Declines to serve on experimental committee for R.S.L.

Agrees to help in other ways than as committee member [see JH's 1855-2-25].

Circular regarding coinage of florins, approved by W. E. Gladstone, plus enquiry sent to English bankers and JH's abstract of replies from bankers, are all stored at Mint. [James] Wilson may obtain copies there. Will forward GR's letter of 14 May 1855 to Mint and ask that these papers be located.

Encloses papers sent to JH from Treasury. R. F. Suft has responses from principal bankers in England; send copies of these at once to [James] Wilson.

Bank of England will begin importing gold again next week. Asks permission to be relieved of attending the pyx, in order to assay gold ingots. W. H. Barton will still have assistance of E. L. J. Ridsdale. Notes £600 savings made by HF in Assay department.

Concern for careless work of E. L. J. Ridsdale, who is still on probation as assayer. Explains precedent for letting HF's assistant attend pyx trial.

TG volunteers to succeed JH as master of Mint if JH resigns. Willing to replace JH in summers when TG's college duties are suspended. [JH annotation to wife Margaret: '...there are greater fools in the world' than JH.]

Has no power to determine JH's successor to mastership of Mint. Make application to Lord Palmerston [H. J. Temple].

Directs JH to call on Lord Palmerston [H. J. Temple] tomorrow.

JN's duties at Mint ended with successful completion of copper coinage at Birmingham. Asks JH for testimonial to help JN find other government employment.

Upset by Cambridge Bill now before Parliament. It contains changes contrary to report from [Cambridge University] Commission. W. H. Bateson will write to John Romilly, and GP writes to JH, both seeking letters to Lord Chancellor explaining this problem.

Will send copies tomorrow to JH and to Bishop of Chester [John Graham] of letter that GP, W. H. Bateson, and Adam Sedgwick wrote to Lord Palmerston [H. J. Temple], after consulting with John Romilly. Please sign and return it quickly, so it can be presented to [House of] Lords before Tuesday. Encloses copy of bill.

JH's views coincide with GP's views about constitution of [Cambridge] University. Adam Sedgwick, GP, and John Romilly will compose joint letter to Lord Palmerston [H. J. Temple], pointing out that present parliamentary bill [to make new statutes for Cambridge] is totally opposed to recommendations [of Cambridge University Commission] and to liberal constitution granted to Oxford University.

Told John Romilly that JH cannot attend meeting to review amendments to Cambridge [University] bill. Large protest meeting by university residents yesterday. Believes Lord Chancellor [R. M. Rolfe] will abandon bill. GP's view of how amended bill should distribute authority at university.

Appeals to Lord Chancellor [R. M. Rolfe] are producing great changes in [parliamentary bill for new statutes at Cambridge University]. But Heads of Houses are angry. William Whewell's responses are 'arbitrary and despotic.' Extreme agitation at Cambridge.

JH is appointed to a committee that will consider repeating the Balloon Experiments of 1852. William Whewell will head the committee.

Sends audit form with covering letter for JH's signature.

Expects difficulty with wages listed for Patrick Shanahan and one other worker at Mint. Find documents that authorized JH to pay additional overtime wages during coinage pressure of last two years.

Sends Mint accounts of Apr. 1855 for JH's signature.

[Marked 'Private.'] Encloses letter from Henry Roberts, assistant secretary to War Department. Will convey JH's reply to Roberts.