448)

Author: Isaac Newton

Source: MINT 19/2/446, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK

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  Response to a petition from copper suppliers Hines and Appleby [see MINT00643 (Mint 19/2/319)] referred to Newton by the Treasury [MINT 19/2/448]

<446r>

To the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of his Majesties Treasury.

May it please your Lordships

In obedience to your Lordships Order of Reference of 15 Apr. 1719 upon the Memorial of M^r Appleby & 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 M^r Appleby & M^r Hines 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 annum for two years & an half (of which one years certain) from midsummer last, besides a fine of 20 Guineas & 65^li paid for tools left there by M^r Eyres 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 per annum: & 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 above 70^li & besides an hundred load of wood & four load of charcoal bought for this service. And during the intermission of the coinage they pay 39^s per week retaining wages to a Clerk & Refiner & two other servants.

When a stop was put to the coinage I informed your Lordships that 25^li Tons of copper money were then coined & delivered, besides what was ready to be delivered of which I did not then know the quantity: but it was just delivered & amounted unto 26 cwt weight. And as much copper was brought into the Mint that day as made 26 cwt more: so that there hath been coined 27 Tunns & 12 cwt weight. There was also at that time 25 cwt more brought down the River ready to be delivered, & 45 cwt more was at the Mill in pickle, & 35 cwt rolled but not cleaned, & 43 $\frac{3}{4}$ cwt more rolled hot but not cold. And in Scissel Brocage & Cakes 128 cwt, 2^Q. Besides 30 Tons contracted for under hand & seale. By the Bills of parcels several of which I have seen &c The Rolls at first were rought & made the copper rough, which occasioned grerat complaints in the Mint till within a fortnight before the coinage was stopt, but the Rolls are now smooth: & the last parcel of copper imported was well cleaned.

By the Bills of parcells &c

Vpon the whole, considering the charges that the Importers 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 coinage be no longer discontinued; & that the 25 cwt of copper Bars brought down the river to be imported when the coinage was stopt & the 45 cwt then in pickle & now pickled be forthwith imported, provided the copper beare the assays prescribed; & that the 35 cwt rolled but not yet cleaned be rolled once more with smooth rollers & then cleaned & imported. And then if any other Proposall shall be deliverd in to your Lordships for ocinign copper money by such an assay as the Proposers will abide by the Proposals may be compared with what M^r Appleby & M^r Hines will undertake for the future.