Argument for an increase in the price of tin John Williams c. 931 words The Newton Project Oxford 2017 Newton Project, University of Oxford

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 After 18 August 1705, c. 931 words. Treasury

Further to discussions with the Mint and the Lord Chamberlain's office on 1 and 18 August respectively (both of whom he admits were less than fully convinced by his arguments), Williams insists again that an increase in the price of tin will not lead to reduced consumption or undercutting by competitors.

 MINT 19/3/597-9, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK UKSurreyKew, RichmondNational Archives MINT 19/3/597-9 After 18 August 1705 English Unknown Hand MintTin Trade Catalogue information compiled by Rob Iliffe, Peter Spargo & John Young Catalogue exported to teiHeader by Michael Hawkins Transcribed by Will Scott
597

Att Her Maties:Majesties Mint in the Tower of London Aug: 1st: 1705 upon the Right Honble:Honourable the Lord Treasurers referr ence to the HonbleHonourable Sr:Sir IJohn Stanly Bartt:Baronett Sr:Sir Isaac Newton Kntt:Knightt & Mr IJohn Ellis her Maties:Majesties Honble:Honourable Commissionrs:ers for the Mint, the Proposal of IJohn Williams for selling all her Maties:Majesties Tinnes speedily & Profitably being recedreceived, after several debates the Matter was Preferred to further consideration which was had at the Right Honble:Honourable the Lord Chamberlains office att Whitehall 18th: of aug: 1705. where upon dilligent Inquiry & a more exact scrutiny the whole matter was reduced to these two weights Poynts to which a more sattissfactory answer was required viz:

1 Whether Advancing the Price of Tinne will not hinder Consumption.

2 Whether it will not IncoridgeEncourage the Dutch to bring more Tinnne from the east Indies than they have formerly.

To which it is most humbly answered.

1 That advancing the price of tinne will not hinder Consumption.

Makeing Tinne into Pewter is noe Consumption because it can be Melted agayn & converted to any other use.

Consumption of Tinne is destroying the Nature of Tinne or reduceing into that degree that it can never be melted agayne for any other use. And this is ꝑperformed by those that Glaze Earthen ware in Holland France Portugall and many other places also by makeing of Putty for Glazing & Pollishing of Marbles for Glasiers, Iapanners, and many other trades, Consumption of tinne is made by Dyeing of Scarles and by Tinnning of Iron plates, which is called Lattin, abtabout wch:which the tyn mens whole trade is, & these are made in Germany & Hungary, & by this a very great quantity is Consumed, & for these uses it must be had as much as Now if Neaver so deare.

Consumption is also made by whitening of Iron, as Coffin plates, hookes & eyes, Iemmyes, bridle bitts, sterops & a Multitude of other Iron ware, also by Tinning of Copper Potts, stir panns, Sauce panns, Frying Panns, and a great many other sortes of Copper Ware, as Furnaces, Stills, Coffee Potts &c

598

Also by makeing of buttons, buckles & other sortes of smale ware & toyes wherby the Tinne is for the most part destroyed and in makeing of Bell mettle for Cockes waights & many other uses & by tinning of Lookeing Glasses & by often Melting there cannot be so little as 200 Tun a yeare destroyed there are also many other wayes by which Tinne is destroyed. For which it must & will be as Much used as now amp; there will be as Much Tinne Consumed as Now if it be Advanced to dobledouble the price that it now is. And this the Trades men that deale in the said commmodityes will Attest if thereunto required. And hereby I hope that great question is fully answered that advancing the price of tinn will not hinder consumption.

2. Advancing the price of tinne cannot IncoridgeEncourage the Dutch to bring more than they useused to doe. Because the Dutch have noe Mines and what Tinne they bring they doe buy att Malacha and they call it Malacha Tinne but it comes from Syam where the Dutch have now Factorie and we may advise the people of the rise here how Much it is advanced and they will advance it accordingly and it will be all one as now. Adnd any devise that wee can suppose that the Dutch may have to undermine us on this account we knowing our own Intentions have power to breake all their Measures and to circumvent all their designes and this will be explained if the proposalls shall be thought fitt to be put in practice. There are also other necessary precations which ought not to be made Publick.

I know nothing that i have set down but may be proved sufficiently I never heard that there ever was a cessasion of Digging for Tinne for thousands of years back and it is evident that there is but one year & halfes Tinne before hand but that all is consumed except a very smale quantity of Pewter in comparison of what Tinne hath benbeen dugge out of the Earth And this year & halfes Tinne is nere all in her Maties:Majesties hands Att home and abroade. The Trades men have little or noe stock, and this is occasioned by Misse Manadgmt:Manadgment for if it were 5l: the Tun dearer out of the Warehouse than on the Wharfe att Landing, there had benbeen noe need of sending our Tinne abroad to a Markett.

599

I wish those who finde fault with my Proposalls, would find a better and speedier way to putt £234000l: into her Maties:Majesties Treasury in so short a time. Iff any thing be Adjudged an Inconveniency, lett the Straights, difficultyes, Inconveniencys, Incumbrances, and dissgraces of be putt in the scale against it, here will be £36400l: gayned this way without trouble, and tho it be to be Monthly yet it may be all brought into the Excheqrquer in 20 dayes I meane what is att home, And what is abroad there must be different Measures for.

Iff perhaps there be a word or a period not so exactly proved doubtfull, or Daingerous, let the other side be considered against it & see which will carry it

I leave it to yoryour serious Consideration & pray yoryour Iudicious Report – for which I shall dutifully Attende.

YorYour Honrs:Honours Most Humble, Most Obedient, and Most Submissive, Servant

Ino Williams