Chaloner's petition to Parliament William Chaloner c. 535 words The Newton Project Oxford 2016 Newton Project, University of Oxford

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 Late 1697 and early 1698, c. 535 words.

(a) (Mint 19/1/497r) [Late 1697.] Holograph copy: 'To the Honble the Knights Citizens & Burgesses in Parliam. assembled the humble Petition of William Chaloner Gent.' Petition against his imprisonment by the Mint officers, which he claims was to prevent him writing a book exposing the corruption of the Mint.

Printed in NC, 4, 259-60.

 Newton's response to Chaloner petition to Parliament [MINT 19/1/497v-498] MINT 19/1/497, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK UKSurreyKew, RichmondNational Archives MINT 19/1/497 William ChalonerThomas HollowayThomas NealeJohn HollowayIsaac Newton Late 1697 and early 1698 England English Unknown Hand MintClippers, Coiners and Embezzlers 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 Michael Hawkins split file into separate files for each document

To the HonbleHonourable the Knights Citizens & Burgesses in ParliamtParliament assembled the humble Petition of William Chaloner Gent. Sheweth

That yoryour PetrPetitioner did in the last sessions of ParliamtParliament1 discover several abuses committed in the Mint &2 shewed by what methods false money was coyned,3 that laws might more effectually be made against to prevent the same & severall Acts were accordingly made against it, &4 then some of the Mint threatned by some means to prosecute him & take away his life before the next sessions of Parliament,5 telling him that this HonbleHonourable House had no power to meddle with the affairs of the Mint. therefore they would not obey the Order made by a Committee of this HonbleHonourable House

That yethe said Committee5 promised yoryour PetrPetitioner he should suffer no dammage for his discoveries about the Mint & by yethe directions of this HonbleHonourable House a member thereof did represent thehis case to yethe King & his MajtyMajesty was pleased to say that he should suffer no dammage for the said matters, yet they committed him to Newgate & kept him in Irons for seven weeks alledging that he had abused the Mint in ParliamtParliament & they did falsly & illegally preferr a bill of IndictmtIndictment against him but could bring no evidence against him to prove it altho they used strange methods to procure something. against For many witnesses have made oath before a Iudge of the Kings Bench & some Iustices of the peace, that some of the Mint have imployed & given Privilege to several persons to coyn false money (who put it away among the subjects for good (all which was done with an intent to draw him into coyning to take his life away & the better to effect the same they allowed the said persons money from time to time to buy tools & to carry on the said conspiracy against theyoryour Kings PetrsPetitioners life. But all their endeavours could not get him to be concerned in coyning, but on the contrary he hath made it his business for a considerable time past to find out the Treasons & Conspiracies against the King & Kingdome & thereby hath discovered many who have been convicted for the same, & was this year writing a book of the present state of the Mint & the defects thereof (as he promised the said CommeeCommittee) wchwhich he hoped would have been of service to the publick. But the Mint having notice of it they committed him to Newgate Prison & so prevented him from doing it. All wchwhich can be proved if this honblehonourable hHouse is pleased to require it.

That yoryour PetrPetitioner is utterly ruined by his endeavours to serve the King & Kingdom & by his discoveries against the Mint to this HonbleHonourable House

YorYour PetrPetitioner therefore most humbly plays that this HonbleHonourable House will be pleased to consider his great sufferings & ruined condition as being incapable of providing for himself & family by what he intended for the service of the Publick & grant him such redress as shall seem best in yoryour Honours great Wisdom & Iustice

And yoryour PetrPetitioner shall ever pray &c

Wm Chaloner