318 Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 
descendants, with the result that he then made the following memo- 
randum which he has now placed at my disposal :— 
“J learn from the Coates family that Abraham found, in one 
of the Wicklow mines, a nugget of gold which he sent to George IIT. 
The King, much interested, got the ore made into a snuffbox, 
and signified to Lord Brabazon, as M. P. for Wicklow, that it 
would gratify him to hear of Mr. Coates being appointed to some 
lucrative post in the county. Soon afterwards Mr. Coates received 
the office of Coast Surveyor. It was his business to keep a sharp 
eye on all ships touching the Wicklow coast. Coates was a J.P., 
and there is a street in Wicklow called after his name.” 
My attention being thus called to Abraham Coates, I at once 
remembered that he was one of those who accompanied the troops 
to take possession of the mines, as is mentioned in the following 
rather sarcastic remarks from the Gentleman’s Magazine dated 
Dublin, October 20:—‘ The mines at little Peru (otherwise 
Croghan Mountain) were taken possession of on behalf of his 
Majesty. Major Brown of the Royal Hngineers, attended by 
Mr. Coates, Port Surveyor of Wicklow, marched two companies of 
the Kildare Militia from the Barracks of Arklow towards the place 
where the gold is got; but, with great judgment and propriety, 
on consulting with that active and spirited magistrate, Thomas 
King, Esq., it was judged proper to send a constable before them 
to read a proclamation, and advise the crowd to disperse and leave 
the ground. In an hour afterwards, the Major, accompanied by 
Mr. King, Mr. Hayes, Sub-Sheriff (who readily attended), and 
Mr. Coates, marched the army (about sixty-eight men rank and 
file) to the place, when the crowd immediately, without riot or 
resistance, dispersed. 
“When men who conduct themselves with such coolness, judg- 
ment, and spirit, as these gentlemen did, support the Laws, there 
is no danger of opposition. It is much to the credit of the pea- 
santry of the county of Wicklow that not the slightest opposition 
had been given to the execution of the Law; that county is not 
eursed with disloyal defenders.’”! 
Whatever promotion Abraham Coates may have received, as 
stated by his family, at the instance of the King and on account 
1 Gentleman’s Magazine, October, 1795, vol. 65, Pt. ii., p. 870. 
