Firm rejection of a proposal to erect a Mint for silver coinage in Dublin Isaac Newton c. 328 words The Newton Project Oxford 2017 Newton Project, University of Oxford

This metadata is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

 18 August 1698, c. 328 words. Treasury

Calendared in CSPD 1700-1702, 329 (a copy of this and numerous other documents relating to proposals for a Mint in Ireland having been sent to the Treasury by James Vernon c. May 1701).

Ireland 'is and ought to be inferior to this Kingdom, and subservient to it's interests'. Such a measure would be to the advantage of Irish and detriment of British trade, and might ultimately lead to Irish secession.

 MINT 19/2/216-17, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK UKSurreyKew, RichmondNational Archives MINT 19/2/216-17 18 August 1698 England English Clerical Hand MintOverseas Mints and Coinage MintCorrespondence Catalogue information compiled by Rob Iliffe, Peter Spargo & John Young Catalogue exported to teiHeader by Michael Hawkins Transcribed by Will Scott
216

To the Rt.Right HonbleHonourable the Lords Commrs.Commissioners of his Majtys.Majestys

Treasury

May it please yoryour Lordps.Lordships

Wee have considered the annexed Proposall abot.about erecting a Mint in Ireland for coyning shillings and six pences of ye.the same weight allay & stamp with those coyned in ye.the Tower, and believe, yt.that such a rivall Mint, may soe farr prejudice ours, as it may draw Bullion and coynage from us. And if it shall hereby increase the money of Ireland to the advantage of their Trade & Manufacture, wee are humbly of opinion that it must have the contrary effect on England. Besides the danger of setting Ireland upon a parity with England in so great a Prerogative as yt.that of Coynage. For the business which they offer us of making their Dyes and assaying their Money (that is of being their Graver and Assaymaster) gives us noe superiority. These are servile Offices which if it shall be his Majtys.Majestys pleasure to erect a Mint in that Kingdom, we humbly desire may not be imposed on us

Ireland is one of the English plantactions, & tho it has changed ye.the title of Lop.Lordship to that of a Kingdom, yet it still continues annexed to the Crown of England and like the other plantactions is and ought to be inferior to this Kingdom, and subservient to it's interests. And therefore we are unwilling that any opinion of ours should be made use of for promoting any designe wch.which may tend to derive thither the money and trade of this Nation, and to make them of equall dignity and dominion with our selves, and perhaps at length desirous to seperate from this Crown, upon some fitt opportunity of joyning with it's Enemies

All wch.which we most humbly offer to yoryour LopsLordships consideraction

and submitt to your great wisdom and judgment

Mint Office Aug. 18th 1698

Report of the Officers of ye.the Mint abot.about erecting a Mint in Ireland

Aug: 18 1698