Treatise on the creation of silver coinage

Manuscript volume containing a treatise by Sir James William Morrison, First Clerk and Deputy Master of the Royal Mint, entitled 'Memoirs and observations on the melting and casting of silver for the coinage at his Majesty's Mint', 1807. The manuscript discusses previous techniques in melting, especially experiments made by his father James Morrison, Deputy Master of the Mint from 1787-1799, based on his papers, and his own experiments made with the help of Robert Mushet, Third Clerk to the Master of the Mint, and Robert Bingley, the Assay Master (1798-1836). There are some pencil notes in the margin.

Sir James William Morrison (1774-1850) was Third Clerk to the Master of the Royal Mint, 1792, and also worked as an assistant in the melting house. On 31 Dec 1801, he replaced his father, James Morrison, as First Clerk, Purveyor and Deputy Master of the Mint, a post which he held until 1850.

Single item.

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Part of the Goldsmith's Library of Economic Literature, initially collected by Herbert Somerton Foxwell and presented by the Goldsmith's Company to the University of London in 1903.

Collection level description.

Manuscript quarto. Bound in quarter-morocco.

Compiled by Sarah Smith as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.

The British Library, London, holds papers of Sir James William Morrison, 1798-1845, including correspondence with Lord Arden and William Ewart Gladstone (Ref: Add MSS. 18,902 ff.94, 109; 35,757 f.171; 38,423 ff.124, 162; 40,469 f.201; 40,543 f.113; 47,141 ff.20-24, 32-35b, 42; 44,362 f.53; 44,527 ff.36 b-201 b passim).

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

This manuscript was part of the collection of Sir Joseph Banks, 1st Baronet (1743-1820), and was bought by Herbert Somerton Foxwell at the Banks sale at Sotheby's, 14 Apr 1886.

University of London manuscripts relating to the Royal Mint and coinage include MSS 14, 21, 51, 62, 72, 100, 102, 108, 152, 154 and 499.