch were melted out of the pieces of eight will be also found entred in their books. And & out of w^ch the two ryal pieces were coined, & for the weigh of all the Ingo pe|i|eces of 8 as before they were melted into INgots & of the silver w^ch was got out of the sweep of that melting. For the Ingots melted out of the pieces of eight will be lighter then the pieces of eight by about half\one/ per cent, &|s|ome part of the silver & allay going away in smoak & some part being always scattered {illeg}|a|mong the ashes & {illeg} adhering to the melting pot & cinders & being scattered among the as{s{illeg}}|h|es. {sic} & about one half of what or two thirds of what is thus lost may be go{illeg}|t| out of the c{illeg}|i|nders & ashes by an operation w^ch they call making up the sweep, & should be enquired after. All the wast & charge in coining the money out of the {illeg} Ingots is made good by the Master of the Mint out the what is the method of that Mint for

|Q. 3.|\Inqui/ What oug was the \ gross/ weight of {illeg} all the Ingots melted out of all the {illeg}|{8}|00000 dollars? |Ans.| This \weight/ may be found entered in the Books of the Spanish Mint or Mints where the pieces of 8\Ingots/ were coined. But {illeg} And furth it may be also deducted prett{illeg}|y| nearly from the weight of all the p 800000 peices of 8\Dollars/ before melting. For it is to be in the melting \there is a wast/ {illeg}|s|ome of the allay fumes away & some of the silver sticks to the melting pot & to the scales of iron w^ch come of from the pott & to y^e coales w^ch fall into the pott, {illeg}|&| some of it will spring into the fire & be scattered among the ashes, or {illeg} \be spilt/ & by all this wast the Ingots will become lighter then them the \money/ was before melting by \about/ $\frac{1}{2}$ or perh $\frac{2}{3}$ or perhaps $\frac{3}{4}$ \or $\frac{7}{8}$/ per cent. And the out of the cinders & as as {sic} may be got {same} a considerable quantity of silver w^ch {been} be an operation w^ch we call making up the sweep. {illeg} Which silver being added to |y^e| Ingots will make up the weight of the money wanting only about the three hundredth part of the weight. And by this proportion, either the weight of the money \Ingots arising from the money & sweep/ may be gathered from the weight of the moneys & on the contrary, t{illeg}|h|e weight of the m{illeg}|o|ney may be gathered from the weight {of the} Ingots.

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{These facts}{There fore} \For/ let the three hundreth part of the weight of the money be subducted from the|a||t| weight {illeg}|&| the remainder will be the weight of the Ig|n|gots proceeding from the money & sweep \without any error worth considering. {sic}/. Or {illeg}|o|n the contrary, if the weight of all these ingots be known, let the three hundredth part thereof be added to it & th{illeg}|e| summ will be the weight of the money before melting. It \{illeg}/must {illeg} be enquired therefore what silver has been got out of the sweep or what allowance has been made to her {illeg}|M|aty for the {illeg}|s|ame. {D}{illeg}|An|d if the And if a doubt arise {abot} about it: Let the weight of the moneys before melting be diminished by the 300^th part thereof & from the remainder lett the weight of the Ingots produced by melting the moneys be subducted & the remainder is the weight of the silver w^ch ought to be got out of the sweep for her Ma^ty {&} & this silver or the value thereof ought to be allowed to her Ma^ty by him who melted the moneys into Ingots. Sometimes the Melter bring agrees at a certain allowance by the pound weight to make good the bring of the old moneys melted down to bring in so much supply of silver of the same st{illeg}|a|ndard, as shall being added to the Ingots shall make up the {f} weight of the moneys before melting. And this allowance should be about the 300^th part of the value of the the {sic} silver melted.

Quære 6. What \was the/ charge ought the Queen to {illeg}|b|eare for {illeg}\of/ coining the 800000 two ryal pieces? Ans. Dollars into two Ryal pieces? Ans. {illeg} If the Wueen be consideretion {illeg} these Besides the wast in the first melting of there is the {char} there is the ch\the Dollars into Ingots/ w^ch as I said is about the 300^th part of the silver melted, there is the charge of the first\Ingots Dollars |that|/ melting {illeg} \to be recconed/ w^ch charge in London is about the th{illeg}\about/ a penny \or {$\frac{7}{8}$^th}{607^th} of a penny/ for every pound weight of silver (or \at least/ $\frac{7}{8}$^th of a \penny)/ or at the lowest\or at the {lowest}/ that is, about the 800^th part of the value of the silver. {sic} |melted.| And there is also the {illeg}|S|eigniorage melted, that is or Duty paid for coining the Ingots into two Ryal pieces. This Seigniorage In the Mint in the Tower before the making of the coinage Act th{illeg}|ey| coined twelve ounces of silver into twelve crowns & two shillings \& paid back to the Importer a crown for every ounce of silver imported/ & kept the two shillings for Seigniorage|.| & pa What the seigniorage is in the Spanish Mints I do not know. {illeg} T Twenty one Mexico pieces of 8{^t}\Dollars/ make 20 ounces of Spanish, & 104 two ryall pie {sic}ces are of the same weight. w^ch makes it probable that \the seigniorage/ in the in {year} Mints at Mexico they {illeg} \the seigniorage the seigniorage/ is {illeg}|one| piece of 8 in \every/ twenty ounces 8 {or} King Charles his mints four two Ryal pieces {in}{is} twenty ounces\in silver {illeg} {illeg}/, the Importer re{illeg}|c|eiv{illeg}|es,| back out of {illeg} out of the Mint a piece of 8^t\Dollar/ f{illeg}|o|r every {illeg}|o|unce imported at {illeg} {illeg}{illeg}|{illeg}| five two ryal pieces for every ounce in K. Charles's mints. But \& the King {a Piece} of {sic} 8^t {illeg} /a Dollar\ \in/ every twenty ounces for seigniorage/ And after the same rate K. Ch the Officers in K. Charles mint {illeg} may retain 4 pieces for seigniorage in every 2{illeg}|0| pieces\ounces/ coined\or 5 pieces of every twenty ounces/. \For four of these pieces pass in Spain for a place of 8^t./ But what is the signiorage in that mint must be known {illeg}|a|t the Mint it self. |And enquiry should also be made whether the charge of the first melting & the want or either of them {illeg}|be| not included in the seigniorage.|

Q. 7 {Q} What number of two Ryal pieces are the Queens Officers to receive out of the Spanish mint? Answ. The number received out will be found entered in the books of the Spanis{illeg}|h| Mint. And the number w^ch ought to be received will be had by {illeg}|d|educting the s{illeg}|ei|gniorage from the \whole/ {illeg}|nu|mber w^ch ought to be produced by coinage. And if the charge of the {coi} first melting \not included in the Seigniorage but/ has bee {illeg} paid out of the new coined mones {sic} that charge must be also deducted. |And note that 20 \Spanish/ ounces spanish {illeg} of silver in the Ingots {illeg}|make| {100}\about/ 100 {illeg}|two| ryall pieces out of w^ch & if the seigniorage should ‡| < insertion from the bottom of f 194v > ‡ Should {sic} be 4 of those pieces & all other charges about half a piece, there would remain to y^e Queen about 105$\frac{1}{2}$ pieces two ryall pieces for every 20 \Spanish/ ounces of Ingot, that is for every 21 Mexico & pillar pieces of 8^t\Dollars/. And at this rate her Ma^ty should receive {illeg}|o|ut of the S{illeg} for the 42 800000 pieces of 8^t\Dollars/ should receive out of the spanish Mint about 4200000 two Ryal pieces.

The charge of melting the Mexico Dollars into Ingots \(if it be not {illeg}\included/ in the Seigniorage)/ is to be born by the Queen, & may am{illeg}|o|unt to a two ryal piece for every 16 or 18 pound weight Spanish 200 Dollars or \to/ 4000 two ryal pieces for the whole.

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Qu. 8. What is the value of a new piece of 8^t in Spain. {sic} Answer. About 25 years ago, \The Portugese have raised their money {illeg}|20| per cent/ Ever s|S|ince the year 1686 the Spanish money has been raised {illeg}|25| per cent \& new Sevil pieces of 8^t coined accordingly/ |[|{illeg}|An|d I think {illeg} Mexico \the {illeg}/ pieces of {illeg}|8|^t now goes in Spain for 10 Ryals so that\And the money of Portugal has of late years been raised {sic} 20 per cent/ I have seed|n| \some/ new Sevil pieces of 8^t which\{illeg}/ w^ch by the weight were but & assay were \in value/ but four fift parts of the old Mexico Sevil pieces. {illeg}|A|nd {illeg}|th|ese {new}{two} Ryal pieces\These weighed 14{1}^dwt./ {illeg}|B|ut whether the old pieces of 8^t were raised in Spain from 8 ryals to ten I cannot affirm. If they were not raised to ten ryalls out still go for eight ryalls, then four of the new two Ryal pieces \of King Charles/ are to b{illeg}|e| recconed in Spain of equal value w^th the old pieces of eight. I do not say that they are of equal value for the melting pot, but of equal value f{illeg} in payments to the army & people. |About nine years ago I examined {illeg} two new Sevil pieces of 8 dated 1691 & 1700 {illeg}|&| pound them standard & they weighed 14^dwt wanting a grain \or two/ & so were |in| value 3^s 7^d$\frac{1}{5}$ w^ch is just four f{illeg} the {old} pieces of eight. These new pieces &c|

Two new Sevil piece of 8 {illeg} dated 1691 & 1700 being {about} 9 years ago examined by {illeg} were \found them/ standard & \then/ weighed 14^dwt \wanting a grain/ & so were in value just\just/ four fifts of y^e Mexico {pi}eces of 8^t, & old Sevil pieces of 8^t. These \new/ pieces going for 8^t Ryalls the {t}he Ryall pieces of K. Charles must go in Spain for a quarter of these \that value/ new pieces|.| {&} be {illeg} And if the old pieces of 8^t were not\Dollars have not been/ raised fro in Spain from 8 Ryals to ten {the} but still go fo only for 8 Ryalls, the f (for I have not yet informed my self of this particular) then the old four of the two-ryal pieces of K. C. must in payments be recconed equivalent to a Mexico or silver piece of 8^t\or silver Dollar/. I do not say that they are of equal value to the Refiner for the melting pot, but only of equal value {illeg}|i|n payments to y^e army & people of Spain. And because of this {rate y^e}

As the King of {illeg} Spain has raised the money of Spain 25 per cent so also the King of Portugal \{illeg}/ of that nation has \lately/ raised the money of that nation 20 per cent recconned {illeg} fo

|– including the Seigniorage And so far as I am yet|

The seigniorage is a Duty paid by the Importer for coinage \& how much it is must be know at the Spanish Mint. {sic}/. In the mint in the Tower before the making of the coinage Act, twelve ounces of standard silver were cut into 12 crowns & two shillings & the 12 crowns were deliverd for seigniorage Twenty one Mexico Dollars make 20 ounces spanish & {since} its probable that the Importer receives out of t{illeg}|h|e {illeg}|M|exico mints 20 Dollars for his 20 ounces & a Dollar is deteined for seigniorage. At this rate four two Ryal pieces shou{illeg}|l|d be the seigniorage for coining 20 ounces in K. Charles's mint. For eight Ryals a Mexico Dollar or piece of eight is a piece of eight {Reaus} or Ryalls. About 25 years ago I examined two new Sevil pieces of 8^t dated 1691 & 1700 & found them {be} standard & lighted by a fift part then the old pieces of eight. And these two-Ryal pieces {illeg}\being/ {illeg} for a quarter of the new\by their name go for quarter/ pieces of eight, & & so \four of them/ go in Spain for \eight ryalls w^ch is/ as much as {illeg} old pieces of eight ryalls being about a quarter of the new pieces of eight w^ch go for {illeg} for as much as the old ones.

In a pound weight of\twenty ounces/ \spanish ounces of/ these new two-ryal pieces there are \about/ 109 pieces. {sic} \of this money./ If four of them be deteined for Seigniorage, the Queen should receive 105. Twenty ounces of Ingot has been allayed w^th the fift part of an ounce of copper &\or/ perhaps w^th a quarter of an ounce & so so should produce 11 pieces of two ryals or 110$\frac{1}{4}$. Therefore let the books of the Spanish mint or mints be examined to see w{illeg}|h|a{illeg}|t| {illeg}|w|eight of Ingots has been coined, wha{illeg}|t| allay ha{illeg}|s| been put to the Ingots, what number of two-ryall pieces has been delivered out of the Mint for the service of her Maty & what number hav|s|e been deteined for seigniorage. Also let the laws of that mint be enquired into{,} as to the weight or|&| fineness of the {illeg}me{illeg}|o|ney \& the seigniorage/ & how far the master of that Mint or Mints has observed those laws. And particularly how it comes about that the two Ryal pieces are coarser by about 1 per cent then the Mexico Dollars, whether it be by the law if the Mint or by the error \or {illeg}gression/ of the Master & worker; & how it {illeg}|ho|w many pieces it comes about that the two Ryal pieces are \about/ four per cent lighter then a quarter of y^e new pieces of 8 or then a fift part of the old ones, or that 20 ounces make 109 pei{illeg}|ce|s, whether it be by the law of the Mint or by the fault of the master & worker\of the Mint/; & who has had the advantage of the lightness. For if the Master &|o|f the Mint has made any advantage to himself either by the {illeg} coarseness or by the {exactness}{coarseness}\highness/ of y^e money he ought to make satisfaction. As for instance, {if} \by the {law} of y^e Mint/ Master signed\{ought} to/ coin 20 ounces into 104 or 105 peices & has coined them into 109 pieces, the question will be, {illeg}|W|ho has had the advantage of the excess of {illeg}