Report on gold from the West Indies brought to the Mint by the South Sea Company

<108r>

Sir

The Southsea Company have lately received from their Agents in the West Indies 6 or 7 parcels of Gold, which they intend to have Coyn'd: and accordingly have imported 2 parcels, & have part of a 3d. parcel now in the Assay office, ready to be weigh'd.

Vpon a view of the aforesaid parcel I inspectedsuspected the Gold —& when all the Ingots were assayd, I causd 4 to be returned to the Company to be refin'd. In a 2d. parcel I found 7 which I suspectedinspected to be of a bad mixture; & therefore orderd Mr. Whitaire to acquaint Mr. Utbert, the Companys Agent, & Mr. Blatchford, their Refiner, that those 7 suspected Ingots should be taken back & refind, unles they wou'd indemnify the Office. They both gave Mr. Whitaire strong assurances that there was no bad mixture in them, upon which they were all taken in, before I had heard their answer. Whereupon I caution'd Mr. Vanderesh not to sett them out for melting, Intending to apprize You of the Affaire, <108v> that the said Suspected Ingots might be further examined before their delivery to the Melter. A timely caution being necessary to make us safe, for the future.

I have taken all the Care I cou'd in examining what has already been assayd, at the Cutting, hammering, sheering, appearance on the Copples, & after nealing: but because this may'nt be sufficient, I would further propose that all the suspected Ingotts be broke in yourtheir presence, the Companys Refiner & Agent attending, & also yourtheir Melter, when We may be better assur'd of the Nature of the Mass by a careful inspection of the breaches, than we can be, by an Assay taken off at one Corner.

The Companys Agent & Refiner prest the admittance of the Gold now in the assay office: but I conceive it altogether reasonable that the office in general & the Matter in particular shoud be safe, & indemnifyd. Howeve the whole is submitted to Your consideration that this affair may be settled upon a good foot to secure us for the future. If you please to Appoint to morrow being Wensday, or thursday morning, I will attend in my place

I am Honoured Sir

your most Obedient Humble Servant

H. Haynes

Tuesday 6. Septbr. 1726