Holograph draft of MINT00175 (Mint 19/1/274)

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The fineness of gold & silver is generally estimated by the assay & bought & sold by this estimate, & gold 24 carats fine & silver 12 ounces fine is reputed by Assaymasters fully fine. And Trial pieces by law are to be 22 carats fine Gold & two carats of allay & 11 ounces 2dwt of fine silver, & 18dwt of allay

Quære 2 Whether for this end her Majesty may appoint and trial pieces to be made of such fine gold as proves just 24 carats fine upon the assay, & such fine silver as proves just 12 ouncs fine upon the assay, notwithstanding that gold & silver may by any new art be refined to an higher degree? Or what is the standard of fine gold & fine silver according to law?

Quære 4 Whether for keeping constantly to a standard her Majesty may direct that a piece of the fine gold & a piece of the fine silver of which the next trial pieces shall be made be kept in the Exchequer for determining with more exactness the fineness of the fine gold & fine silver of which all trial pieces shall be made for the future.

Qaære 1. Whether there should be one common standard of fine gold & one of fine silver in all great Britain for setting a value upon all gold & silver in buying & selling in coining of money & in making of plate & other gold & silver wares.

Quære 3 Whether a Iury appointed to make Indented standard trial pieces is not bound to make them of such fine gold & such fine silver as is fine gold & fine silver according to law even without her Majestys special direction & notwithstanding that gold or silver may by any new art be refined to an higher degree?