Cannot find JH's official letter regarding appointment of bookkeeper at Mint. Please write another, proposing appointment of John Goldsmith to that office.

Write official letter to CT proposing wages for E. W. Ward's sappers and miners temporarily assisting at Mint. Letters for £150,000 of silver coins were sent.

Thanks for catching CT's error. Returns letter, with £200,000 substituted for £150,000.

Retirement of H. D. Harness. Recommends W. H. Barton, comptroller since 1830, to become either new deputy-master or combination of comptroller and deputy-master. Repeats request to hire special clerk to assist Master. [JH annotation: No reply from Treasury.]

Encloses draft of [JH's 1853-8] to commissioners of Treasury. Asks CT's permission to inform W. H. Barton of plan to merge offices of comptroller and deputy-master. Emphasizes need for special clerk to assist Master. New policy for signing Mint checks.

Discusses salary for W. H. Barton in new combined office of deputy master and comptroller. Chancellor of Exchequer [W. E. Gladstone] may decide differently. Agrees that Master needs private secretary, but select one from among clerks already employed at Mint. Procedure for countersigning Mint checks.

R. L. Sheil led W. H. Barton to expect promotion to deputy-master, and Barton is not yet aware of Treasury plan to combine this office with duties of comptroller. Proposes giving Barton both salaries for performing both duties. Salaries for junior clerks.

[Marked 'Confidential.'] Considering heavy workload from Jan. 1852 to June 1853, JH suggests bonuses for junior clerks and Mint officers. Surprised to learn that Charles Elouis felt passed over for deputy-master position at Sydney branch mint.

Forwarded to Chancellor of Exchequer [W. E. Gladstone] JH's letter regarding retirement of H. D. Harness. Does not approve of departure, in JH's plan, from practice of fixed pay for public officers. Surprised by grieved tone of Henry Finch, who turned down earlier generous offer to remain in reorganized Mint.

Error in CT's letter to Chancellor of Exchequer concerning record keeping in Mint. Repeats request to hire special clerk to assist Master.

Submits E. W. Ward's report on feasibility of establishing branch mint in Sydney. Encourages Treasury to proceed with Ward's plan.

Surprised by JH's voluminous report on assays, which CT showed to Chancellor of Exchequer [W. E. Gladstone]. Will send copy of Gladstone's decision on several Mint matters. P.S.: Gladstone read last letter that JH wrote to CT.

Recommends Mr. Aberdein as clerk and private secretary to Master of Mint. Suggests that Mr. Hill be promoted from temporary clerk to replace Aberdein in melting house.

Treasury intended that junior clerks in Mint should be available for training in all departments, to prepare them for higher positions. Suggestion for appointing supernumerary clerk. Formal conference will be held Saturday.

Meet CT and [James] Wilson at end of week. Hopes Lord Aberdeen [G. Hamilton-Gordon] will appoint Mr. Hill Jr. to vacant clerkship at Mint.

[John] Goldsmith, temporarily assigned from Board of Works in Ireland to bookkeeper in coining department, is working out very well. Suggests offering Goldsmith permanent position and using him to train other accountants.

Sends draft of Treasury minutes for JH's inspection. E. W. Ward may immediately accept bid by Messrs. Taylor & Allen.

Read enclosed draft of Treasury minutes to see if it correctly states JH's recommendations regarding signing of Mint checks. Please return CT's draft of minutes on Sydney branch mint. Encloses amusing letter from [W. N.] Forbes.

Encloses copy of act prohibiting defacing of coins. Advises JH to make use of Treasury solicitor in all legal matters affecting Mint.

Reply to enclosed 'Reference,' then return it to 'Memorialists' by 20 Sept. Papers must be sent to [C. Rivers] Wilson at Boulogne.