Complaint about encroachments on Mint property Isaac Newton c. 364 words The Newton Project Oxford 2016 Newton Project, University of Oxford

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 1717?, c. 364 words. Treasurer

[Note on dating: NC, 4, places the letter (without explanation) in late 1702. The reference to 'his Mty' makes this highly improbable, since the monarch then was Anne. The mention of 'K. William' effectively rules out the possibility of the letter's dating from his reign (he would have been referred to as 'his Majesty' or 'the King'). Furthermore, the Mint did not stock tin in any quantity before 1703. The document must, then, date from after George I's accession on 1 August 1714. For the conjectural dating of 1717 (based on the putative dating of drafts on the reverse [of the earlier version of this report at MINT00826 (Mint 19/3/439), presumably]), see NC, 7: 428-9.]

Printed in NC, 4: 393-4; but note the revised dating in NC, 7: 428-9.

During Charles II's reign [regarded as having begun in 1649], the Irish Mint was occupied by the Ordnance, 'we do not know by what authority', and barracks built in the grounds. These were restored to the Mint and used as mill-rooms during the recoinage [1696-8], but then returned again to the Ordnance except for two rooms which are currently used for storing tin. Now the Ordnance want these back as well, which the Mint will be happy to grant 'if his Mty pleases to give order that the Tinn be removed out of the Mint into Warehouses where we may not be answerable for it'. Suspects King William was misinformed about the rights of the Mint if, as the Ordnance claim, he ordered the restoration to them of these barracks. Soldiers should not be allowed to lodge in the Mint precincts as they 'render the custody of the gold & silver unsafe'.

 MINT 19/3/433, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK UKSurreyKew, RichmondNational Archives MINT 19/3/433 1717? England English Holograph Unknown Hand MintRights and Privileges of the Mint MintCorrespondence 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

SrSir

The Irish belongs to

By the Indentures of the Mint under the broad Seale the Irish Mint belonge to the Office of the Mint, butIt was taken out of our possession in the latter part of the reign of King Charles the second, we do not know by what authority. Vpon the recoining of the money part of it came into our hands again Whe have heard that it was in exchange for the Ground on wchwhich the house & shops of the Smith of the Ordnance now stand: but that ground never was restored to us. Vpon the recoinage of the hammered money the grounds on wchwhich the Barraks in the Irish Mint are built werase restored into our Custody & the buildings were turned into Millrooms & thereturnedredelivered to us & the Barracks were turned into Millrooms. And after the Barraks coinage was ended the Barra Millrooms were redelivered to the Office of Ordnance. except two of them wchwhich by the verbal consent of some of the Officers of the Ordnance were kept for the coinage of copper money. They are now filled with Tinn. And if his MtyMajesty pleases to give order that the Tinn be removed out of the Mint into Warehouses where we may not be answerable for it, we are ready by the order of the to deliver those Millrooms to be turned into Barraks. The Letter of K. William for restoring the Barracks to yethe Office of Ordnance We have not seen, but beleive that those tellers are of againstthe King was not informed of the rights of the Mint & that the Indenture of the Mint under the broad seale is of greater authority then that Letter.

We desire that no soldiers may be lodged in the Mint withinbetween the two gates thereof least it render the custody of the gold & silver unsafe & discourage the Merchants & Goldsmiths from bringing their gold & silver into the Mint to be coined contrary to the intent of the coinage Act.

From the Warr Office.

433

To The Warden Master and Worker and Comptroller of his Majty'sMajesty's Mint in the Tower of London

These

Wm. Pulteney.