Response to a petition from copper suppliers Hines and Appleby [see MINT00643 (Mint 19/2/319)] referred to Newton by the Treasury

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To the Right the Lords Commissioners of his Majesties Treasury.

May it please your Lordships

In obedience to your Lordships Order of Reference of 15 Apr. 1719, upon the Memorial of Mr Applebly & Mr Hines, I have considered the same, & humbly represent that fine copper will not run close into Barrs like Gold Silver & coarse copper, but requires to be either battered or rolled thin by a Mill; & the cheapest way is to roll it. But a horse Mill being too weak & too chargeable for this purpose I advised the said Importers to procure a water Mill. And to encourage them to do it I promised to give them no disturbance my self so long as they kept to their covenants in the copper which they brought to me. But at the same time I told them that I could engage nothing for my superiors. Hereupon they took a water Mill neare Maidenhead bridge three or four miles above Windsor at the rent of 52li per annum for two years and an half from midsummer last, besides a fine of 20 Guineas & 65li paid for Tools left there by Mr Ayres, as I understand by the writings. They took also another little place neare it for a Warehouse & lodging room & for building a Refining furnace, at 12li per annum; & the furnace cost them almost 40li as they inform me: besides the charge of Beds & furniture for servants & of new Rolls & iron moulds & boxes for the copper & other utensils amounting to 70li, & besides an hundred load of wood & four load of Charcoal upon their hands for this service. And during the intermission of the coinage they pay 39s per week retaining wages to a Clerk & Refiner & two other servants.

When a stop was put to the coinage, I informed your Lordships that 25 Tons of copper money were then coined & delivered, besides what was ready to be delivered of which I did not then know the quantity: but it was just delivered and amounted unto 26cwt weight. And as much copper was that day brought into the Mint as made 26cwt more: so that there have been coined 27 Tonns & 12cwt weight. There was also at that time 25cwt in Barrs brought down the river ready to be delivered, & 45cwt at the Mill in pickle & 35cwt rolled but not cleaned, & 4$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$cwt rolled hot but not cold; & in Scissel Brockage & Cakes 128$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$cwt; besides thirty Tons contracted for under hand & seale, as appears to me by the writing.

By the Bills of parcells several of which I have seen, the copper hitherto imported cost about 13$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$d per poundweight & some almost 14d. The Blanks being hardned round the edges by the cutter & not nealed after cutting are apt to crack on the edges in stamping if the copper be not sufficiently fine, & this cracking has been promoted by two parcells of copper bought of Mr Briggs: but these cracks are very small & may be prevented by making the copper a very little finer. The Rolls at first were rough & made the copper rough, which occasioned much complaint in the Mint till within a few days before the coinage was stopt: but the Rolls are now smooth, & the last parcell or two of copper imported was smooth & well cleaned.

Considering therefore, the charges that the Importers are & have been at; the quantity of copper upon their hands, some of which is prepared; & the demand of copper money by the people: it seems to me that the 25cwt of copper barrs brought down the river to be imported when the coinage was stopt, & the 45cwt then in pickle & now pickled; be forthwith imported, provided the copper beare the assays prescribed; & that the 35cwt rolled but not yet cleaned be cleaned & imported if your Lordships think fit: the Moneyers being commanded by your Lordships, if you please to pick out all the brockage & blanks from the money. And then the rest of the copper may be prepared & imported, provided the barrs be smooth & cleane & well sized & beare the assays, & the Blanks beare the Press without cracking

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And in the mean time if any other Proposalls be made to your Lordships for coyning the money better or of better copper by the assay, the same may be compared with what Mr Appleby & Mr Hines will undertake.

All which is most humbly submitted to your Lordships great wisdome

Isaac Newton

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