305)]

Author: Isaac Newton

Source: MINT 19/2/311, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK

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- Revision History
  - 1 January 2001
    - Catalogue information compiled by Rob Iliffe, Peter Spargo & John Young
  - 29 September 2011
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  - 29 August 2016
    - Transcribed by Will Scott
  - 23 September 2016
    - Will Scott finished transcription
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<311r>

To the most Hon^ble the Earl of Oxford & Earl Mortimer Lord High Treasurer of great Britain

May it please yo^r Lord^p

Since I attended yo^r Lord^p last, I caused a new Furnace to be built in order to a further trial of what may be done by casting of copper into Barrs & coyning copper money out of those barrs. But in the mean time upon assaying the half pence of w^ch I shewed yo^r Lord^p a specimen, I found the copper coarser then it was by the assay before casting. Whereupon I ordered M^r Bagley the founder to supply me w^th such barrs as would fully endure the assay: but he has not yet produced any tho it be about three weeks since I gave him the order. Whence I suspect that in y^e specimen of half pence w^ch I shewed yo^r Lord^p he put in some Tynn w^thout my knowledge tho I stood by to see him cast the copper & he pretends another cause.

Whether the Fillets be made by hammering or casting it will be requisite to repair the Mill-rooms & other rooms in the Irish Mint for cutting flatting scouring & nealing the money, & the repairs by the workmen's estimate will come to about 145^li. If your Lord^p please to let me have a Warrant for repairing them, It may be done in six weeks time

We do not receive gold & silver into the mint to be coyned untill they be made fit to be received. If your Lord^p shall think fit that the copper be made into fillets by hammering, & received into the Mint by weight & assay & the money delivered back by weight & assay the coynage being paid for by the Importer: a coynage may be set on foot in this manner so soon as the charge of coynage, the number of pieces in a pound weight & the Reverse of the money shall be setled. And the money made by this method will be of the same fineness w^th that of Sweden.

All w^ch is most humbly submitted to yo^r Lord^ps great
Wisdome

Is. Newton

^[1]

^[1] Mint Office 12 Apr. 1714.