A ●ost humble MEMORANDUM From Peter Blondeau, Concerning the offers by him made to this Commonwealth, for the coining of the money, by a new Invention, not yet practised in any State of the world; the which will prevent counterfeiting, casting, washing and clipping of the same: Which Coin shall be marked on both the flat sides, and about the thickness or the edge; of a like bigness and largeness, as the ordinary coin is: and will cost no more than the ordinary unequal Coin, which is used now.  
SInce it hath been the pleasure of the Parliament and of the Council of State, to pass some Orders in relation to the preventing of the counterfeited and clipped money, now dispersed in England, Scotland and Ireland, he makes bold, yet with submission, to present the following particulars, containing, besides the said offers, First, the reason why the Coin 〈◊〉 this Commonwealth is clipped and light, so that few pieces are to be found ●eighing their true weight; As also the ●●ason why so much falls Coin is now dispersed. And secondly, the only way to remedy the said inconveniences, and to settle a good and constant order in the Mint.  
As to the first, the reason of the said abuses is because the money coined with the hammer is so easy to be counterfeited, and with so few Engines and so little expenses, that thereby the falls Coiners are encouraged and their number increased. And the daily experience to this day showed, that seldom or never any falls Coiners have been discovered by the nois of the hammer.  
Another reason is, because the money coined with the hammer, cannot be made exactly round, nor equal in weight and bigness, and is often grossly marked, and hath many other faults, which give's a great facility to the falls Coiners to counterfeit and mould it; as also to the Clippers to clip it: It being very hard to dis … ●●●ween a clipped piece, and one not c●●●●●d. Besides, abundance of coin is ma●e too light even at the Min●: The said Blondeau himself hath received some ●●illings (which he shown to the Committee for the Mint) which weighed some five, some six, and some seven pence only; as to the contrary, he received some that weighed seventeen, yea, & eighteen pence; both of them made so at the Mint: Which inequality occasions several Goldsmiths and others, who receiv the money from the Mint, to cull or pick out the heaviest pieces to melt them; and after them, others do again cull or pick out the heaviest of them that are left, to transport them beyond Seas; so that only the light, the falls & the clipped money remain's within the State, which turns to the great ruin and destruction of Commerce, and undoeth those poor people, who spend their money little by little; for having some counterfeited or clipped pieces, they cannot put them off, but are forced to sell them, with loss, unto the Goldsmiths and others who can spend them among other moneys, or trade therein, and sell them again to the Ca●●●●epers of the Treasurers, Bankiers, merchant's and others, who make them pass afterwards among other moneys; so that they return again into the ha●●s of the poor.  
The reason why the workmen of the Mint do make the coin thus unequal in weight, and do not care to keep the true weight, is because it is sooner done. Besides, the said workmen may coin sometimes their own silver, or may treat with those that bring their Bullion to be coined, because they do not render the coin by tale, but by the pound, and so still there be more pieces in number, than there should be in a pound. And the money so coined being distributed out of the Mint, the officers themselves and the workmen of the Mint do cull or pick out the heaviest pieces to melt them again, as they themselves have confessed before the said Committee for the Mint. And that is the thing which among themselves they call the mystery or secret of the Mint, and which is the cause that, by themselves and by their friends, they make use of all their joint power and credit, and will lay ou● all 〈◊〉 Estate, and leave no stone unmooved to … der the changing of the way of coining the money.  
As to the way of remedying those inconveniences, and settling a good and constant order in t●● Mint, it cannot be don● but by 〈◊〉 ●ay propounded by the said Blondeau, by marking the coin not only on both the flat sides, but also upon the thickness or the edges.  
The coin made after that way, cannot be clipped without taking away the marks that are about the thickness, the which would be easily perceived. Besides, the pieces will be of an equal bigness and largeness; the half-crown of the ordinary weight and bigness, the shilling and other pieces accordingly; and so equal among themselves, that it will be impossible to take the less thing from any of them, but it will show less than the rest, and so will become not currant: They cannot be altered by washing or any other way, but they will lose their bigness &c glass, so that a blindman will easily feel it.  
The ordinary coin marked only on both the flat side● 〈◊〉 ●ee moulded, as the experience do ●●●w by the grea● quantity of falls coyn● 〈◊〉, … deed, which is currant now; but ●●e Co … it is marked on the thickness or edges, the marks about the said edges can no way be moulded. And though they could, yet in that case they ought to be filed after round about, specially in the place where it hath been cast, to take away the superfluous metal; which fyling cannot be done without spoiling and taking away the said marks about the edges, and consequently made easily known not to be currant.  
The money ought to be adjusted piece after piece, equal in weight, both Gold and Silver. And for that end, it is requisite that an Officer be appointed in the Mint, whose charge should be to weigh the money piece after piece when it is finished; and in case he finds any piece unequal or unhandsomely made, he ought to reject it and give it to be melted again, upon the charges of the Undertaker of the Mint, thereby to oblige him to be so much the more careful: And for to hinder the connivance of the 〈◊〉 appointed to weigh the said piece● who might happen to juggle with 〈◊〉 Undertaker; another Officer may 〈◊〉 appointed, to whom any of the people that shall find any of the new coined pieces lighter than it should be, might repair within a convenient time, who shall change the said light pieces, all which shall be put to account to the said Officer appointed for the weighing: But that cannot be done except the money be coined after the said Peter Blondeau's way, that is, marked on both sides, and upon the edges; else the Weigher might pretend it had been clipped and made light since it went out of his hand And the money being coined after the said way, besides the hindering or removing of the aforesaid inconveniences, it will raise or encreas the Exchange by about ten per centum, to the advantage of this Commonwealth.  
It is also requisite, to maintain the standard or goodness of the coin, that any Goldsmith, Refiner, or other whomsoëver be permitted to make essay of the currant money; and in case it be not found of the standard or goodness, they might be allowed 〈…〉 ●●ck to an appointed Officer, t … 〈…〉 and the rest of the pieces by them 〈…〉 ●o be there tried again before 〈…〉 commissioners, and the Trier of 〈◊〉 Mint; and if it be found that the said coin be not of the due goodness, the discoverer shall be rewarded at the charges of the Trier, that he may have a due care, that no coin comes out of the Mint but such as shall be of a due value, and according to the order of the State.  
The Council of State being willing to prevent the said disorders, was desirous to have the money of this Commonwealth well coined; and therefore having seen the patterns of coin made after a new Invention by the said Blondeau, and having treated by Letters about the quantity of pieces that could be coined in a week, and what they might cost; the said Council, caused the said Blondeau the Inventor of that way of coining, to come to London, to treat with him by word of mouth, and to agree about the price of coining the money of this Commonwealth after his way. He being then arrived at London 〈…〉 … ce Septemb. 1649. the said Cou … … ced on him 40 sterling, and the late M●… Frost, than Secretary to the said Cou … told him before Witnesses, that 〈◊〉 State could not agree with him a●●●●●he price, and that therefore he shou●● be necessitated to retire himself, the State woul● indamnifie him for his journey, both coming and returning, and for the time he should have lost, and would bestow on him such a present, that he would return satisfied. A while after, the said Council of State ordered the Committee of the Council of State for the Mint to hear the said Blondeau's Proposition, and report it to the said Council.  
The Committee for the Mint accordingly took into consideration, whether the said Blondeau should be admitted to coin the money of this Commonwealth; and having debated it, they resolved and approved that he should be admitted thereunto, provided his coin and his Proposition should be advantageous to the State.  
Afterwards the said Committee having seriously considered and examined all the circumst●●●●● 〈…〉 way of coining propound●● 〈…〉 said Blondeau, and having h … all the Objections that could be all … against it, both by the Master, Offi●●●● 〈◊〉 workmen of the Mint or by an● 〈◊〉 of those who appeared in the ● upon debate of the whole, the said Committee concluded and Voted, that the said way of coining propounded by the said Blondeau, was better, more advantageous and more honourable for the State, then that which is used now in this Commonwealth.  
The Master, the Officers and the workmen of the Mint told the Committee, it was not likely the said Blondeau had done himself, the pieces sent by him to the Council of State. Besides, that it was an old Invention, which they knew themselves, and that such pieces were only made for curiosity, with very long time and great expense, and that it was impossible, that that way might be used about the ordinary coin, which is thin. They desired that the said Blondeau might be commanded to make a trial of his skill by making some other pieces, and that they would do as much as the said Blondeau. Therefore the said Committee ordered both the said Blondeau and the said workmen t● mak● their patterns and Propositions ●●●●●ctively; and that he that would 〈◊〉 ●t with most advantage to the St●●● 〈◊〉 … l have the Employment.  
At the time app… 〈◊〉 workmen brought to the Committee ●om pieces made after the old way, which is known to them, and some big pieces of Silver, stuffed within with copper; but they had drawn no Propositions.  
Likewise the said Blondeau brought in about 300 pieces, some half-crowns of the ordinary weight and bigness, some shillings, sixpences, and some Gold pieces, and presented his Proposition, which having been reform according to the pleasure of the said Committee, it was received and accepted of by the whole Committee, who ordered it to be reported to the Council of State, according to the order of the said Council.  
The said Committee having then taken into consideration the big pieces of Silver at the outside, and stuffed within with copper (made with the Engines that are at the To …, and well understood that the ●●id pieces, because they are made 〈◊〉 ●●●eral pieces at the top o●e of 〈…〉 will give no sound ●o th●● 〈…〉 man can easily discer● tha● 〈…〉 … s; and having weighe● 〈…〉 and great cost required 〈…〉 each piece; because th' … 〈…〉 4 pieces, namely one of cop●●● and one of Silver at the top, another underneath and one about, the which ought to be adjusted and sodered together, besides several other fashions, which cost more than the price of the lawful pieces; having also considered the great and heavy Engines, and great number of tools and of men required for making of one piece, the great charges for the Engines and tools and several other things required for making of those counterfeited pieces, they acknowledged that it would be enough to dissuade any one from undertaking it; the rich not being willing, and the poor being unable; and that though they should undertake it they could not do it without being discovered. Besides, that the money coined after the wa●● of the said Blondeau was so thin, 〈◊〉 it cannot be so counterfeited.  
Whereupon it 〈◊〉 … ble, that the said workmen of 〈…〉 although they made use of 〈…〉 … d heavy Engines, that are in 〈…〉, yet for making of some Tools 〈…〉 ●eed of, and for the other charges ●●●●●yning about a dozen of pieces, they made then for a pattern, have spent 100 l. st. as he that pretends to have laid out the money hath said before witnesses.  
Afterwards, another order was given by the said Committee, and some time limited to the said workmen, to draw and present their Proposition for coining of the money marked upon the thickness or edge, as that of the said Blondeau is; But after the expiration of the long time demanded by them, they brought such a Proposition, that the said Committee having read it over and over, could not understand it, nor the sens of it; and even those that brought it could not explain it; whereby it was apparent to the said Committee, that they were not able to mak● their Proposition good, much less … n the money after that way; whi●●●●●y avowed themselves before th' … 〈◊〉 committee. Yet they intreate● 〈◊〉 ●●●mittee to allow them the 〈…〉 months' more to find, if 〈…〉 ●●w invention, and that 〈…〉 ●●●●●eau's Proposition should 〈…〉 …cated unto them, upon whic● 〈◊〉 ●ight frame their own. They further demanded that the said Blondeau and the Graver, should have order to bring in all the pieces made by the said Blondeau for a trial, with the stamps or dices used for making of them; All which was granted them, upon that condition, that if within the time allowed them, they could find out the means to coin the money after the said Blondeau's way, and that thereupon he should be sent back, he should be indamnified, which was agreed by all. But they could never find out the said new Invention for coining the thin & weak pieces after that way with expedition requisite. Yet for all that, they made their Propositions, which are in the hands of the Chairman of the Committee, as are also the Blondeau's Prop●●●●●●n & patterns, about a year and a 〈…〉, to be reported by him to the Count … 〈…〉 State.  
The workmen 〈…〉 … nt have given to understand 〈…〉 200 poor families, whic● 〈◊〉 ●●●ined by the work of the Min● 〈…〉 ●esides truth. For some Officers o● 〈◊〉 Mint have told before witnesses, that for ●●rly their Corporation was at the most of 40 Masters, and that at this time they are hardly 30 Masters, w●●●●●re all rich, have lands or houses, and other ways of maintenance, without the work of the Mint. And that when they had much money to coin, they were wont to hire some journiemen, giving to some 18 pence, to some 15 and to some 12 for half a day's work. Besides, in case the State admits of the said Blondeau to coin the money after his way, and the workmen be willing to work after the said way, he will oblige himself to teach them and pay them a reasonable price.  
The said Blondeau doth not intent to have the Gold nor the Silver in his custody, but only the charge of working the same, by such persons as the State shall be pleased 〈…〉 thereunto.  
He shall not 〈…〉 ●●●wer to admi● any one to th' … 〈…〉 ●he Mint, without the cons … 〈…〉 … bation of the State.  
Nor w … 〈…〉 keeping of the Dices or 〈…〉 … y shall be entrusted in the 〈…〉 ●uch as the State shall adm … woe ….  
In a word, he doth generally submit to whatsoever the S … shall think reasonable. Only 〈◊〉 prays to consider, that  

1. The exact equality, that will be effected by this way and invention of the said Blondeau, will hinder and avoid all the known corrupt Practices about coining.  
2. The charge of the State concerning the same, considering all circumstances, will be less then in the old way; and the honour of this Commonwealth much the greater, in having their moneys coined in perfection, above, or beyond any other State now known.  
3. The said Blondeau came to London about 3 years and a half since, and hath no other employment here, but to attend the pleasure of the State.   
FINIS.