Recommendations for sorting out the Edinburgh Mint's expenses Isaac Newton c. 637 words The Newton Project Oxford 2016 Newton Project, University of Oxford

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 Summer 1709, c. 637 words. Duke of LauderdaleJames Ogilvy (Earl of Seafield, Lord Chancellor of Scotland)

[NC gives the addressee as Lauderdale and suggests this may be a reply to MINT00429 (Mint 19/3/55). But see MINT00426(b) (Mint 19/3/164). Though very different in wording, the two drafts are very similar in purport, and though published in NC as separate letters of separate (conjectural) dates to separate (conjectural) correspondents, it does not seem unlikely that they represent variant drafts of the same thing, especially since both immediately follow (on the same side in both cases) a draft of a letter about Robert Millar [MINT00426(a) (Mint 19/3/164)]. That the letter about Millar is almost certainly to Seafield lends weight to the speculation that this one is as well.]

Printed in NC, 5: 1-2.

Finance to cover them should be available from the 'money due [...] from the Collectors of ye Bullion' [presumably meaning Daniel Stewart's executors: see MINT00402, MINT00403, MINT00421 (Mint 19/3/131, 46, 44)] which is now being called in, from coinage duty, and from the annual parliamentary allowance of £1,200. 'I presume my Ld Treasurer will give order about it next winter', but Parliament being now in recess and no full account of the arrears owed by the collectors having been received, it is unlikely anything will be done before then. Suggests the addressee draw up a full account and present it to the Treasurer, ideally through the Secretary of State, after the recess.

Preceded on the same page by a holograph draft of MINT00426(a) (Mint 19/3/164).

 Deplores the Edinburgh Mint's non-payment of fees and salaries and asks Newton's advice as to how this can be remedied [MINT 19/3/55] MINT 19/3/166, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK UKSurreyKew, RichmondNational Archives MINT 19/3/166 Summer 1709 England English Holograph 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

We have made a report upon Mr Robt the petition of Mr Robt Millar yethe Queens Clerk & proposed that he should havebe allowed a recompence of 60li for his service in assisting the three CommrsCommissioners appointed to certify the deficiencies upon the recoinage. The Petition of the moneyers was referred to us before I stopt it, wchwhich I was note aware of when I had yethe honour to see yoryour LordpLordship last. We have since made a report upon it in wchwhich we set forth the weight of all yethe money coyned, the sum due to the Moneyers after yethe rate of 9d prper lwt for the coinage, that inso, heow much they have received thereof & what remains due to them & that of the said 9d one penny be allowed by her Mr Allardicees be allowed one penny per lwtpoundweight in his acctsaccounts by her MajtyMajesty, & beare only the other 8d out of his own allowance as is done in the Tower Mint in the Tower. [So that I hope this Report will fully settle the account.] Mr Al We have also reported what is due to yethe Moneyers upon for journeys & other allowances So that I hope this Report will fully settle their account & authorize& procure a Warrant for paying it off as soon as there is money, & for authorizing Mr Allardes to place the penny per Lwtpoundweight to her MajtyMajesty in his account wthwith to her MajtyMajesty, [Mr Taylor intends to speak wthwith the Barons of the Excheqꝫuer of North Brittain or aone of them ab] &

4443

My Lord

I understand that the Barons of the Exchequer of North Britain are calling in the money often due to yoryour Mint from the Collectors of yethe Bullion, so & whatI hope there is good progress i made in that matter. I do not yet know ButAnd as that money can be got in I presume my LdLord Treasurer will order it for paying off yethe arrears of yethe late recoinage & yethe other charges of yoryourthe mint. And if any thing relating to this matter be referred by my LdLord Treasurer to yethe Officers of the Mint in Tower I shall be ready to promote the affairs of your Mint as much as I can.

Since the Vnion of yethe two kingdoms there has been a Duty collectd in North Britain upon the same foot with the coinage Duty in England & the money collected (wchwhich is but a small summ) lies in her MajtsMajestys Mint ExchqrExchequer. I presume my LdLord Treasurer will give order about it thisnext winter which is approaching & also about the 12 hundred pounds applicable (by the new Act of ParliamtParliament) to yethe payment of salaries & charges of repairs. But during this vacation time, his LordpLordship being seldom at London it& not yet having an account of the old arrears in the hands of the collectors of bullion, will be more difficult to get these matters settled. I wrote to Mr Allardes about two or three months ago to sollicit the Barons of the Exchequer to call in those arrears, & as soon as a full state of that matter can be laid before his LordpLordship I am humbly o wchwhich I hope may be before winter166winter, I am humbly of opinion that it may be proper to draw up a memorial ofrepresenting the arrears due to the Mintin yethe the same memorial, & moving apply to his LordpLordship for yethe paymtpayment thereof & for settling the paymtpayment of such further summs from yearly time to time as shall be yearly requisite for the support of yoryour Mint for yethe future, & I believe it will be most proper to yget the Secretary of State to lay the Memorial before his LordpLordship.