Copy of letter concerning the petition of Thomas Silvester

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To the Right Honourable the Earl of Oxford & Earl Mortimer Lord High Treasurer of Great Britain

May it Please Your Lordship

The late Smith of the Mint Mr Thomas Silvester supporting himself against Me and the other Officers of the Mint by his Interest with the Officers of Ordnance whose Smith He also was, to prevent the like Treatment for the future by a servant the sallary of Fifty pounds per Annum to the Smith was in the two last Indentures of the Mint Declared to lease upon the next voydance of the place with Intention to settle a smaller sallary only by Warrant The Place became void about two Years agoe and one Richard Fletcher who formerly did the Worke for the coinage under Mr. Silvester hath ever since Continued to do the same Worke and for his service under me I have paid Him out of my own allowance for Coinage (according to ancient Agreement) one penny per pound weight of all the Gold and one farthing per pound weight of all the silver Coined But he complains very much that without a Sallary He is not able to Carry on the service. The Smith of Her Majestys Mint at Edinburgh being allowed a Sallary of 30£ per Annum I humbly pray Your Lordship that I may be Impowered by a Warrant under Her Majestys Sign Manual to pay the Smith here for the time being a Sallary of 30 or 40 per Annum instead of the 50 per Annum which is taken away and that this sallary may Commence from Christmas last.

All which is humbly Submitted &c.

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Is Newton