To ye.the Rt:Right Honble:Honourable Sidney Ld:Lord Godoilpihin. Ld:Lord Treasurr:er of England

May it please YorYour Ldp:Lordship

In Obedience to yor:your Ldps:Lordships Order of Reference of the 16th. of Iune last past, upon yethe annext Proposal of Mr: Abel Slaney, for himself, & Partners, for a new Coynage of 700 Tuns of half pence & Farthings We do humbly acquaint yor:your Ldp:Lordship that We have enquir'd into all the Coynages of that sort, since yethe Year 1672. And do find that in yethe Reigns of King Charles yethe 2d, King IJames yethe 2d, & in yethe beginning of yethe Reign of yethe late King & Queen, the coinage of halfpence & farthings was performed by One, or more Commissioners, who had money imprested from yethe Excheqr:Exchequer to buy Copper, & Tin, and coin'd at 20d ꝑper pound Haverdupois And accounted upon Oath to yethe Governmt:ent for yethe Produce thereof.

That upon calling in yethe Tin Farthings, & halfpence, (by reason of yethe Complaints made against them) there was a Patent granted to yethe Proposer & others, who contracted to change yethe Tin Farthings, & halfpence, and to enable them to bear that charge, they were allow'd to Coin 700 Tuns at 21d ꝑper pound weight, without being accountable to yethe Governmt:Government Which reason now ceasing, We are humbly of opinion, that yethe former Method, by Commission is most advantagious to yethe Government. [And e particularly,especially yetheif yethe same Method be used for coining Copeer, that is observ'd for Gold, & Silver; vizt: that Money be imprest from time to time to yethe papera fitt Officer of yethe Mint, to buy Copper. That yethe Coinage be carry'd on under yethe Care, & direction of yethe Principal Officers of yethe mint who shall keep due Entrys thereof in their Books, and that yethe whole profit, and advantage of such Coinage be accounted for to her Majesty.]

We do not hear there is any demand of farthings, & halfpence at present, & thôough there should be a want in some places, it seems to proceed from an unequal distribution; for we are inform'd they are overstock'd with them in others places; As at the General-Post-Office, about Newcastle, & at Leicester.

We are further of Opinion ytthat yethe Coinage of Halfpence & Farthings in this Kingdom should be to yethe intrinsick value, (yethe charges of the Coinage & Incidents deducted) but if that be not thought advisable at prresent for for fear of stopping yethe Currency of those that are already abroad, We humbly conceive that whenever a new Coinage shall be thought convenient, it should be done in such small Quantities, as her Matie:Majestie from time to time shall appoint, to supply yethe decrease, & loss of those already coin'd, without danger of new Complaints by overstocking the Nation.

All which is most humbly submitted to yoryour Lordpsships

great Wisdom.