Response to petitions to coin copper from Slaney's partners Thomas Rinda [Renda], Edward Ambrose, Daniel Barton, William Shepherd, N. Shepherd and George Freeman: refer to the advice given in MINT00589 (Mint 19/2/301) to grant no more such private licences

<411r>

To ye Rt Honble ye Ld High Treasurr of Engld

May it please yr Ldp

In obedience to yr Ldps order of Reference of ye 15th of march last, upon ye memoriall of mr Wm Shepard mr N: Shep{illeg}ard; & mr George Freeman, wherein they desire to have a patent for coyning 40 or 50 tunns per an of copper half pence or farthings, {illeg} for ye space of eight or ten years, of equall weight & fineness wth those now currt. as also yr Ldps order of Reference of ye 22d of march last upon ye p{illeg}eticon of ye Provost & monyers of ye mint, wherein they pray for a License to coyn 30 tunns of copper money a year of ye same value, under ye direction of ye officers of ye mint, & under such restrictions as yr Ldp shall think fit, to reli{illeg}eve ym under ye great straits they are in for want of employmt in ye mint, they being allow'd no salarys

We humbly take leave to remind yr Ldp of a report we made ye 1st of Iuly last upon a peticon of mr Abell Slaney to coin half pence & farthings, wherein we acquainted yr Ldp, yt {illeg} of yt coinages of copper money in yt reigns of K. Charles ye 2d, King Iames ye 2d & in ye beginning of ye reign of ye late King & Queen, had been carried on at ye charge of ye Crown, under ye care & direction of ye Principall officers of ye mint, who kept due Entrys thereof in Books, & ye whole profit & advantage thereof was accounted for up upon oath to ye Crown, wch we then thought ye fittestbest & safest method to be followed

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we have not heard any reasons since to alter our opinions, & therefore humbly propose to yr Ldp, yt whenever her matie shall think fit to order copper money shouldto be coined, yt it may be performed as near as may be according to ye method of ye mint, yt ye master worker of ye mint may have m{illeg}oney imprest to him out of ye Excheqr to buy copper to be coined into halfpence & farthings of equall value wth these now currant, & to be subject tounder ye same cheques that are observed for ye coina{illeg}ge of gold & silver & to be coined by small quantitys, sufficient only to answer ye demands of persons, without danger of complaints by overstocking ye nation. out of ye clear profits whereof, her matie may have it in her power either to b{illeg}reliev{illeg}e ye wants of ye monyers of ye mint many of whom we must inform yr Ldp are in a starving condition, or to gratify any other persons
All wch is humbly submitted to yr Ldps great wisdom

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<text in Unknown Hand (2) begins>5: Aprill 1705.

Report of the officers of ye. Mint upon the proposall of Mr. Wm. Shepheard, Mr. N. Shepheard & Mr. George freeman for coining Copper half pence & farthings.