Response to a proposal by one Mr Palmer to coin 700 tons of copper

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To the R^t. Hon:^ble The Lords comm^rs: of her Maj:^ties Treasury

May it please your Lords:^ps

In obedience to yo^r Lords:^ps Order of Reference of the 29 of November last upon the Annexed memorial of m^r: Palmes for a New Coynage of 700 Tuns of half pence & farthings of Copper in 14 years after the manner of the patent Granted in the Reigne of their Late Maj^ties. King William & Queen Mary to S^r. Ioseph Hearne and others Wee doe humbly acquaint yo^r Lords^ps: that wee have Enquired into all y^e Coynage of that sort since y^e: yeare 1672 & found that in the Reignes of King charles y^e: 2^d: King Iames y^e: 2^d: & in the beginning of the Reigne of their late Maj.^tie King William & Queen Mary The coinage of half pence & Farthings was performed by comm^rs: who had money Impressed from y^e: Excheq^r: to bey {sic} Swedish Copper and Tinn & coined at most at 20^d ꝑ pound averdupoize & accounted upon Oath to y^e Goverm^t: for y^e: Charge & produce thereof by Tale: And th{{illeg}|a|}t afterwards upon calling in y^e: Tinn Farthings & half pence by reason of y^e: complaints made agaisnt them The patent above mencond was grainted to S^r: Ios^h: Hearne & others who contracted to change y^e same & to Enable them to bear y^t: charge. They were allowed to coin 700 Tuns at 21^d ꝑ pound w^t: of English Copper which is cheaper then y^e Swedish without being accountable to the Goverm^t: for the Tale. The reason of w^ch: allowance now ceasing. Wee are humbly of opinion y^t the s^d patent be not Drawn into p^rsident Especially since the money made thereby was light, of bad copper{,|&|}{,}{&} ill coynd And as to y^t species of moneys being wasted there may be some ant thereof in Loondon & parts adjacent but y^t: those more remotes are unfurnished does not appear to us –

All which is hum^bly: submitted to yo^r Lo^dps Great Wisdom

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