Summary history of Jones's proposals and Newton's response to them

<451r>

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

May it please your Lordships

One Mr Iones last Spring gave in a Proposal at the door of the Honourable House of Commons to coyne copper money of the finest copper cutting a pound weight into 24 pence & giving 6d thereof to the publick, & offering two pence half penny to the Officers of the Mint to coyn the same, or else that he would coine the same himself if he might have the use of the Irish Mint & of the coining tools belonging to the King that is, if I understand his Proposal that he would find the copper make it into blanks at 15d$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ per pound weight & coyn the same at 2$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$d more.

And after an Account of all the Proposals which had been made for coyning of Copper money & of what had been done thereupon had been delivered into the House of Commons, they were pleased to address the King that when his Majesty shall think it necessary that more farthings & half pence should be coyned, they be made of the finest British copper & as neare the intrinsic value as is possible, & that if any advantage is made thereby, it may be applied to the service of the publick.

By this vote the tax of six pence upon the pound weight is reected & in the proposal of Mr Iones the pound weight is to be cut into 18d.

If any person or persons will make the blanks of the finest British copper (such as when made hot will hammer thin without cracking) & cutt a pound weight into eighteen pence or within the Remedy of a penny more & pay the remedy to the King & take back such parcells of copper uncoyned as do not endure the assay or are not within the Remedy & so soon as the people are satisfied, will upon notice from the Lord High Treasurer or Lords Commissioners of the Treasury suspend the coynage for two or three years or untill more copper money be Currenting desired I am ready to do my part in such an undertaking provided it be in my power to refuse such copper as dithh not endure the Assay or the Remedy without expecting above 2$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$d per pound weight for the coynage & for taking care of the assays & keeping the Remedy for the King.