Report on Robert Weddell's expense claim of £467.15s.2d. for prosecuting coinage offenders from May 1711 to Christmas 1712, which the Mint consider reasonable given his success rate

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To the most Honourable the Earl of Oxford & Earl Mortimer Lord High Treasurer of great Britain

May it please your Lordship

In obedience to your Lordships Order of Reference upon the Bills of Mr Robt Weddel for prosecuting coyners during the space of nineteen months ending last Christmas was a twelve-month, & upon the Memorial of the Warden of the Mint concerning the same: We have considered the services alledged to be done & examined the reasonableness of the said Bills, & humbly represent to your Lordship that the services so far as We can find, were done; & allowing to Mr Weddel for travelling charges 6d per mile, 2s per post stage & 15s per day abroad (as was setled by the late Lord Treasurer & allowed also by the late Lords Commissioners of the Treasury) & to the men who assisted him in apprehending & prosecuting criminals, 6s 6d per day for each man & horse during their journeys: the travelling charges amount unto 186li. 12s. 6d, which with Mr Weddels salary, a Bill of Mr Fords, the fees of receiving the money allowed upon the last account, & the charges of a law suit with a coyner upon the Privy Seal, make up the summ of 337li. 1s. 6d, which we humbly think reasonable to be allowed.

That there are other charges which admitt of no vouchers or strickt examination, whereof the fees of Council & other Court Charges upon the trials of persons (vizt for Indictments, swearing of witnesses, attending with Records, &c) amount unto 62li. 10s. And these charges being necessary for carrying on the prosecutions, We are humbly of opinion that the Prosecutors account of them, where nothing appears false or unreasonable, should be accepted.

And the maintainance of witnesses during their attendance on courts of justice, & pocket expenses in apprehending & examining people accused & in attending on Iudges & Iustices of the Peace & paying for their Warrants & for stationery ware & Post Letters, amount further to about 68li.

But considering that about one half of the money set down in Mr Weddels Account hath been advanced by him without interest for carrying on the prosecutions, & that the charges of receiving the money due upon this Account are not set down therein; both which may amount to above 40li, & that Mr Weddel was a very good prosecutor & if prosecutors be discouraged they may be induced to pay themselves by taking money for favouring or protecting coyners: We are humbly of opinion that the Bills of Mr Weddel amounting in the whole to 467li. 15s. 2d, be allowed.

All which &c