Model letter for Allardes to send to Treasurer Godolphin Isaac Newton c. 641 words The Newton Project Oxford 2016 Newton Project, University of Oxford

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 Before 14 November 1707, c. 641 words. George Allardes

[On the Scottish practice of adding copper and the reasons for it, see NC, 4: 500-501, n. 2, and Craig, NATM, 71-2. Craig's account is a little confusing, however: he states that the practice had earlier been stopped on Newton's orders, giving the reference Newton MSS Mint 19/3/181. That, however, is MINT00366 in this catalogue and has no bearing on this matter at all. No other document issuing such an order has been identified, except insofar as it is implicit in the legislation requiring the Edinburgh Mint to conform to London practice: see MINT00353 (Mint 19/3/18). However, Newton undoubtedly was uncomfortable with the practice and accepted it only reluctantly: see especially MINT00452 and MINT00453 (Mint 19/1/181-2, 188). Craig also states that in this and the following document Newton made 'a stipulation that uniformity should again be attempted as soon as the recoinage was completed' (NATM, 72), which is something of an overstatement: what Newton actually proposed was that the Scots 'be still allowed if her Majty pleases to use their ancient Method [...] untill the present recoinage of the moneys in Scotland shall be finished'.]

Letter to Allardes printed in NC, 7: 455, that to Prince George's treasurer in NC, 4: 480. Allardes duly used Newton's guidelines to produce the memorial now in PRO, T17/1, pp. 172-3.

Explains that the use of coal rather than charcoal in Scottish furnaces leads to a fiercer heat and hence a more rapid evaporation of the copper admixture. Proposes continuation of the traditional Scottish method [of adding a few grains of copper to the silver in the course of melting] of compensating for this.

Preceded by a holograph draft letter of 28 November 1706 from Newton to Prince George's Treasurer, ordering payment of £50 on the Prince's account to John Flamsteed for preparing his papers for the press [the Historia Cœlestis Britannica, printed 1707 and eventually published 1712].

On reverse: holograph draft of MINT00388 (Mint 19/1/187).

 MINT 19/1/183, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK UKSurreyKew, RichmondNational Archives MINT 19/1/183 Before 14 November 1707 England English Holograph Unknown Hand Unknown Hand (1) Mint Edinburgh Mint Correspondence 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

November 28, 1706

SrSir

We desire you to pay Mr John Flamsteed her MatiesMajesties Astronomer upon account the summ of fifty pounds towards defraying the charges of preparing his Astronomical papers for the publick & correcting the Press, & the same summ shall be allowed in yoryour account to his Royal Highness the Prince.

May it please yoryour LopLordship

It has been found by experience that in her MajtsMajestys Mint at Edinburgh that in melting the silver & lading it out into moulds, the allay fumes away while the silver is lading out so that when the silver lastfirst laded out is about three half penny weight finer then that is standard, that wchwhich is last laded out proves threethat about three halfpenny weight finer then standard. And for some dying this mischief that And the scissel when remelted proves all of it finer then standard & some of it without the remedy. Whence it has been the practise of the said Mint to add a halfpenny weight of copper to every every pound weight of silver sfor supplying the wast of the allay made by its fuming away & to putt this copper into the pot when the silver is half laded off that the silver wchwhich remains to be laded off may become of the same standard fineness wthwith that wahich was laded off before. We use scotch or Pit coale wchwhich causes a greater heat then the charred coale made used in the Tower & so makes the copper fume away faster, & that coale not being to be had in Scotland & carriage by sea being uncertain & no coale there being at present no time to try experiments for regulating the fire nor any bodyartificer in London who is experienced in melting wthwith Scotch coale, I humbly pray your your LordpLordship that the parties officers of her MajtsMajestys Mint at Edinburgh may be still allowed stillif her MajtyMajesty pleases to use their formerancient method of reducing the molten silver to standard untill the present recoinage of the moneys in Scotland shall be finished, it being otherwise impracticable to pr make the moneys of due standard fineness or to go on with the make coyn the moneys with dispatch, & safety [wthwithout so great a charge in melting the All wchwhich &c melting the silver offten as will exceed the profits of my place besides the danger of exceedingbeing without the remedy in some pieces of yethe money.]

All wchwhich &c.

Allardes Master of her MajtsMajesty Mint at Edinb.Edinburgh

183 106

We are humbly of opinion that it is be good is the duty ofis reasonable & agreeable to the Indenture of the Mint & the law of the land for& at present necessary for the Master of her MajtsMajestys Mint in Scotland to put in so muc allay the silver in such manner & proportion as shall be found theb most exact eff most effectual & exact for making the moneys of due standard fineness, provided the allay be put in not by conjecture of in an arbitrary manner but according to such rule or rules as shall be grounded upon experience is reason & allowedagreed upon by the Officers of that Mint & allowed by her Majesty. And particualrly that theyhe may be allowed to allay the silver in the middle of its ladling out as in such proportion as they hadth been used to dousual untill the moneys in Scotland shall be recoyned, especially since by many experiment newly made in that Mint the silver is found to refine in the proportion alleged in the memorial & the moneys coyned by their ancient method provided better then standard in the lastte trial of the pix & there is no time at present for making experiments to bring this matter to an exacter regulation.

184