Letter concerning the trial of copper pix
To the Rt Honble the Lords Commrs of his Majties Treasury.
May it please yor Lordps
In obedience to yor Lordps Order signified to me by Mr Scrope in his Letter of 10 Apr. instant, concerning the trial of the Pix of copper moneys coyned by Mr Wood at Bristoll, I humbly represent that the moneys there reserved for a trial are kept lockt up in a box or Pix under the keys of Mr Wood & the Comptroller of that coynage, or of their Deputies. And that in my most humble opinion the trial thereof may be mostre authentick & satisfactory & something cheaper if the Box before opening be brought up to London & the moneys be tried in his Majties Mint in the Tower by his Majties Assaymaster before such person or persons as your Lordps or his Maty in Council shall appoint to see the triall performed & report the event to your Lordps, & before the Officers of the said Mint, & before the parties concerned, vizt Mr Wood & the Comptroller of that coynage who are both in town, & their Deputies, & one or two Gentlemen of Ireland whom your Lorpdships may give leave to be present if desired. And at that same time any other parcel or parcels of copper moneys old or new may be tried there before the persons above mentioned & the weight & value ascertained & compared with the value of copper moneys now coyned at Bristoll & the trial reported to your Lordps.
But if your Lordps had rather that the copper Pix be tried at Bristoll, I will look out for a man to do it & treat with him & see him instructed & furnished with necessaries with all convenient speed.
All which is most humbly submitted to your Lordships great wisdome
Isaac Newton
Mem {sic}l.R<text in Unknown Hand begins>ept
Sr Isaac Newton about tryall of Copper coynage inIreland
Source
T 1/247.39, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK13 Apr 1724, c. 325 words.