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

<464r>

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

May it please your Lordships

In obedience to your Lordships 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 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 which is most humbly submitted to your Lordships great wisdome

Isaac Newton

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