Petitions for a licence to coin £180,000 in copper and criticises Newton's specimen copper coins as being made of inferior copper and given a high artificial gloss which will soon wear off

<385r>

4th: Mar: 171$\frac{\mathrm{3}}{\mathrm{4}}$

My Lord

When I was last wth: yr: Lsp:, after ye: Officers of the mint were heard yr: stay was so short, that I had not an opportunity of mentioning some observations I then made on what passed. I observed yr: Lsp: did not expect or any one offer to cut a pound of copper into less than 21d of half pence & farthings, or to make them of better metal than fine malleable copper, nor yet to do it on those terms unless ye: Publick would be at the charge of ye: wear & tear of Tools, wch: charge by my proposalls will be sav'd; so taht I think nothing hath been offerd hitherto so advantageous to ye Publick. As to ye: impression, or stamp, I have propos'd it shall be such as yr: Lsp: shall approve of; Therefore if you have no objection to ye: weight nor standard of ye: metal, yr: Lsp: is sure to have a good impression, because I am not to proceed in coining 'till I have produc'd such a Die as shall be approv'd by yourself. I beg leave to observe yt: the specimens produc'd by Sr: I: Newton are not fine malleable copper, & have an artificial Gloss wch: will soo wear off, & then will look like those coyn'd in K: Williams Reign.

Mr: Peyton produced one of piece wch: he call'd fine plate Copper & said that could not be coin'd at less than 23d ꝑ pound I am contented his specimen shall be my standard, and do not desire a greater profit than will acrue from 21d a pound, but i yr: Lsp: thinks fir to allow 23d, the difference wch: is 2d. in the quantity propos'd, will be between 18, and 20,000li, wch: your Lsp: may dispose of as you shall think fit. I have some objections <386r> to putting the Queens arms on the reverse as in other coin wch: I think unanswerable, & shall be glad to communicate to your Lsp: whenever you will give me leave to wait on you.

Had I heard any proposalls more advantageous to the publick than mine, I should have forborn giving yr: Lsp: any farther trouble, but since n'one are yet made of equall advantage, I hope yr: Lsp: will interceed wth: Her Majesty in favour of him who has always been

Your Lordships

Most Obedient Servant

Ia: Bertie

<386v>

<text in Unknown Hand (2) begins>Copper {illeg}

Mr Bertie:

By mare: 4: 17$\frac{\mathrm{13}}{\mathrm{14}}$

{illeg}

<text in Unknown Hand (1) begins>10 Mar 17$\frac{\mathrm{13}}{\mathrm{14}}$
To Offrs: Mint