Copy of letter from Hercules Scott concerning waste in the Edinburgh Mint following the death of his brother, with an account of bullion brought into the Mint in Scotland Hercules Scott c. 625 words The Newton Project Oxford 2017 Newton Project, University of Oxford

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 26 Jul 1712, c. 625 words.

Printed in NC, 5: 316-8. Scott later corrected his account of the bullion in a letter in Mint 19/3/58-9, MINT00451, and pursued the matter further in a letter copied in Mint 1/8.174, MINT01223.

 MINT 1/8/173, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK UKSurreyKew, RichmondNational Archives MINT 1/8/173 26 Jul 1712 England English Clerical Hand Mint Edinburgh Mint Correspondence Transcribed by Will Scott Catalogued by Will Scott
173

Edinburgh Iuly 26. 1712.

Much Honoured Sr.Sir

I am ashamed to give you this trouble butt the great character I heard my Brother give of you and your Civilities to him when at Londo.London Incourages Me to apply to you for your advice and opinion in the particular following.

Mr. Allardes who was Master of the Mint at Edenburgh and my Brother Patrick Scott who was his Depute and did manage the great Coinage hereafter the Vnion having both dyed before my Brothers Accts.Accounts were fully made up And Mr Allardes son and my brothers children being under age We are difficulted in adjusting the Acct.Account of Bullion and Waste My Brother at finishing the Coinage after the Sweep was three times searched over gave in an AbrevialAbreviat thereof to Mr. Allardes FreindsFriends whereby the Waste appears to be Two Hundred thirty four pound Weight, butt what occasions matter of Debate is that my Brother when he Dyed was so violently oppressed with sickness that he could not apply himself to clear any of his Affairs in the mean time had lying by him One Hundred forty pound weight of Bullion in rough Ingotts. Mr. Allardes' FreindsFriends demand that Bullion to be given up to them and that my Brothers Accts.Accounts of the Coinage should be made up thereafter without any regard to that Bullion On the other hand My Brothers FreindsFriends plead the Acct.Account be made up according to the Mint Books which agree with the mentioned abrevialabreviat whereby the Waste seems very probable and Equal whereas stating the Accts.Accounts as Allardes FreindsFriends proposed and delivering up the Bullion left by my Brother diminishes the Waste so much that in our Iudgment seems to bear no proportion to such a great coinage considering also there was 12838 pd.pounds 15 dwt.deadweight refined by Accts.Accounts given in to the publick for which Mr. Allardes is to be allowed £501: 02: 0234 sterling, I know from several Notes amongst my Brothers papers that he bought up several parcels of Bullion nott Entered in the Mint Books which I presume he designed for further supply in case the Mint had again Opened for Coinage after Allardes death, and seems to be the Bullion on hand, to prevent any Loss my Brothers poor children may sustaine I humbly intreat You would give Your Opinion what Waste may reasonably be thought to arise from so great a Coinage and whether or nott considering the Quantity refined And how much the Work was hasted it be possible there should be so small Loss as Allardes FreindsFriends pretend to your condescendence to this trouble will be a singular Act of Kindness and a perpetual obligation upon

Much Honoured Please direct for Me Mercht.Merchant in Edinburgh Your most Humble and Most Obedient ServtServant Hercules Scott Much Honoured liozdwtgrs The whole Quantity of Bullion brought into the Mint as ꝑper Mint Books standd:standard 104634:09:16:23 Bullion Accompted for by Mr ScotScotts abrevial & said Books 104400:08:05:21 Rems:Remains to Waste 234:01:11:02 Allardes freindsfriends demand further without AcctAccount 108:10:08:22 Will remaine then to Waste 125:03:02:04 What I humbly desire to be Informed of is whether the Waste on such a Quantity of silver brought into the Mint whereof 12838 pd.pounds was refined can be Iudged to be brought so low as 125li. or the first acct.account 234li be more reasonable. There was an entire freindshipfriendship & confidence twixt Mr. Allardes & my Brother wn.when alive & should be sorry if either their Representatives should sustaine any apparent Loss & could think on no better way to determine Me as to my doubts in this matter then to have you Opinion I shall Intreat your answer with your Conveniency I am much Hond.Honoured as above Hercules Scott.