Reply to MINT00874 (Mint 19/1/462-3)

<464r>

To the Rt Honble the Lords Commrs of his Mats Treãry.

May it please yor Lordps

In obedience to yoR Lordps order of Reference of 7th Ianry upon the Petition of Tho Dearsly for a Reward for discovering several Presses sufficient for coining of money: I humbly represent that all the persons taken up on this Information, pleaded that they used those presses in their lawfull trades, & that in the opinion of the Attorney General this plea was a sufficient excuse, & the Presses could not be destroyed without a suspicion of coining. And thereupon the men have been set at liberty without a tryall, & their Presses delivered back to them except one or two which belonged to a person who was suspected of coining & fled. And the men by their not being prosecuted are encouraged to go{illeg} on. The Law appoints Rewards for prosecuting Coiners to conviction: but I know of no Precedent for rewarding the Petitioner, & feare the consequence of making new Precendents

All wch is most humbly submitted to yor Lordps great wisdome

Isaac Newton

Mint Office Mar. 1st  172$\frac{\mathrm{0}}{\mathrm{1}}$