Newspaper Page Text
tHE MUSEUM.
Prom the London Courier, of May 4.
GOLD AND SILVER COINAGE.
We have be-'n favored with the follow
ing very cmious and authentic details of
the forms observed ’in ascertaining the pu
rity of nur Gold and Silver Coin. We are
persuaded, they will be perused with great
interest by a large portion of our readers,
t<> whom the particulars of this ancient
practice cannot be familiar.
TRIAI. OF THE PIX.
Or Saturday last, the Right Honorable
the Lord Chancellor, attended by four other
of his iVLijesf j’s Privy Council, vi*. Lord
Maryborough, Master of the Mint, Lord
Stowell, Lord Harroby, and the Chancetor
of the Exchequer, assembled iri the Duchy
of Lanca,ter Court, at Westminster, to
swear in a Jury of Goldsmiths, tor the pur
pose of their examining into the quality of
the gold and Stiver coin made between May
1818, ujid June 1821, during which period
the largest amount of gold money was coin
ed that is upon record in this country,the
sum being no less tiiaM 0,473,259 lb, which,
added to the silver coined within the same
sh irt peiiotl, makes a total of upwards of
thirteen million pounds sterting-
The J try were selected from the Wor
shipful Company of Goldsmiths, and was
comprised of the following gentlemen :
ftoberl Makepeace, E q. .Samuel Hain
es, Esq. Foreman, John Robison, Esq,
Willioni Newconibe, Esq. Samuel Thomas,
Esq- John Darker, Esq. Richard Brook,
E>q. Thomas Hayter, Esq. Wm Bateman,
Esq. John Bo.gden, Esq. Philip Gilbert,
Esq. Edmond flundell, Esq. John G. Bridge,
Esq,
T'ae Lord Chancellor arrived at 9 o’clock,
and proceeded, in a most impressive man
ner, to charge the Jury. We lament our
inability to do justice to the able and elo
quent address of his Lordship, which was
iu aubstance as follows :
Gentlemen,-—You are assembled on
beh iifof the King an and his people, to in
qut.* into the doe pei’oruiance id an in
dent” e entoied into between his Majesty
the King, and the Right Honor.>ble Lord
Mai voorough, Ma-ter of fh>- Mint.
“ Tnis inq ii y will embrace an examin
ation of t*‘e fineness and purity of all the
gul.l atid 4lver monies coined between the
13tn of June, 1813, and the 31-1 of ;ccem
her, 1821, during which period the no
iiieu-e ,(0(1 unprecedented -uni of 0,473,-
249 Lb Is. 84. gold coin has been delivered
into rite office of receipt of the said Mi it,
and it *ilver coin 2.719.926. hetwr- n the
21 at rd’ ‘\l y, 1818. add the 31 ,f oi Decem
ber, 1821. _
•; This mode of inquity. Gentlemen, has
es •••*<] s.i Ir.ng, o*l,l i.s ofsur ’* ancient insti
tution, . to render it pet-hn'jVs impossible to
state with Hiiy precision, vPiietl i\ comintii
ced fbut f uuif thing; we are cei tarn, that
wiiiie ~ijir (out State*, have adopted differ
ent (nodes of satisfying *he public concern
ing t‘>e purity of tneir respective coin-, the
British public have never been satisfied
with any tiling short of the application ol
the invaluable principle oi’ trial by jury.
“-in the peVfot snaace of thiuduty, it is
very evident, that a large portion of your
ti ne will be ‘outlined,and that much skill,
added ’o much circumspection, will be
necfsshty;.
<■ The oojcni of your inquiry, and the
con- quern o * of yaor verdict, it. is almost
on i. ctssarv i'o= toe to adveit to; f><rby the
iniT.MitU’ e entered into by the Master of
the Hint with the Grown, i’ will appear
tii vt ‘. >e King ordains what the standard of
the c o,i of these rejims shall be, ami your
verdici will deter.nine vviietnerthat iuden
taie has been duly performed.
“ The indenture proceds to state, that
upon a reasonable warning, the pis or box
si.all be opened, ami such monies as had
b ej delivered as gnod, shall be subjected
to the nru >al nf fire, touch, water, oi weight.
Should you fi and them good, you will say so,
upon which the Crown \v,!l grant to the
Master of the Mint its letters oatent ofease.
SUoul v your enquiries lead you to contrary
Conclusion* you will reuort accordingly, tor
before the Crown tvil* grant the release of
the Master o( rite Mint, y.,ur consciences
must be satisfied, that the cas * of the pre- j
sailt day is equal io purity to British cash j
in the best f iHt’oh limes.
“ It will not, l trust, be considered as
travelling out of my w.iy, to allude to an
important proceeding which the legislature
drained it recesaary to acl ipt. I mean j
the cessation of cash payments for a sea-!
8!>o, Subsequent events have, however,|
convinced everyone that Government only j
interfered, or sacrificed, the btessiugs of
our happy constitution, for a time, in order)
to oteservp it forever.
“• \<> I you t moot foil, Genllemeo, upon
op<ai'ci; the pi t or box, to receive the most
e.rtnjions upm witnessing the
superscription of ,i gracious monarch upon
the corns submitted to your trial, and not
that of a tyrant, reigning over subjects lit
tle baiter titan slaves.
•• V<v will now commence your impor-i
taut proceedings, and will, no doubt, dis
charge your duty to both the King and his
people.”
The Jury then proceeded to the rooms
purposely prepared far their reception in !
the Exchequer, and it may nut be nninter-J
esting to our readers to be informed of the {
piocess used in this most important inqui-’
ry, the more so, as this is the largest coin-l
age performed, in this or any other country,
witbm the same period of time. 1
The practice of his Majesty’s Mint, and
which has existed from time immemorial,
is to divide its operations into divisions of
15 pounds weight of gold which is called a
” Journey.”
One sovereign is then taken from each
journey us fifteen pounds weight so coined,
and is carefully wrapped in paper, gealed
by three of the principal officers of the
Mint, and deposited in the pix, which has
also three locks, the paper being endorsed
with the date of its delivery.
There have been instances, within the
period us this enquiry, where upwards of
two hundred jou mies have been delivered
in one day, and consequently upwards of
two hundred sovereigns put in one packet
into the pix or box, they being synonimous
terms. From what has been stated the
number of sovereigns put into the pix, are
consequently the same as the number of
journies, or fifteen pounds weight coined,
and in tire present inquiry, the number of
sovereigns in the pix was fourteen thou
sand eight hundied and fifty-two, the same
. being representative of the like number of
journies of fifteen pounds weight of gold
coined into sovereigns.
The Jury being assembled, the Princi
pal Officers of his Majesty’s Mint opened
the box, and with dread solemnity, deliver
ed it into the custody of the Jury, who in.
. stantly took an account of, and opened ev
ery parcel contained therein, taking one
sovereign from each paper.
Those so taken were then, in the pre
sence of the Jury melted into two ingots,
from whence small pieces were cut for the
purpose of assaying or undergoing, a chy
mical decomposition, in order to ascertain
the proportion of pure gold, as well as of
alloy, iri any given quantity.
At the same time was ptoduced, by the
proper officer of his Majesty's Exchequer,
a “ trial piece of gold.” which was there
deposited in October, 1688, as of the true
standard of twenty-two parts gold and
two parts alloy This piece bears the
guinea impression of King James the se-j
tend, on one of its coiners; it was of com!
siderable weight when first deposited, but j
is mnv much induced in size, fmm tile
numher of assay pieces taken from it lly
‘lie pix juries which have been successive*
Iv held within the last hundred and thirty
four years.
From this trial piece, as from the ingits
nf melted sovereigns, two small assay pie
ces ar** cot and being of equal weight with
the pieces cut from the sovereigns, they
“e separately subjected to the power of
! fi e and of acids for the purpose of destroy
ing every particle of alloy, and producing
< purely fine gold.
The fine or pure gold being produced, it
is obvious, that in the most delicate bal
ance, tire weight of the fine gold produced
fr >m the sovereigns, should exactly agree
with the weight of the fine gold produced
from the Exchequer trial pieces.
The practical knowledge of the leading
Officers of his Majecty’s Mint, combi ti
ed with their preeminent scientific at,
tainmenfs, are known and confessed by ev
ery Mint in Europe. Yet with conscious
iategiity, added to those qualities, it may
be reasonably supposed, that the moment
in'which the assay piece taken from the
coin is opposed in the opposite balance, to
lira t taken from the trial piece, is to them
a moment, if not of anxiety, at least of ea
ger expectation.
la the present inquiry, the nicest bal
ance, or scale, could discover no difference,
and the points iujtlip centre of the beam
came iu contact as the points of tw o line
needles, thereby enabling the Jury to re
turn a verdict, that Hie coin was ..s good as
the King had ordained, and the Right
Honourable the Master of Mint underta
ken, that it should be.
These facts and observations apply,with
slight and unimportant variations, to the
‘diver as to the gold coin.
These operations employed the Jurt
from nine in the morning till five in ihe
evening, when they returned from the Ex
chequer to Goldsmiths Hall, the Lord
Chancellor having very kindly condescend
ed to receive their viuliot at the latter
place ; after which his Lordship, the Chan
cellor of the Mint, Lord Harrowby, and!
L id Stowell, honoured the Wardens of j
the Company and Jury with their compa-l
nv 1 dinner, to which were also invited;
j th‘ Principal Officers of his Majesty’s
J Mint, the number who sat down being's
bout thirty-five.
After (he health of his Majesty had been
given, the Duke of York and Royal Family,
with appropriate and grateful feelings to
; tie Navy and A. my, the Lord Chancellor
.give the healihs to the Jury, at the same
j *'<e thanking them for the ability, and in
dustry tli y had dispalyed in the discharge
lof the high and important dutv intrusted
i to them.
Prisoners Escaped —The Goal in this
county was brokon in the night of Sunday
last and three prisoners escaped, viz, Tho.
Haswell, Elijah R. Rogers, and Jack liar
iris, (a mulatto.) This escape was effected
by means of an auger and crow-bar, which
had been handed to the prisoners through
the window. This is a third time, within
a few years, that this goal has been broken,
‘which clearly shews that until it undergoes
(some improvements, no reliance can be
placed on its security. Persons were im
i mediately dispatched in every direction in
search of the prisoners, but they have not
! yct been apprehended.
Raleigh, (*Y. C.) Register, 21 st inst.
Shot, Hay, &c.
C. C* Griswold § Cos.
Taylor's Building.
OFFER for sale
Patent and Mould Shot—assorted sizes
Richmond manufactured Tobacco—prime
lluse Nails, Hay
One elegant Gig And plated Harness
jone J 5 49
Lemons £$ Mackerel.
40 boxes fresh Lemons
20 bbls No 1 Mackerel
30 lilf do do
just landed and for sale by
NEWMAN & BLAIR
Moore’s Wharf.
june J 4 e. 4-0
*—■ —■ ■ - ■ ■ —■ ■ ■ —’ t r ■ ■ ——-
Bacon , Corn, fyc.
30,000 pounds assorted liacon
600 bushels Lorn
100,000 American Segarft
Now lauding from siocp Resolution and for
sale by PALMES & ROE.
june 14 d4O
Beal Bye high proof Whiskey.
,4 FEW barrels this superior article just re
-2X ccived from the Pensylvania Mountains, by
TUFTS & REEL).
june 29 <145
Hair Matrasses.
AFRF.SH supply of the above ankles which
are warranted to be very superior and are
particularly recommended as very beneficial to
health. For sale by .1. W. MORRELL,
In WVitaker-rtjeet, opposite Col. Snelruans
Mansion House,
june 20 45
Piano Fortes.
‘TIME subscriber has remaining on hand afe.v
I Piano Fortes, manufactured by Gibson &
Davis—the reputation of which need nr. com
ments ; and if not sold in a few days will Se re
turned to the manufacturers.
J. W.MORREf.L,
AVhitsker-street, opposite Col. Shelmans
‘Mansion House.
june 2(J 4.5
For Sale,
Cm WO prime Negro MEN, valuable field
hands, will be sold low, if immediate
application is made
J. B. HERBERT & CO.
june 20 45
JV. O. and St. Croix Sugar.
10 hllds prime N O Sugars
15 bdsdo St Croii do
15 bis do do
For sale by
BAKER U MINTON.
june 17 542
Mackerel Herring.
100 i arrtls No 3 )I; ckerel
2X) boxes Digby Herring
Landing from sloop Income, ami for sale by
A MORGAN
june 14 sd!o
Dearlorn'B Patent Balances,
OF all sites, constantly for sale bv
T C HAYWARD,
nov;j 5 9
j molasses.
100 prime retailing molasses. For
salo by
LAWRENCE h THOMPSON,
june II Mt
6in nnd Lamp Oil.
‘.OO bh Ma tin’s India Point Gin
IX ci iks ii 10 bis Lamp Oil
5 p -t’s Kolland Gin
’or sale !>v
’ RAKER Sc MINTON.
,/tme 17 sx42
Hlls nn New-York,
tjIOR salepy
C. C. GRISWOLD Sc CO.
june 20 , 45
Happiness,
ji\ TJI.R for the grave and the gay, by the
TJi hither of No Fiction,” 2 vols. Just
received, fomale by
TIIOS. I.ONGWORTH,
Johnson’s Square,
may 13 13
JYew Boohs.
apHEivt aitvrof Antioch a dramatic poem by
iJL hp Rev H. H. Milman, price 50 cts.
URACEraDGE HALL.
Pijrjcal observations on Midwifery by John
Ramaiotbp.m. Received and for sale by
THOS. LONG WORTH.
‘Johnston Square.
ju<tl4 40
DRY GOODS.
VTJTFT received by the Augusta, a fresh sup
's# jly of the following articles.
Pijasols and Umbrellas, assorted
Irih Linens and Sheetings
Domestic Plaids and Shirtings
Pliid Silks and Brilliantenes
Inlia Satins and Levantines
t dpe Rubes and Shawls
5-4 Bombazeen and Nankin Crape
Jaqpnet, Cambiic and mull Muslin
Br&vn Linens and Irish Diaper
Drivings and Dowlas, &c.
Ifcr sale by i
\VM. INGLES & CO.
juifi 15 41 h
Holland Gin.
pipes Holland Gin, landing from brie
Abeona, and for sale by
E. WILLIAMS & CO.
Hum, Brandy, fyc.
£JE<jBIVKD per Augusta, Cotton Plant and
11 lihdslth proof N O Rum
5 pipes Cognac Brandy
A qu ntity of Mahogany Plank, Boards ai<t!
Venierj. At private sale, by
may J. B. HERBERT & Cos.
U 14
Sugar, Coffee, &c.
SEVF.RAL lots of New-Orleans Sugar
otje of which is very superior
14 bbls St. Domingo Coffee
A few boxes fresh white Wine simi
iar to Champaigne For sale by
J. & C. BOLTON.
june 22 ri47
SAMUEL BTODDKK,
Taylor’s IT'harf, offers for sale,
3 hhda tiigb proof, warranted Jam. Uunt
9 do 2d and 3d pro’of SC Croix Hum
20 boxes Spenn Candles
32 do bunch Muscatel Raisins
50 do No. 1, Chocolate
22 half boxes do
15 bbls Cherry anri Rose Cordials
30 kegs spiced Salmon, and
18 firkins fresh Goshen Bu“er, for family
use
june 22 147
Mackerel.
©©© bbl Li , S°i;’' N “ :!
JAMES CONROY,
Anderson’s Wharf.
june 22 47
For Sale.
l!(?VfYr> bushi Is white hint CORN, on
LiW’JlvNjJ l board the brig Abeona—apply
to the Captain at Anclersons wharf, or to
E. WILLIAMS & CO.
june 20 46
Drafts on Charleston and
NEW-YOtiJK., at short sight. For sale by
A. L. MOLYNAUX.
june 21
Sir Andrew Wylie, of that Ilk,
By the Jluthnr of ‘-Aui als of the Parish” 2
vols, Just received and for sale by
THOM AS LONG WORT H.
Johnston’s Square.
june 18 43
Notice.
AUGUSTUS CORNWALL will leave the
State on the 2Qih iost. for a few months
previous to which all persons having demands
wiii present them, and all indebted are re
quested to make immediate settlement,
pine 18 23
Day and Corn.
50 bundles Huy landing-from sloop Income
is STOKE
3000 bushels prime white Maryland Corn, (dr
sale by.
HALL & IIOYT.
june li 40
P. McDermott ,
JirjAS recevcd by tue ship Augus'a from New
• York 12 half bbls. of beef. Put up ex
presly for family use.
june—i4l
Earthenware
rT\ hhds china ware selected particularly
<J/ this market, j:. jt received per ship Fniilv
and fur sale by
JOHN LATHROP h
june 6 33
Corn Afloat.
3000 bushels corn, cargo of schr, Hamilton
and Hiram. For sale bv
june 14 JOHN LATHROP Os CO.
Bills on JV ew- York and Phila
delphia,
13TOII sale by
JOHNSTON Sc HILLS,
june 19 h 44
Corn Afoot.
bushels Baltimore CORN for sale
in lots to suit purchasers A*i
tu PALMES & KOE.‘
TX STOBE.
15 hhds prime retailing Tobacco
junel9 sh 45
Cheese, Molasses, &“c.
ENGLISH pine apple Cheese
10 hhds and 20 tierces Molasses
3000 pounds Hams
1500 do Newbolds do
200 kegs Tjtrd
5 pipes CogDac Brandy, (Seignette)
30 boxes white Havana Sugar
100 bbls prime Muscovado do
15 qr casks P, TenerifTe Wine
.10 hhds Jamaica Rum
50 boxes Muscatel Raisins
Summer Candles, Soap, Crackers
Butter Biscuit, prime Beef, mess do
Mess Pork, and a complete assortment of
Groceries, by
GAUDRY & BUFAUIIE.
june 19 c 44
For Sale.
The subscribers offer for sale, received by the
Thomas Fowler, and other arrivals—
-150 bundles prime /Jay
50 boxes t od Fisli
50 bbls. Mackerel No. 2,
25 bbls Beef
20 Pork
100 boxes Soap and Candles, from John
Winsley’s Factory, Boston
And a few ton Stone Ballast
REVISION & CANDLER,
u
250 bis Whiskey
200 kegs Lard
r 30,000 pounds Bacon
Now landing and for sale by
LAWRENCE & THOMPSON.
june 12 c 39
Prime Rice—at retail.
At §2 75, or 2d quality at §2 50—may be
had of S. B. PARKMAN,
llunterx’ wharf.
june 26 cSO
Pork ,
50 ban els prime Pork, city insp.
29 do Mess do do
Landidg from ship Garonne anc, for sale by
C. C. GRISWOLD & CO.
Taylor’s Build! up
june 26 50 t
Fas~ ag&for New-York.
f.Of The sloop OV£THU, Stone, :,*
having good accommodations, w.i!
in ail this week. For passage only, applyii)
the master on board at Moore’s wharf, or to
PALMES A ROE,
, ‘ ‘ . Luchanye Buck-,
june 26 50
For New-York, New-Jlaren,
__ and Hartford.
The fast sailing a loop NF.VV.YOKK
E. PACKET, Lawrence, master, will sa ;i
on Friday next. Ftfr‘pus££2 only, iiaur.gej!
tenrive accommodations, apply to the mastcroa
board at Exchange wharf or to
ISAAC COIIF.X
june 26 cSO
_ For JSew-Yotk,
The well known, coppered,
.SgggJ, Packet Ship GARONNE,
Ju/iu .Holt wastei —will be dispatch*.d forthwith
—having the greater part of her caryo ready to
go on board. For height or passage, fiavin’
i very spacious accominodalious, apply cu
board at Anciaux’s wharf, or to
JOHN LATHROP St CO.
june 25 49
(&'The ship Three Sisters
James Bell master, for Greenock, can still tak
100 bales Cotton on freight it ta , t, application
is made to the master onboard, or to v
J. 11. REID L CO.
june 19 44
For Boston.
Tlle brig AUfcONA, T. Foster, will
Stui on the Ist of July next. For fiein**
or passage, apply to the Captain on bo M A' t
Andetsutis wl.ari, or to 1
E. WILLIAMS h 00
June 21 46 }
For Liverpool,
ii£<&t ■ Ship PALLAS,
Cupi. Land —has onu lialf of her cargo reaj
and now taking on board. She will be <ii£
patched without deisy— for freight, apply t a J
Wood, or
. JAMES DICKSON U CO
June 15 41
For Alexandria,
wfrif/yY Ora Port in the Cocupeake. The
fast sailing sc hr HAMILTUV aad
HIRAM, Capti Turpin, for freight or parsed
r.avuug excellent accommodations, apply oa
board at Ancieaux’s; wharf or to
JOHN LATHROP & Cos.
June 14 40
w - -
Passage for JV*. York. -
* ‘ ; c fast sailing regular Packet
JSSftfo Ship GENERAL CARRINGTON,
i'/iomai 11 ood mailer— will sail on TUESDAY
NEXI. Fur pu‘ ‘-age, having Superior accnm
moilations, app:y tocapt. \v .bn board, at Jones’
upper wharf, or to
HALL & HOYT.
june 22 47i
Boots and Shoes.
JOHN ii WICK, has just received
1 trunk gentlemens’ fine mcroceoTtorts
Ido do wax Calf da
1 do cheap copper nail Ro
1 do wooiien pegs do
1 do fine morocco walking pumps
1 do fine Seal Skin do
1 <ll gentlemens’ calf skin shoes
1 do do Seal
1 do Ladies black damask Sattin figured
Ido do colored do do
The above goods have been made to order
and can be confidently recommended to he
equal to any in this city,
june 18 m 43
Landing from brig Almira,
431 bags Sugars, nf a superior quality
1 7 hhds. Muscovado do
43 cases fresh London Mustard
3 pipes tvtard Dupey R Cos. Brandy
For sale by
LAWRENCE £sf THOMPSON,
may 29 27- nj
Coffee by Sugar
303 Bags prime green Coffee
59 hhds do N. O. Sugar
50 do do M us. do
For sale by
E. WILLIAMS & Cos.
june 17 42
PRIME PORK,
37 Barrels Prime Pork, New York city in
spection landing from Brig Native,
ALSO,
A few cask Linseed Oil for sale by
ISAAC COHEN.
Jntie 17 c
Watt & Smets
HAVE removed to Pooler’s Dock, recently
occupied by Messrs. Brown & Overstreet,
where they continue the Lumber, Factorage
and Commission Business,
june 20 h 46
Shot and Bar Lead.
4S casks Shot, assorted Irom mould to No.
9.
10 casks Bar Lead, landing from ship Geor
gia, for sale bv
LAWRENCE 13 THOMPSON.
mgy 21 o
jvoticeT
jTjpHE subscribers will close their business on.
v V the first Jul} r ftr the sutnc er months
persons wishing to furnish themselves with a.
supply of
S OAF AND GAMBLES,
Will do well to call previous to that time.
It is requested that all demands against the
concern may be presented for payment.—
Those indebted will please call and settle the
same. ) „
l. Baldwin & co.
FOR SALE ASi ABOVE,
50 bbls. N. E. Rum (Boston)
bbls. No. 1 Mackerel !
Savannah and Northern! Candle*
No. 1,2, and 3 Soap f
Fancy du I
jur,e 20 45 / J