Advises substantial changes in organization and operation of Royal Mint.
Advises substantial changes in organization and operation of Royal Mint.
Received letter of 10th. Understands that there is no need to forward any more copper.
Encloses copy of note from [W. D.] Haggard regarding production of quicksilver in California. Use of gold bullion coins will be influenced by issue of equilibrium of gold and silver as 'concurrent measures of value.' [JH note on verso on copper alloy ratios.]
Received formal notice that MH will be voted to membership in Royal Institution on 3 Mar. John Barlow will reserve seats for daughters Caroline and Isabella. JH has tickets to Institution lectures. Son William's exams with W. T. Hooper [at Haileybury College] yesterday. Family finances.
No other 'letter of agents' here. MH is right about son William's camera. JH longs for Collingwood.
Distressing train trip back to London. JH protested at Tunbridge Wells and had third class passengers removed from second class carriage. MH's medicine works well for JH. Will go to Charley Street this evening.
JH and daughters attended German minister C. C. J. Bunsen's dinner, met distinguished guests. Describes delicate Etruscan vases at Bunsen's. Has MH received money from [Thomas] Ayern for timber? James [C. Stewart] was in London yesterday. Mr. M [Murchison?] says that 'G. is in very bad hands,' but JH's daughters report that she was well yesterday. Encloses note from G. B. Airy, who was not impressed by [?]'s test results. Bills for [son William's] tuition at Haileybury.
Home remedies for JH's insomnia. Mr. Gibsone returned from Berlin and visited JH last night, causing JH to miss seeing comet again. It is not J. R. Hind's missing comet.
Describes 'First Dinner' at Billingsgate. Adjourned to [Richard] Jones's rooms on Suffolk Street for tea and herrings. Charles Trevelyan is out of town.
Tell Miss [Rufeneals?] that JH will take care of money owned by Miss Brandon. JH and son William will come to Collingwood for weekend. Will write to Colonial Office on behalf of [William?] Mann. Thomas Maclear will rejoice to have daughter return to Cape.
Describes son William's entrance exam to Haileybury College yesterday and procedure of announcing results. Assured by [H.E.I.C. director] W. H. C. Plowden that William's assignment can be changed from Madras to Bombay. W. H. Fitton delivered 'Umbrella and [Panel?]' last night. Daily News criticized JH for inaction. Promoting decimal coinage. Mint is in crisis.
Will forward [?]'s petition to W. H. Barton when Barton returns next week.
Government wants to know if public has accepted half crown and florin, introduced as part of transition to decimal coinage.
[Unidentified Mint employee] was not properly informed that his duties included instructing persons not employed at Mint.
[Last page only; continues article VIII and begin article IX.] Mint rules for accounting for precious metals. W. T. Brande is responsible for enforcing these in Coining department.
[Last page only] Estimates time to create dies for [?] medal. Reports progress in production of medal.
Two severe accidents recently at Mint. Charitable Fund covers only permanent employees. Asks permission to establish account with nearby hospital to cover temporary workers also.
Asks Treasury commissioners for permission to increase pay of workmen in melting rooms. Describes living and working expenses incurred by regular and by temporary employees.
Regrets trouble created by Benedetto Pistrucci's obnoxious refusal to accept new title as Mint's chief medallist. Asks [CT] to seek assistance from Chancellor of Exchequer [Charles Wood].
Asks advice on how to purify gold of residual silver.