Draft of MINT00044 (Mint 19/1/121)

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Next to Mr Haynes I reccon Mr Ford qualified for or business. In integrity & exact weighing I beleive {sic} them equal & he rates & standards well enough to execute the Office.

But if {illeg} {illeg} the bare skill in bare skill in weighing {illeg}{illeg} then the {illeg} {illeg} wch is barr at present only is only exact skill in weighting, be reguarded. Mr Ford {illeg} & re tipping the scales examining all {illeg} & weights, all any of the competitors upon oath steady hands & judicious eyes either are may qualifyed or may qualify themhimselfes within a in a fortnight. by practise in a week or a fortnight.

May it please yor Lordps

We have considered the Petitions in

We have considered the annexed

In obedience to yor Lordps order of reference signified to us by Mr Lowndes ye 7th instant upon the several Petitions ann          that we should examine the qualifations {sic} certain the Petitionersupon the several Petitions annexed Petitions and for the place of Weigher & Teller of the Mint now vacant whose Petitions are hereunto annexed we humbly represent that {illeg} they the Petitioners did the several services mentioned in the{illeg}ir several Petitions hereunto annexed, & that if nothing be reguarded thatfor the necessary duty of the place (wch at present is only exact skill in weighing & in examining the scales & weights) any competitorpetitioner who hath steady hands & judicious eyespractical {illeg} eyes{illeg}is envious {illeg} is envious may qualify himself by a fortnight by practise {illeg}in a fortnight less then a month. a short time [But if the {illeg} gene{illeg}rall general advantage of the Mint be also considered {illeg} an Officer who understands the business of the Office {illeg} ye most desirable Mr Haynes is the fittest at present present best skilled in Mint affairs & on that account the fittest person for the place however other Petitioners may be otherwise very deserving. He has served int he Mint about 14 years excepting three or four years intermission by {illeg} & while he acted in it he had]

But {illeg}its for the service & advantage of the Mint to have an Officer who understands as the all {illeg} more of the business is skilled in all or business in that Postin that Post in that Post further skilled in or business. Mr Haynes And the And how ever other Petiti{illeg}oners may be deserving in other respects the most skilfull in or business Mint affairs is Mr Haynes. He has served in the Mint about 14 years excepting three or four years intermission & while he acted in the Mint he had there a general reputation

The other Petitioners may in other reputesin other reputes be very deserving & some of them have acted in life but {illeg}& some of them have qualifications a fit for better business as I could be very glad to oblige theeirm friends & their friends but of their qualifications further then I have known any of them by their acting in the Mint I do not presume to judge. {illeg} Two of them have some skill in Mint affairs If the consideration of this sort of skill be set aside & in that respect I That consideration being set aside I

One these accts he was brought back into the Mint from good business of his own as a in the beginning of the late rRecoynage when we could not be within him & soon after the Officers of

in ye recoynage Mr Brattel weighed the o{illeg} assisted in the Assay Office & was the first Teller who inspected the {illeg} old money & told the new money & examined the tale thereof by the weight of the baggs, & the other Petitioners did the services represented in their Petitions{illeg}