Request for advice on various aspects of Mint practice Patrick Scott c. 1,210 words The Newton Project Oxford 2016 Newton Project, University of Oxford

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 31 January 1708, c. 1,210 words. Isaac Newton

Signed by Scott.

Printed in NC, 4: 510-12.

Asks for clarification of the rules relating to the pyx trial and the permissible margin of error. Detailed queries about bookkeeping and the types of metal that may or may not be accepted from the moneyers for various purposes, with an account of traditional Scottish practice. Complains about the poor quality of foreign coin being received and the lack of funds for tools, repairs and payment of the master's commission.

On reverse: fragmentary note in Newton's hand about a Lady Warwood.

 MINT 19/3/170-71, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK UKSurreyKew, RichmondNational Archives MINT 19/3/170-71 31 January 1708 English Clerical Hand Unknown Hand MintEdinburgh Mint Catalogue information compiled by Rob Iliffe, Peter Spargo & John Young Catalogue exported to teiHeader by Michael Hawkins Transcribed by Will Scott Will Scott finished transcription

Sir

I have the honour of yours of the 22d wherin you are pleased to give me a Solution to a Scruple I proposed to Allardes my Principall with relation to the Remedies, And by which (if I rightly understand it) It would Seiem that ther is but 2 pennies of Remedy allowed on both weight and fineness when the Remedie falls to be on both Sides: I mean One penny to yethe weight and another to the fineness, So that a Iournal one penniy B:better or W:worse fine and 112 B:better or W:worse weight in yethe same degree Ought not to pass but be remelted Being a half penny above yethe two. And Therfor if the pot Assay be a penny B:better or W:worse It ought to be remelted; And also if the money at delivery be a penny B:better or W:worse weight, it ought not to pass but be remelted on yethe Moneyers charges.

This I must acknowledge did not appear so clear to my weak Capacity by the Indenture for I did think that if the melter gave out his bars within 2 pennys B:better or W:worse of yethe fineness, He might plead upon yethe Remedies that they could not be refusd And the Moneyers did affirm that their delivery is good if not above yethe 2 pennies B:better or W:worse in yethe weight and that they wer in use so to do. So that we wer in great doubt here how to determine the mater as to the remelting, If any of yethe Iournals upon Assay should hapen'd Not to be past by reason of yethe Moneys being beyond yethe Remedies in yethe Case above. But yet I think where the Remedies fall to be on One Side that is 2 penny B:better or W:worse in fineness, and the weight standart: (et p'per contra) The money might be past by the Indenture: Tho at the same I do acknowledge the Remedies ought not to be wrought upon. I have communicat your Letter to the Wardens and given a Copy to the Moneyers: The difference has never Yet hapend, And I hope now all concerned shall take more care it do not. Our Pots use Sometimes to be remelted for coming up too fine, And that being accidental I understand should be on the Queens charges, But I do not know how to state it. I proposed another Question to Allardes, I was obliged to take from yethe Moneyers amongst their Scissell Any Brokeage or spoilt peeces? By Brockage I mean yethe peeces spoilt at yethe Press In setting yethe Dyes, Or where the Impression is faulty and not good. And by Spoilt peeces I mean those that hapen to be too light drawn at yethe miln, and may be cut out, but go no further than yethe Cutter, or it may be spoilt in yethe Iusting or Seiszing, and so thrown in amongst yethe Scissell. I have hitherto received of both, but a great quantity of yethe Latter And as I desire to do fair things and Iustice to all; So I would have yethe Like done to me, And would not willingly be imposed upon, Especially wher I bear Charge and trust for and represent another, which with an Insinuation I had of my not being obliged to it, made me propose the doubt. And wherin I must beg the favour to be also Solved. Our method here formerly was of yethe Light Crowns to make fourty penies, Of the fourty penies twenties & of yethe twentys tens &c 170Sir I had presumed to trouble you with my Severall difficulties befor this, had not my Principal been on the place; Your true friendship to him and Generous Character makes me the more bold to use this liberty and to expect You will forgive me. Since the Moneyers are obliged to do the money by the miln and Press It also–It occurs to me also as doubtfull whether they pay the Edging. Now as to the State of our Coinage That you may know a little of it; By our acts of Parliament (which we reckon here to be yet in force) The Master is allowed 20 pound Scots money upon the Coinage of yethe Scots stone weight of Silver. Twenty pound Scots money is £1: 13sh. 4d English money. The Scots Stone weight Consists of 16 Scots pound weight, And the pound weight of 16 Scots ounces, which you know: So that the allowance on yethe English pdpound weight or 12 ounces troy by our acts showshould be 19 pence 112 and a fraction, And in yethe 100 pdpound weight 7li. 19sh: 134 and a fraction. By our acts of Parliament also all tools and reparations & are to be allowed. And the allowance for the Stone weight Coinage is ordered to be advanced by the Thesaury As the Bullion is brought in, Other wise the Master at Liberty to stop yethe Coinage. We are in course to receive weekly from yethe Bank 9000 pdpounds Sterline Money Weighting about 4600 Eng:English pdpounds Troy: So that according to yethe acts of ParliamtParliament The Master ought to have Imprest to him weeky a sume proportionall to the allowance on yethe stone or pdpound weight for its coinage. We have already Received of foraign money 113000£ sterl.sterling weighting Standart about 31312 pdpound Troy: And we have Delivered 241600 weight Ther is yet 19000 £ sterl.sterling of foraign Coin to come in from yethe Bank wherof is 16000 in Dollars which will be about 12 Worse on the Assay overhead And Consequently Occasion a great refineage, And for which I see no Remedy Since we cannot wait the Inbringing of the Money: And when the milnd money is brought in therafter (Tho reckoned Standart) Yet by the remeltings may hapen to come up Better And So put me in a difficulty after of providing Course money: All which are Considerations in my humble Opinion for a good stock to be imprest to yethe Master for carieing on yethe work and making up his great waist And all he has gott yet imprest to him is 1800 £ sterl.sterling Of which I cannot reckon under 500 £ for Tools reparations and other Necessaries provided here. I have already refined Gross weight 1713 pdpound being 1814 standdstandard And have 150 more not yet assayed. I Suppose Likewayes the Master amongst his other charges is to be al::lowed the penny he payes the Moneyers over the Eight pence per pdpound weight 8 pence being their due by yethe Indenture, And the other penny payed at discretion of yethe officers But to be allowed by the Queen to the Master in his accompts. All this I humbly Submit to you, And beging again pardon for yethe trouble And that you'll also please excuse wherin I may not be so clear or distinct I am Edinbr 31 IanryIanuary 1708 Sir Your most obedient humble Servant Pat: Scott To The honorable Sir Isaac Newton Master and Worker of Her Maj'tiesMajesties mint in yethe Tower London Lady Warwood in Kingstreet in Soho Lived wthwith Mr Hunter a friend to my LdLord Isletons whose Lad & servants can give a character. They live here in yethe square.