128 A. D. 1723. 



place from committing fucli open breaches of law and order for the fu- 

 ture. So that from this time forward there has none dared to fet on 

 foot any pretended privileged place or fancfluary anywhere in Great- 

 Britain or Ireland for flicltering debtors from the due courfe of law. 



In this year Mr. 'S\'illiam Wood (whom we have elfewhcre mention- 

 ed as a great proprietor in iron and copper works) having obtained a 

 patent for coining copper halfpence and farthings for the uie of the 

 kingdom of Ireland, to the amount of Li 00,000 fterling, both houfes 

 of the parliament of that kingdom, in their add rcfles to the king, warm- 

 ly reprefented, that, under colour of the faid patent, great quantities of 

 halfpence of different imprellions, and of much lefs weight than is re- 

 quired by the patent, had been imported and attempted to be uttered in 

 that kingdom : and that even though the terms of the patent had been 

 ftridly complied with, there would have been a lofs to the nation of at 

 leaft 1 50 per cent by the faid coinage, and much greater, in the manner 

 the halfpence have been coined. 



Mr. Wood alleged, in his own vindication, that by the patent of King 

 Charles II in 1680, and by that of King James II in 1684, a halfpenny 

 was to weigh 1 10 grains, whereas his halfpenny weighed 116} grains, 

 and was better copper than the faid halfpence ; but he is filent as to 

 the parliament's objection, of the quantity of copper in his halfpenny 

 being lefs than required by the patent. In fine, a keen oppofition 

 was raifed in Ireland, both within doors and without, and by pamphlets, 

 newfpapers, &c. againfl that new copper coin, partly becaufe the patent 

 was given to one who was not a native of Ireland, and becauie the coin 

 was altogether ftamped in England ; and partly alio, that fmce a great 

 profit was thereby to be made, that benefit fliould have accrued princi- 

 pally to the piiblic ; (which reafon, we confefs, feems to carry great 

 weight with it) and (we may add likewife) that great pains had been 

 taken by party-men in Ireland, to inflame the people there againft 

 receiving the new copper money. The king, therefor, in compliance 

 with the reprefentations of the parliament of Ireland, and the general 

 difpofitions and inclinations of the people of that kingdom, altered the 

 patent, that inflead of Li 00,000 in copper coin, Mr. Wood might be 

 permitted to fend to Ireland only L40,ooo in all, to be current only to 

 liich as pleafed voluntarily to accept of them ; though to Mr. Wood's 

 confiderable detriment. Yet if the reprefentations of Mr. Wood be true, 

 that the whole current cafli of Ireland does not exceed L400,ooo, and 

 that the cufi:oms, excife, hearth-money, and quit-rents, amount to 

 L500,ooo per annum, fo as that one fourth part more than all the cur- 

 rent cafli of that kingdom is annually paid into their exchequer, then, 

 furely , this addition of Li 00,000 would have been a benefit to trade. And 

 if Mr. Wood's coin was not to be received, they lliould ferioufly have fet: 

 about fubfiituting a competent quantity of other copper coin initsftead. 



