Recommend accepting Henry Hines' tender to supply copper

<443r>

Mint Office Aug. 3. 1717.

To the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of his Majestys Treasury.

May it please your Lordships

In obedience to your Lordships Order of Reference on the Proposals for importing barrs of fine copper into his Majestys Mint for coyning copper money out of them, We humbly represent that upon giving the Proposers a meeting, We find that the Mint may be supplied with such barrs at nineteen pence per pound weight Averdupois or a little under, taking back the scissel at the same price but scarce under eighteen pence. The Master & Worker is willing to undertake the coynage out of such barrs at three pence farthing per pound weight & to defray all incident charges of assaying weighing coynage & putting off after a Mint is set up. And so a pound weight of Copper with the coinage will cost about 21$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{4}}$d or 22$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{4}}$ & may be cut into 23 or 24 pence to answer all other charges. If there be a King's Clerk, he & the Auditor of this Mint may be paid what your Lordships shall order out of the profits of the coinage. The Master & Worker proposes to pay half the price of the Copper upon the importation thereof.

When by publick notice we gave the Proposers a meeting some of them upon hearing how the copper was to be sized & assayed, withdrew. Mr Neale & Partners were in the country & are not yet returned to town. Mr Essington demanded 19d per pound weight for the best copper & 18d for a coarser sort. Mr Iones demanded 18$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$d for the best copper. Mr Hind demanded 18d. The copper he shewed us was very good & bore the Assay, & this morning he has delivered in some Barrs to be further examined. We are best satisfied with his Proposal, but have not yet had time to examin his barrs. Mr Parker demands the same price, but we have not yet seen his workmanship.

If at any time it be thought fit to change the Reverse of the money it may be done by a Signe Manual, paying the Graver for a new Puncheon

All which &c

Ri. Sandford

Is. Newton

Mint Office Aug. 3. 1717