A Proposition for the Making of Farthings, by the Royal Authority for Public use.  
THere have formerly been several Grants. 1. To the Lord Harrington; 2. To the Duchess Dowager of Lenox; the last, to the Lord Maltravers, and Sir Francis Crane, for the making of Farthings of Brass and Copper to pass His Majesty's Kingdoms and Dominions of England, Wales, Ireland, and Plantations, with command (by Proclamation) that none other should be suffered to pass; And this 

For these Reasons, viz.  
1. For preventing of abuses by such as made and used their own Farthings without Authority.  
2. The saving of Bullion.  
3. The Benefit of Commerce.  
4. The Relief of the Poor.    
But those Farthings being made of ordinary Metals, and easy to be imitated by the Counterfeiters of Holland, and others at home, and thereby found no less prejudicial to the Patentees, than the Nation; the Metal was changed, and those Farthings by Marks of Distinction, and His late Majesty's Letters Patents, and Orders to the Lord Maltravers, and Sir Francis Crane, 11 of His Reign, were regulated.  
But this Patent also during the late Rebellion expiring, one Ra●…adge (sometimes an Underworker in the Mint) whilst he lived, did, and divers others since in London, and within the Lines of Communication, without Authority, now do take upon them to make several sorts of Farthings, of several ordinary Metals, for hundreds of Traders and Retailers in and about London, as also in several other Incorporate Towns; who (as they pretend) cause the same to be made for their particular uses only, under colour or promise of taking them again, at the same value they passed them for, ( returned;) which certainly if they did really so, were yet unlawful for any Society or Corporation, much less for any person to practise at his own will and pleasure.  

Against which abuse, the Objections following (amongst others) are justly to be made and insisted on, viz.  
1. That this Irregularity is a Limb of Anarchy, and a Relic of that specious popular pretence to Liberty, connived at by the late Usurpers, and a direct Encroachment upon the Royal Prerogative, to which only the licensing of all sorts of Coin (National or Forreign) belongs, with an absolute Power for the advance, abatement and allay of the Species of all sorts of Coins currant, or to be prohibited within its Dominions.  
2. It's a direct cheat upon, and injury to the Subject and Public Weal, for the mere lucre and advantage of certain private and particular persons only; many of which (under pretence of advantage to Commerce) make great advantage by this liberty to themselves, some 10, 15, 20 l. per Man in the year (and some more. And though by promise, and under the colour at least of an Assurance to take them again at the rates they pass them for, yet they are seldom found willing to receive them (when returned) especially in quantities.  
3. If any of these Retailers come to remove their habitations, or break (which many of them often do) all the Farthings are lost to those that have any of them on their hands; and though they do remain, or not turn Bankrupts, yet by this device they oblige, and in a manner necessitate all who have of their Farthings on their hands, to trade therewith with themselves only, because they are not elsewhere Currant with others; which (as they manage it, these Farthings seldom coming back to them without other better money) makes much for such Retailers' advantage, and consequently by that bondage, proves to be the greater Inconveniency to all dealers with them; which Farthings allowed by public Authority would remedy.  
4. This liberty of late taken up, is found no less prejudicial to the Poor, who for want of authorized small moneys, especially Farthings, miss many an Alms, and that which is therein given them of little use, for those Farthings now used (not being passable as before, except with those persons only that make and give them out) are of little benefit to the poor or any other at a distance; besides, since those that make them, will hardly sell any thing for Farthings only, but at double the rate, the poor as well as others suffer by it, which proves the Cheat to be the greater.  
5. Lastly, many of those that bespeak and utter these unauthorised Farthings, often come to lose by them themselves, especially such as are honest, value their Reputation and stand upon their Credits, when ever they call in their Farthings (as some of them use to do once a year, and change their Tokens) many times find double the quantities they ordered to be made under their stamps, obtruded on them by those they entrusted to make them, or put upon them by others that sergeant them, which is also become an ordinary practice, and thereby some of the honestest have lost 10, or 20 l. per Man in a year, for their portion●●r shares, besides what the poor and common sort of Subjects suffer by it.   

For Remedy against which unsufferable Abuse, since the allowing of Farthings, well regulated, might be so general a Commodity, and that without them the Poor will want much of their Relief, and every petty Retailer, of all sorts, would suffer so much in his Trade (as is obvious to all) if none were suffered.  
It is humbly proposed,  
1. THat such a Metal (if possible) might be found out and fixed on, as in all probability at least might prevent all importation by the Hollanders, and from other Foreign parts, as well as the usual abuse by Counterfeiters at home.  
2. That in Case such a Metal as proposed could be found out, certainly it would be more fit than Farthings of such Metal only were suffered to pass in such form and manner, as by the Royal Authority might be approved, then that every one as now should be left at liberty, or other Farthings suffered to pass then such as might be allowed and directed by His Majesty.  

The usual Objections to which, by such as now take Liberty in the Contrary, are suitable to each Man's Genius or Interest, viz.  
1. Some say that it will be a dishonour to His Majesty, and the Nation, to allow or tolerate any base Coyn.  
2. Others that it will be impossible to find out such a Metal as may not be Counterfeit.  
3. That if they be made of any base Metal equivalent to their denomination, they will be of such a Magnitude and Weight, as will be cumbersome and untrassiqueable.  
4. And supposing they could be made of any Metal that could not be counterfeit, and such as might answer the full intrinsique value (excepting the Manufactures only, which is as reasonable to be allowed in this, as at the Mint for Standard money) yet whatever shall be allowed to the Office for the fashion and Manufacture of such Farthings, in the Exchange, will be so much loss as the fashion comes to, to every Subject that takes them either for Commodity or in Exchange for other money.  
5. Others say that all Farthings now used (if recalled) will be so much loss to those that have made any under their own stamps for their private use.  
6. And the Retailer by this means may come to have sometime 10 or 20 pounds worth of such Farthings at a time upon his hands, which if he cannot pay out and vent again, as well as take for Commodities, having quantities on his hands, they will lie as so much dead stock upon him, and consequently be so much loss.  
7. Then if at the Office any of them shall be refused money in Exchange for such as he brings back thither, he can have no remedy but by a Suit at Law, which would be a tedious Inconveniency and Grievance.  
8. And lastly, if the Office itself or Undertakers (whoever) should fail by Death or Breaking, or desisting of the Office, which after it have made and vented 10 or 20000 pounds worth in Farthings or more) possibly may be, (besides the Dishonour thereby to His Majesty) there will be so much loss to the poorer Subjects.   

In Answer to which Objections it may be Replied.  
1. And to the first thereof, that neither Spain or France, not any other Kingdom or Republic of Christendom, (better enabled with Silver and Bullion, or both, then England is) finding it a necessity rather than a Conveniency, that think it any Dishonour to give an Alloy (at least) to all their small moneys passable within their own Dominions, their reason for this being, as well for saving the charge of the Mint, as for preventing the loss of Silver, and as well for the ease of Commerce, as their Poors relief; so not disagreeable with the Customs and Policy of all other Christian Nations, nor certainly can any thing be rightly called dishonourable to any Prince or State, which in itself is not unjust or unequal, burdensome or destructive to its Subjects, which upon a due Examination of the Propositions following, it's humbly conceived the making and authorising of public Farthings of such a Metal, and so qualified as is found out and proposed, will not appear to be, at least not to be so great an Inconveniency, as the permission of every one to make (which is not only an Encroachment upon, and dishonour to the Royal Authority, but an apparent actual Burden and injury to the Subject, as before declared, in likelihood will be.  
2. In Answer to the second Objection, and to make it appear that there may be such a Metal found out, for the making of Farthings, as if not impossible, will be more difficult to be counterfeit then Gold or Silver.  

Observe but the Reasons following.  
1. The Metal proposed for this use, is not hitherto known to be had in any part of the World but in His Majesties own Dominions (and for that the more proper) nor in any part thereof, yet discovered, but in one place, and that in His Majesty's Power and Command.  
2. It hath this quality and hidden secret in it, that it will hardly intermix with any other but of its own nature and species, Male and Female.  
3. Though it be tough enough of itself for this use, yet there is not any way yet discovered to reduce it to be fully Malleable, and thereby the fit also for this use, the harder to be Counterfeit, and easier to be discovered if any one should attempt it; since no compound Metal can be made like it.  
4. In its Nature it is as wholesome and as sweet as silver, neither Smells, Rusts, or Cankers, something harder, and so sullies less (if any thing) and next unto Silver (of which it hath nothing in it) endures fire the best, and in the fire, rather improving then abating aught of its Colour, which is distinct from all other Metals, and for that reason also the less Counterfeitable.  
5. For a final Answer, and to free His Majesty from the least of indignity by it, and the most suspicious from the danger of any damage by Counterfeiting it, there may be such marks given to it, and such signs denoted with it, that every cómon eye may easily discern it from any other Metal that can be Counterfeited; so that if His Majesty and His Council shall be pleased to allow of Farthings to be made of this Metal to pass universally by public Authority and none other, the Proposers knowing this Metal to be so different and distinct in its nature from all other, and impossible almost to Counterfeit it (having such powers and privileges granted as formerly for their Enabling) offer, within six months' warning to furnish all His Majesty's Dominions with a sufficient quantity of Farthings of this Metal, and to give in sufficient Security before they enter upon it, at all times to return the value they pass for in sterling money when returned to the Office broken or whole, abating only one in twenty for the fashion as formerly, which (if the Security be good, and performance answerable) will make Farthings so allowed to be made and passed within His Majesty's Dominions equal with any other Coin His Majesty makes and allows to pass for Standard.   
3. The last Answer may also serve for the third Objection, for if (as is before offered) such Farthings be received back, with the rebate only of one in twenty for the fashion, it will not be much material to the User whether their intrinsique value be answerable to their denomination or no? and than if the Maker's cause them not to be made of such convenient size for weight and magnitude as may be grateful to the User, they will show themselves the more imprudent, and be the greatest Losers by it; but in this certainly they ought to be obliged to such a pattern as His Majesty and Council may be pleased to appoint, and shall think fit to agree to be most commodious for use.  
4. What's said before (if performed) will answer the fourth Objection also in all but the charge for Fashion, for which he that brings any Farthings to change for Money is to pay only as formerly in Brass (one in Twenty) which is also to be allowed to any that takes them out, and so will be as broad as long; whereas those that now make and vent Farthings without Authority, sell and make the Buyers pay five times the price that the Metal of which they are made, is worth; all which is lost to the Dealer if broken under his hands or melted, or the party under whose stamp they pass, break or but remove his habitation; whereas in the other way the Proposers offer, by taking the Metal back melted broken or whole at one in twenty loss, and proportionably will be a far less loss if any.  
5. To the fifth it may be answered, that he that breaks my hedges to make himself a way through my Lands, may as well complain of being put back into the road; or he that makes him  of my cloth without my consent, cry out that by Law he is forced to pay me for it; as he that hath made Farthings without the Royal Assent, Stamp and Authority, to be forbidden their further use; he may pretend a damage in some sort possibly by it, but no wrong, or (if any) nothing but what's done by and to himself, contrary to the Law, and the King no party to it.  
6. In answer to the sixth Objection, there is more offered for remedy then ever was formerly provided against the like Doubts by any Grant from the Crown, viz. That no man be bound to take Farthings in any gross payments, or for any Commodity, or for Debt, contrary to his liking; nor any Servant or Labourer for his Wages, burr at his own Election; nor otherwise, but either as a Gift in charity, or in order to the exchange of small Money; or for Diet, Drink or edible things; or for the ease of commerce and petty Sums, where such exchange is needful, and both parties are willing and agree unto it for their own conveniency: And if at any time any such Retailer shall find himself overcharged with greater quantities than may be for his conveniency to keep at one time by him for his use, for one in twenty he may have Money paid him for them in London at the Office to be appointed for that use; and so in every City or Town corporate through England, etc. wherever any such Farthings shall be vented or allowed to pass, and men of ability in all such places furnished for that service; so no Trader need to have above 20 s. in his hands at once, nor any of the Poor (that had rather have their little stocks in money) want a shilling or  at any time.  
7. If the Office shall refuse to return Money for Farthings to any in exchange (allowing the allowed rebate) as is objected, but is hardly imaginable, it being for their advantage, it is but reason the next Justice without Fee or other allowance, should have power to do the aggreived party right by distress or otherwise, and see his loss or time (whoever damnified) satisfied; which will soon put an end to any difference of that kind without charge, if any such should be, or delay be used.  
8. The last objection seems to savour more of willingness to find Objections and a fault then to hearken to a remedy for it, it not being likely but that if His Majesty and His Council shall think fit to allow the Undertaking, that they would be so unwary in a business of so public and general a concernment, as not to be careful to choose responsible persons for its execution and oversight, and if six good men can be found capable to secure 400000 l. per ann. of His Majesty's Revenue to Him, there is no great doubt to be made but such men may be left also for this as the strictest Usurer in London could not object against, if that were the only question, and such great Security needful; which (to say truth) in this business will not be, for put but honest and prudent persons to officiate it, the business will secure itself; which when required and time serves, may easily and fully be demonstrated in every particular.   And whereas His Majesty now has nothing, he may have some addition to His Revenue by it. 
FINIS.