319)] referred to Newton by the Treasury

Author: Isaac Newton

Source: MINT 19/2/448, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK

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Related Texts
- This document is a reply to:
  Treasury referral of the memorial of John Applebee and Henry Hines [T 1/220.44]

<448r>

To the R^t Hon^ble the Lords Comm^rs of his Ma^ties Treasury.

May it please yo^r Lord^ps

In obedience to yo^r Lord^ps Order of Reference of 15 Apr. 1719, upon the Memorial of M^r Appl{{illeg}|ebly|} & M^r Hines, I have considered the same, & humbly represent that fine copper will not run close into Barrs like Gold Silver & coarse copper, but requires to be either battered or rolled thin by a Mill; & the cheapest way is to roll it. But a horse Mill being too weak & too chargeable for this purpose I advised the said Importers to procure a water Mill. And to encourage them to do it I promised to give them no disturbance my self so long as they kept to their covenants in the copper which they brought to me. But at the same time I told them that I could engage nothing for my superiors. Hereupon they took a water Mill neare Maidenhead bridge three or four miles above Windsor at the rent of 52^li per an for two years and an half {fro}\from/ midsummer last, besides a fine of 20 Guineas & 65^li paid for Tools left there by M^r Ayres, as I understand by the writings. They took also another little place neare it for a Warehouse & lodging room & for building a Refining furnace, at 12^li p^r an; & the furnace cost them almost 40^li as they inform me{,|:|} besides the charge of Beds & furniture for servants & of new Rolls & iron moulds & boxes for the copper & other utensils amounting to 70^li, & besides an hundred load of wood & four load of Charcoal upon their hands for this service. And during the intermission of the coinage they pay 39^s per week {illeg}|re|taining wages to a Clerk & Refiner & two other servants.

When a stop was put to the coinage, I informed your Lord^ps that 25 Tons of copper money were then coined & delivered, besides what was ready to be delivered of w^ch I did not then know the quantity: but it was just delivered and amounted unto 26C weight. And as much copper was tha{illeg}|t| day brought into the Mint as made 26C more: so that there have been coined 27 T{u}|o|nns & 12C weight. There was also at that time 25C in Barrs brought down the river ready to be delivered, & 45C {in}|at| the Mill in pickle & 35C rolled but not cleaned, & 4 $\frac{1}{2}$ C rolled hot but not cold; & in Scissel Brockage & Cakes 128 $\frac{1}{2}$ C; besides thirty Tons contracted for under hand & seale, as appears to me by the writing.

By the Bills of parcells several of w^ch I have seen, the copper hitherto imported cost about 13 $\frac{1}{2}$ ^d per Lw^t & some almost 14^d. The Blanks being hardned round the edges by the cutter & not nealed after cutting are apt to crack on the edges in stamping if the copper be not sufficiently fine, & this cracking has been promoted by two parcells of copper bought of M^r Briggs: but these cracks are very small & may be prevented by making the copper a very little finer. The Rolls at first were rough & made the copper rough, w^ch occasioned much complaint in the Mint till within a few days before the coinage was stopt: but the Rolls are now smooth, & the last parcell or two of copper imported was smooth & well cleaned.

Considering therefore, the charges that the Importers are & have been at; the quantity of copper upon their hands, some of which is prepared; & the demand of copper money by the people: it seems to me that the 25C of copper barrs brought down the river to be imported when the coinage was stopt, & the 45C then in pickle & now pickled; be forthwith imported, provided the copper beare the assays prescribed; & that the 35C rolled but not yet cleaned be cleaned & imported if yo^r Lord^ps think fit: the Moneyers being commanded by yo^r Lord^ps, if you please to pick out all the brockage & blanks from the money. And then the rest of the copper may be prepared & imported, provided the barrs be smo{t}|o|th & cleane & well sized & beare the assays, & the Blanks beare {illeg}|t|he Press without cracking

<448v>

And in the mean time if any other Proposalls be made to your Lord^ps for coyning the money better or of better copper by the assay, the same may be compared w^th what M^r Appleby & M^r Hines will undertake.

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

Isaac Newton

^[1]

^[1] Mint Office. Apr. 21.
1719.