Petition for the return of a press of his own invention for making hooks and watch chains, which has been impounded by the Mint on suspicion of being used for counterfeiting

<456r>

To the Right Honble: the Lords Comissrs. of his Maties: Treasury

The humble Peticon of Iacob Wallis

Humbly Sheweth

That Your Petr. having by great Thought and Application and at his own Charges attained to the art of making Hooks and Chains for Watches farr exceeding all made by any other person before or since, being wrought by a Hand Wedge Press, invented solely by Your Petr. but in no respect like unto those used in Coinage either in form or working, and used by him and his Apprentices only in making the said Hooks and Chains And the same being so generally received and approved of for their Curiosity and Vse by Persons of Quality back in England and Foreign parts, whither they have been exported Your Petr. received Encouragement therein, and did thereupon comfortably subsist himself and Family.

That by two severall Acts of Parliament made in the 7th. and 8th, and 8th and 9th. years of his now Maties: reigne (both subsequent to Your Petrs. said Invention) It is (in effect) prohibited to any person whatsoever (other than the Officers of his Maties: Mints) to have in their Custody any Press or other Tools therein named that might be used for Coinage And it is therein directed to bring all such Tools into his Maties: Mint under very great Penaltyes (Except such as Your Lopps: should permit and give leave to be used.

That upon Notice of the said Acts of Parliamt. And in obedience thereunto And for avoiding all Occasion of O{illeg}ffence, and not that Your Petr. had any Apprehension that his said Press or Engine was any way practicable for Coinage, Your Petr. did voluntarily carry the same into the Mint, where the same being viewed by the Officers of the Mint and found unfit for Coinage was redelivered back to Your Petr. upon his giving Bond with Security to redeliver into the Mint the said Press when demanded.

But now so it is May it please Your Lordpps: that Your Petrs. said Engine is now lately called in and delivered to the Mint upon the occasion of some Petition of one Daniel Critchlow lately presented to Your Lordpps: whereby Your Petr. is now wholly deprived of the use thereof for the carrying on his said honest Calling for the Maintenance of himself and Family and Imployment of his Servants.

Wherefore Your Lopps: Petr. humbly lays himself at Your Lordpps: feet And in as much as his said Press or Engine was Invented and Vsed befor{illeg}e either of the said Acts of Parliamt. were in being, and was his own Invention and therefore justly (as Your Petr. humbly conceives) intitled to have the sole Vse and benefit thereof, And th{illeg}erefore humbly hopes that h{illeg}e shall not suffer by so profitable an Invention by being deemed a President for Evill designed people And for that also as the said Engine hath been found by the Officers of the Mint to be Impracticable for Coinage, and was therefore delivered out with permission to Work therewith, Your Petr. humbly prayeth that Your Lordpps: will be pleased to Order his said Press or Engine to be restored to him And upon Your Petrs. giving such Security as Your Lopps: shall require to be pleased to Authorize or permit him (in such sort as Your Lordpps: shall think fit) to Vse the same according to the Power and Authority given Your Lordpps: by the said Actrs of Parliament. And that Your Petr. may have Your Lordpps: Iudgment as to a Patent for the sole Vse and benefit thereof; Where Your Petr. humbly submits himself to Your Lordpps:

And he shall pray &c.

<457v>

Petition of Iacob Wallis to the Lords Comissrs. of the Treary

R to Offrs of Mint
Ents

<text in Unknown Hand begins>Cock Pit Treary Chambers.

4th. Aprill 1699

The Lords Commrs of his Matys Treary are Pleas'd to refer this Peticon to ye Warden Master + Worker + Comptroller of his Matys Mint who are to consider ye same + Report to their Lops a true state of ye matter therein contain'd together wth their opinion wt is fit to be don therein

Wm Lowndes

Iacob Wallis to Officers Mint