Reply to MINT00874 (Mint 19/1/462-3)

<464r>

To the R^t Hon^ble the Lords Comm^rs of his Ma^ts Treãry.

May it please yo^r Lord^ps

In obedience to yo^R Lord^ps order of Reference of 7^th Ian^ry upon the Petition of Tho Dearsly for a Reward for discovering several Presses sufficient for coining of money: I humbly represent that all the persons taken up on this Information, pleaded that they used those presses in their lawfull trades, & that in the opinion of the Attorney General this plea was a sufficient excuse, & the Presses could not be destroyed without a suspicion of coining. And thereupon the men have been set at liberty without a tryall, & their Presses delivered back to them except one or two which belonged to a person who was suspected of coining & fled. And the men by their not being prosecuted are encouraged to go{illeg} on. The Law appoints Rewards for prosecuting Coiners to conviction: but I know of no Precedent for rewarding the Petitioner, & feare the consequence of making new Precendents

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

Isaac Newton

Mint Office Mar. 1^st  172$\frac{0}{1}$