Letter from Sir Joseph Banks of Overton to Sir Stephen [?], 14 Sep 1804. Relating to the Royal Mint and coinage.
Banks , Sir , Joseph , 1743-1820 , 1st Baronet , naturalist and patron of science6 letters from the Billingsleys to the [6th] Earl of Westmorland, mainly concerning coinage and the debts of Case Billingsley.
Billingsley , Case , fl 1730-1732 , father of John Billingsley(1) Letter from James Bridgnell to H W I Wood, 28 Apr 1857. Relating to the introduction of a gold currency into India. (2) Reply from H W I Wood to James Bridgnell, 4 Jun 1857. Both letters with signatures.
Bridgnell , James , fl 1857-1864 , writer on India and economicsLetter from Sir Francis Burdett to an unknown recipient, [c 29 Apr 1824]. Returning a copy of Charles Jenkinson (Lord Liverpool's) Treatise on the coins of the realm (1805), with comments on the work.
Autograph, with signature.
Burdett , Sir , Francis , 1770-1844 , 5th Baronet , politicianA manuscript volume containing a transcript by George Chalmers of a discourse, [1558], by John Yonge recommending the establishment of a bank of money for the relief of the poor. The proposal is for this bank to be formed by the payment of a death duty by all members of society, consisting of the best garment of the deceased. The manuscript also contains a proposal for the reformation of the coinage and a dedicatory epistle to Queen Elizabeth I.
Chalmers , George , 1742-1825 , antiquary and public servantMinute book, 1856-70, of the Council of the Decimal Association, also contains the Minutes for the meetings of the International Association over the same period.
Decimal Association , Council'A memoriall concerning the free-trade now tolerated between France and Holland', addressed to Sidney Godolphin.
Davenant , Charles , 1656-1714 , political economistManuscript volume containing papers relating to William Wood and the minting of halfpence and farthings for Ireland comprising transcripts of a report of the Committee of the Privy Council of 24 Jul 1724 and the ensuing Order in Council of 6 Aug 1724, both relating to Wood's Irish coinage, with a copy of 'Mr Wood's Proposals'.
Unknown3 letters from Thomas Joplin of Levant House, St Helens Place, [London] to Joseph Hume, Esq, MP, Apr 1832.
(i) Presenting him with a copy of Analysis and History of the Currency Question, 6 Apr 1832.
(ii) Asking for an appointment to discuss certain propositions he intends to make to the 'committee which will be chosen on Bank affairs', Apr 1832.
(iii) Enclosing a copy of Joplin's petition, Apr 1832.
Autographs, with signatures.
Joplin , Thomas , c 1790-1847 , banker and authorLetter from Thomas Babington Macaulay of Holly Lodge, Kensington to Augustus De Morgan, 7 Nov 1857. Thanking him for a copy of his pamphlet [Answers to the questions communicated by Lord Overstone to the Decimal Coinage Commissioners; (London, 1857)]. 'I will frankly own to you that you seem to me greatly to overrate the advantages and greatly to underrate the inconveniences of the change which you recommend.
Autograph, with signature.
Macaulay , Thomas Babington , 1800-1859 , Baron Macaulay , historianThree items concerning currency, once in the possession of Professor Herbert Somerton Foxwell, as follows.
- Papers on Japanese currency, namely two tables of, and remarks on, the values of Japanese metal and paper currency, endorsed by Professor Foxwell 'Soyeda on Japanese Currency October 1884', covering the years 1868-1884; a table ('The Annexed Table'), giving values in yen of imports and exports, 1872-1881; letter from Juichi Soyeda, 139 Queen's Road, Bayswater, W.London, written on 5 December 1884, to Foxwell at Saint John's College, Cambridge. The letter is signed 'Yours truly, obedient student. G.Soyeda'. The envelope bears the note in Foxwell's hand 'Japanese Paper Currency. G. Soyeda'. (20 leaves. 7¾" x 5" and 7¾" x 6¼").
- Copy of a 'Mémoire sur la préférence que l'on doit donner à la Monnoye d'argent sur la Monnoye d'or', Paris, Aug. 1720, and 'Réponse au Mémoire, etc.', undated. This is a typescript copy (carbon) made by Professor Charles Franklin Dunbar in October 1890. Includes numerous notes in Foxwell's hand, including the following: 'This manuscript was part of a volume of tracts etc. relating to Law & the Mississipi Scheme, unfortunately bought by [Dr] Bonar, & sent to Harvard during a week of vacation when I was away from Cambridge. I tried in vain to buy or exchange it back, but Profr. Dunbar kindly got this copy made of one item in the volume'. (17 sheets. 7¾" x 9").
- Two letters, both written by F.B.Forbes, 57 Rue Pierre Charron, Paris, on 13 April 1893 to Foxwell at Saint John's College, Cambridge. The letters and envelope are in an envelope bearing in Foxwell's hand 'F.B.Forbes. April 1893. Effect of sales of Council Bills on Price of Silver'. (8 sheets, 10¼" x 7¾" and (the second letter) 2 leaves, 6½" x 4¼").
Letter from John Russell to [William] Wyon, Esq, Her Majesty's Mint, 2 Dec 1847. 'Sir, I quite approve of the sketch for the 'florin' - Sir Charles Wood may as well see it before it is finally decided. Yr. Obed. Servt. J. Russell'.
Autograph, with signature. With the original envelope and seal.
Russell , John , 1792-1878 , 1st Earl Russell , statesmanLetter from Henry Tolcher of Plymouth to 'Most honble. Lord' [Peter King, Chief Justice of Common Pleas], 2 Sep 1720. Suggesting that 'unless a speedy method is taken to prevent the melting of the silver coin of this kingdom it is very likely that its scarcity so much of late complain'd of will be follow'd by a totall consumption of the same ... not less than fifty pounds sterling is to be gott by melting a thousand pounds of English silver coin which is easyly effectected [sic] and with security by almost any person in the space of an hour or two'.
Autograph, with signature.
Tolcher , Henry , 1688-1779 , goldsmith and mayor of PlymouthLetter from Sir Charles Wood, Chancellor of the Exchequer, of Hickleton, [near Doncaster] to an unspecified recipient, 19 Oct 1849. 'Dear Sir, It is unlucky that the D.G. [i.e. Dei Gratia (by the grace of God)] was left out [from the inscription on the new florin (2 shilling) coin] - people attach more importance to such matters now a days. Yours truly C. Wood'.
Autograph, with signature.
Wood , Charles , 1800-1885 , 1st Viscount Halifax , politician