136 Mr. Hatchett’s Experiments on the various Alloys, 
“ paid by the moneyers at the scale ; and, in upwards of 40000 
“assays from the specimens of coin taken at the pix, (of 
“ twenty-eight millions sent into circulation,) only one hath 
“deviated in fineness 3 grains in the pound; and, from the 
“ public trial of them by the Goldsmith's Company, there hath 
“ not been recorded more than 4 grains error in weight, and no 
“ deviation in fineness. 
“ The Master of the Mint, therefore, might have varied in 
“ fineness 3 6 Troy grains in a pound, or 13s. 7 \d. per cent. 
“ without being liable to censure, if it did not appear he had 
“ done it by design. This is sufficient to show the impropriety 
“ of allowing a latitude of 40 Troy grains in a pound, for error 
“ in fineness, or in weight together, or in either ; and which 
“ has so operated as to make our guineas of less value than we 
“ declare them, and to be estimated, as we are informed, at the 
“ Dutch Mints, 10 grains worse, and at Paris 15 grains Troy 
“ worse ; nor do they make any difference, either in Holland or 
“ in France, between our present King’s guineas and those of 
“ former reigns. 
“ How far this deficiency affects the par of exchange in 
“ money, and the Course of Exchange in bills, we submit to 
“ consideration, as a matter of great importance.” 
Since the preceding pages were written, in which I have 
stated the numerous causes which tend to produce variations in 
the specific gravity of gold made standard by silver and copper, 
I have been induced to examine several of the English gold 
coins, and particularly those of the present reign. 
The results of this examination, contained in the annexed 
Table, fully confirm my former sentiments, especially in respect 
to the impropriety of estimating the value of the coin of a 
