Elementary arithmetic, with brief notices of its history... by Robert Potts.

MONEY.

43

appointed to investigate the truth of these charges. From their
report it appeared that no papers nor evidence from individuals,
which might be necessary to support the charges and objections
against the patentee, could be obtained from Ireland. The patent,
nevertheless, was cancelled, and for the loss which Mr. Wood had
sustained, an annual pension of ~3,000 was awarded, to be continued
for eight years.
A Commission was appointed, consisting of Sir Isaac Newton and
others, to make trials and assays of Mr. Wood's copper coinage, and
they reported that, though all the coins were not exactly sized, yet
when taken together they exceeded the weight required by the patent.
The copper was of the same goodness and value as that which was
coined for England, and that Mr. Wood's coinage of halfpennies and
farthings exceeded in weight and fineness those which had been coined
for Ireland in the reigns of Charles II., James II., and William
and Mary.
George II., 1727-1760. No alterations were made in the form
or value of the coinages during this reign, nor in the style of the coins.
In 1729, the first coinage was ordered to be made of 46 halfpence or
92 farthings out of one pound of copper Avoirdupois.
In 1732, the old hammered gold coins were called in, and the
officers of the Mint were authorized for one year to receive them at
the rate of 81s. for one ounce Troy, and to recoin them into other
current money.
About 1736, great inconveniences were experienced in Ireland by
the want of good copper money, and on the humble request of
the Lords Justices and Council, an order for the coinage of halfpence
and farthings was issued.L At the Mtint in the Tower of London fifty
tons of copper were coined, of which five-sixths were made into halfpence, and one-sixth into farthings. The pound Avoirdupois of copper
1 The omission of DEI GRATIA on these coins was noted in the Gentlemzan's
Magazine, for June, 1737:No Christian kings that I can find,
However match'd or odd,
Excepting ours, have ever coined
Without the Grace of God.
By this acknowledgment they shew
The mighty King of kings,
As Him from whom their riches flow,
From whom their grandeur springs~
Come then, Urania, aid my pen,
The latent cause assign,All other Kings are mortal men,
But GEORGE, 'tis plain, 's divine.
In the number for the next month appeared the following reply:-" To the
author of the epigram on the new Irish halfpence":
While you behold th' imperfect coin,
Received without the Grace of God,
All honest men with you must join,
And even Britons think it odd.
The Grace of God was well left out,
And I applaud the politician;
For when an evil's done, no doubt,
'Tis not by God's grace, but permission.