Another clerical copy of MINT00082 (Mint 19/1/94)

Author: Isaac Newton

Source: MINT 19/1/102, 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
    - Catalogue exported to teiHeader by Michael Hawkins
  - 12 January 2017
    - Transcribed by Will Scott
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<102r>

The place of assay Master of his Majestys Mint becomeing vacant in Ianry 1712 Catesby Oadham (who was bred a Refiner and had gain'd good experience in Assaying) being a candidate for the same, did by the direction of M^r Taylor of the Treasury aply to Sir Isaac Newton to be try'd against any other candidate to whom Sir Isaac answer'd we have reported M^r Bratle to be the fittest person without makeing any tryal tho Oadham is inform'd that about that time Sir Isaac did confess to M^r Kemp who was then a competitor for the place that M^r Bratle cou'd not doe the business of an Assay Master without an Assistant

On the 8°. of April 1713 M^r Oadham was try'd against M^r Bratle before the officers of the mint who had before declared Bratle to be the fittest person, and afterwards made the same report tho they did allow M^r. Oadham to be a good Assay Master but Oadham setting forth the hardships and impositions of that tryal was by the direction of the late Lord treasurer Oxford tryd in the whole mistery of assaying under the inspection of the Earl of Yarmouth who amply certifyd his Quallifycations as apears by his anexed certificate to a petition which M^r Oadham presented to his Majesty who was graciously pleas'd to Order the Lords of the Treasury to Enquire into the Merits of the pretenders, and to doe Iustice accordingly by M^r Bratle, or Sir Isaac Newton hearing of this Vtterance and being unwilling to stand the tryal obtain'd a Warrant for M^r Bratles having the patent before the petition, certificates, and utterence could be read in the treasury

M^r Oadham hereupon Aplys to the Privy councol from whence his petition went, and is promisd that the Lord president will call for the said petition the first general council day when the Lord Hallifax will be present and that matter determind in council he therefore insists that no grant for such patent passes the privy seal til this Examination is over it being of the greatest concern to the credit of the Nation that this Employment be in the hands of a thorough quallifyd person and altho the Employment is in the fit of the Lords of the treasury he is perswaded their Lordships will desire the tryal especially since Sir Isaac Newton who recommends Bratle is excluded from such a recommendation by an Act of Parliament 2°. H. 6

besides M^r Oadham can bring unquestionable witnesses to prove M^r. Bratle's incapacity, and unfairness in Assaying