Mint Office 12 Apr. 1714

May it please yoryour LordpLordship

Since I attended yoryour LordpLordship last, I caused a new furnace to be built in order to a further trial of what may be done by casting of copper into barrs for making of copper money. But in the mean time upon assaying the half pence of wchwhich I shewed yoryour LordpLordship a specimen, I found the copper coarser then it was by the assay before casting. Whereupon I ordered the Queen's founder to supply me with such barrs as would fully endure the assay by the hammer: but he has not yet produced any tho it be about three weeks since I gave him the order. Whence I suspect that in the specimen of half pence wchwhich I shewed yoryour LordpLordship, he put in some Tynn wthwithout my knowledge tho I stood by to see him cast that copper &. And hHe seems to be at a stand in casting fine copper without mixture so as to make it runn close & fully endure the hammer without mint re Assay by the Hammer: wchwhich makes a further trial unnecessary. Mr Kemp agrees wthwith me that the proper assay of fine copper is by the hammer. If the barrs or fillets of copper be made by hammering & be assayed by the hammer, the money will be of the same fineness with the copper money of Sweden & with that of K.King Charles II: If they be cast, it will scarce be so fine. In the first case the workmanship as well as the metal will cost more & the work be more beautifull & the assay more certain & the method of coynage more easily setled then in the second. In the secon an Assay by refining as well as by the hammer may be usefull. But as there Gold & Silver is not received to be coyned untill it be made fit to be received so it should be in copper. I am

My Lord

YorYour LordpsLordships most humble

& most obedient servt

Is. Newton