'Memoriall from George Allardes Master of Her Majties Mint att Edinburgh to the honorable Sir Isaac Newton' Isaac Newton c. 846 words The Newton Project Oxford 2016 Newton Project, University of Oxford

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 c. 12 February 1709, c. 846 words.

Sent as an enclosure with MINT00420 (Mint 19/3/35).

Printed in NC, 4: 531-3.

The London moneyers are waiting for the Treasurer's permission to return to England as the recoinage is over. Concern about the slow progress in recalling the old money, which means there are insufficient funds for the recoinage and Allardes is having to make up the difference himself. Requests detailed advice about the conduct of a pyx trial, about various procedural and paperwork details, and especially about how much - and, more importantly, how - he is to pay his various officers and labourers.

 Reply to MINT00419 (Mint 19/3/177) and MINT00420 (Mint 19/3/35) [MINT 19/3/44] MINT 19/3/177, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK UKSurreyKew, RichmondNational Archives MINT 19/3/177 c. 12 February 1709 England English Clerical Hand Unknown Hand Unknown Hand (1) MintEdinburgh 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

Memoriall from George Allardes Master of Her MajtiesMajesties Mint att Edinburgh

To the honorable Sir Isaac Newton

The Recoinage in Scotland being now brought to an End, & the Moneyers sent down from her MajtiesMajesties Mint in the Tower being desirous of Leave to return home; Mr Allardes craves liberty to ask Sir Isaac Newtons advice what is proper for him to do in the mater, Since two of them Mr Hopper and Mr Sutton wer sent down since the first Commission upon yethe death of Seabrock, and that the Queen and Lord high Thesaurers orders to yethe other two Mr Collard and Mr Halley was to stay in Scotland while they had the Thesaurers Leave to return. As to which Mr Allardes is very willing they be recalled whenever the Lord High Thesaurer thinks proper, Since it may be a Charge to keep them longer here aAnd what further bullion may be brought in for coinage may be done by the Old Servants here.

Mr Allardes likewise represents that the fond for the Coinage in Scotland will not only be found very far deficient to Satisfie the Charges of the Recoinage Tho it wer all brought in, But that it will even be a Considerable time befor what is lying out and due of that fond can be recovered from the Collectors and others liable for it, which is a loss to Mr Allardes He being obliged to make up the Wast on his own Credit, And it occasions him also to be deficient to the Moneyers In the payment of yethe Nine pence ꝑper pound weight according to their aggreement: Wherfor he begs also advice What he shall do for Satsifying the Moneyers, And to know if the Moneyers may obtain payment at London from the Thesaurer of what Ballance may be due to them Mr Allardes Certifieing the Ballance under his hand.

As to the Moneyers Expences in coming to Scotland and their return home, And the allowance of 3 sh to Each ꝑper diem when they wer not supplied with work Conform to their Commission These being reserved in yethe Commission to be payed by the Lord High Thesaurer in such method as he should appoint, Mr Allardes humbly thinks he cannot interpose in that mater further than to give a Declaration of the time when the work began and when ended and of the Extent of the Coinage in that time And how long the work was stopd the time of the former Assay Masters death, YWhat else may be propper for him to do in this He will walk by Sir Isaacs advice

He prays also to be advised in what method he shall apply for the triall of yethe Pix And to know If the Queen accompts to him both for the Pix and Assay peeces Since ther is a Considerable loss upon the Assay, For which end he has preserved all the assay peeces unmelted till he know If they be to be accompted for, As Some make him beleeve the Queen uses to do, bey taking to her self the Pix & Assay peeces and allowing the Value to yethe Master

He prayes likewise to be directed in what manner he is to apply for having allowance in his accompts of yethe 9th penny paid yethe Moneyrs ꝑper Libpound weight It being a penny more than is allowed by the Indenture of the Tower.

Also what allowance he shall crave or state in his accompts for the Miln horses and their maintainance and Servants And for furnishing Rollers Upholding the files, cutters and tumblers or the Seising or Iusting peeces, fire for the nealing and blenching offices and for the moneyers room and Candles, allon and other necessaries to the moneyers. If on these accounts he ought not to be allowed So much upon the pound weight of the Coinage. Without being obliged to give in particulars which may be impracticable

He desires further to know In what method to state the Refining And what 177allowance to crave per Libpound weight, The moneysilver being returned of different fineness, Sometimes at 15, Sometimes at 13 Sometimes only 10 or 8 prprymes

He begs also to be informed if on the Recoinage in England Any gratificaongratification was given by the Government to the Officers Clerks and Servants for their extraordinary trouble, And if ther be any Encouragement to apply for the like, In what method it shall be Done please turn447Ther being no allowance for maintainance of melters or Labourers in this Mint otherways than when they are supplied with Work And ther being one IJames Sheelds a Melter here and very well Skilld in all the parts of the Coinage having wrought in the Mint these many yeares bygone whom the Officers here would willingly encourage It is earnestly also desired to know If he may not be setled as a servant in this Mint under the name of Purveyer or Such like with £15 Sallary And In what method that may be Effectuated

Memoriall for George Allardes