To the
I am instructed by His Excellency the Most
Noble the Governor General in Council to transmit to you the accompanying
extracts (in original) from the Political Department bearing dates the 24th
and 31st October last and to request that you will report to
Government your sentiments on the subject of them.
Extract from the proceedings of His
Excellency the Most Noble the Governor General, in the Political Department,
under date
Extract from a dispatch from the Acting
Agent in Bundelcund and Saugor, dated
In laying before you an abstract statement
of the receipts and disbursements at the Saugor mint, I beg to refer you to the
enclosed correspondence I had with Mr Wanchope regarding the wages of the
servants belonging to that establishment and request to be favoured with your
instructions on that subject.
To J Wanchope (Agent to the Governor General
in Bundelcund and Saugor) from Maddock (Assistant to the Agent to…),
I have the honor to forward an account of
the mint expenses for the month of June and an abstract of receipts and
disbursements in the former months, subsequent to the commencement of the
British administration at Saugor.
From the system followed at this office of
paying the Darogah and the principal workmen a percentage on the general
receipts instead of a fixed salary, you observe how disproportionate the reward
is to the labour and how much more highly the whole establishment is now paid
then it was under the former Government when the coinage at this mint did not
average more then 10,000 or 15,000 rupees per mensum. I shall recommend that
all the officers and workmen belonging to this establishment be put upon a fixed
and permanent salary proportionate to the nature of their respective
employments.
To Maddock from Wanchope,
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
of your letter of the 8th instant with the detailed account of the
mint at Saugor for June and abstract accounts for the preceding months, and
proposing that the officers and workmen of the establishment should be paid a
fixed and permanent salary.
If the establishment be fixed and no
additional workmen be employed on occasion of extraordinary increase of specie
to be coined, the pay of the officers and workmen must certainly be liable to
considerable fluctuation, but perhaps the Darogah has hitherto be allowed the
privilege of augmenting the number of workmen in proportion to the additional
labour on occasions of the coinage being more extensive.
Before suggesting any change, therefore, in
the present system, to Government, I request you will ascertain whether or not
it be usual occasionally to augment the establishment when the labour of
coinage happens to be increased.
To Wanchope from Maddock
In reply to your letter of the 13th
instant regarding the establishment at the mint, I have the honor to inform you
that the number and description of workmen entertained there is not fluctuating
but permanent and that no alteration has taken place since the commencement of
the British rule, although the coinage has increased fourfold to what was
ordinary for many years past under the former Government. The salaries of the
officers have of course experienced a proportionate augmentation.
I take the opportunity of noticing a
complaint which has been more than once preferred to me by the Darogah. He says
that the coinage, greatly increased as it is, would be half again as expensive,
but that a mint [that] is working at Gurrah Kotah has imitated the dye of the
Saugor rupee and that half as much specie as is monthly coined at Saugor is
issued with the same impression at Gurrah Kotah, but being somewhat inferior to
the Saugor standard serves to depreciate in character the Saugor currency and
from its close resemblance to the rupee of the mint, is productive of much
confusion in all mercantile transactions. He requests that the abuse may be
rectified.
In my former communication I omitted to
notice that 1 Jemadar and 7 Sebaudars at a monthly salary of 25 rupees per
mensum are kept up for the protection of the mint. If it is the intention of
Government that the mint should continue its operations, I beg leave to suggest
the propriety of having this guard discontinued and one of regular Sepoys
substituted in its room.
To Government from Ochterlony (Resident of
Rajputana)
I have the honor to transmit a copy of a
report received from Mr Wilder on the subject of a mint being established at
Ajmere.
It would appear from Mr Wilder’s report that
many advantages would accrue from this measure in the district of Ajmere, but I
apprehend still greater benefits would arise if the Most Noble the Governor
General should deem it proper to recommend to all the petty states assuming the
right of coinage to issue rupees of an equal or even superior value to our
Sonaut or Kuldar rupee, as a great part of the specie remitted to Rajpootana
for the payment of the troops is said not to return into our bazaar or treasury
as it is bought up by the bankers of the country to send to different mints for
the purpose of being recoined into rupees of very inferior value, but current
in the country, whilst our rupee is depreciated, that is to say it will not
purchase grain or other produce of the district at its intrinsic value in
proportion to the coin in currency. I feel myself however, treading on ground
of which I am perfectly ignorant as I am quite at a loss how to account for the
offer of the banker, and from whence his profits are to be derived.
To Ochterlony from Wilder (in Ajmere),
In consequence of the very great difference
between the coin of Ajmere and that issued by Government in all of its payments
the exchange being at no less than Rupees 11:10:- per cent, such a serious loss
will be incurred by taking the revenue in the currency of this place that I am
induced to solicit your early and particular notice of this very important
subject.
When first the army came into this part of
the country, the exchange between the Serie Shahe or current rupee of Ajmere
and the Farruckabad rupee was only rupees 10 per cent, but it has now risen to
rupees 11:10:- per cent, being nearly 4 annas more than the difference of the
intrinsic value of the two coins and will necessarily go on increasing with the
growing demand for the latter specie.
A circumstance so materially affecting the
interests of Government has naturally attracted much of my attention and the
result of all my enquiries and information confirm me in the opinion that a
suppression of the existing currency and the substitution of the Farruckabad
coin will not only be attended with great advantage to Government but that it
is practicable without in the least distressing or being an inconvenience to
the community.
The experiment may be said to have been
already tried, for about four years ago Tuntia Sindia, with a view of
increasing his revenue, abolished the rupee then in currency and substituted
the Serie Shahee which made at once an increase upon the old coin of more then
rupees 5 per cent, but from all I can learn I do not find that the measure was
felt as a grievance by the people, or that its operations were otherwise in any
way prejudicial.
Unless however a mint be maintained at
Ajmere for the coinage of the Farruckabad rupee, the establishment of that
currency here does not appear to be feasible, for, from the isolated situation
of this territory and its distance from our other provinces, it is not supposed
that a sufficient influx of that coin can take place to answer the demands for
many years. At present the scarcity of Farruckabad rupees is very great and if
we were to cause a suppression of the existing currency without affording a supply
of our own, the exchange would so increase that the Zamindars would be ruined.
I an aware that in order to guard against any defect in the proposed coinage of
Farruckabad rupees at this mint, the greatest possible precautions will be
necessary, and that it will be requisite in consequence to entertain a very
expensive establishment, but I think there is little or no doubt that the
revenues arising from the duties will, from the first, be sufficient to defray
the charges, and afford afterwards, I hope, a considerable clear profit.
He then goes on to state that he expects the
revenue of the area to rise to over 6 lacs and this would mean that something
over 10 lacs of rupees would be required, giving a profit of 18-20 thousand
rupees from the mint.
There seems to be an implication that the
current rupees come from Futigurh – so presumably no mint in Ajmere at that
time.
From JH Maddock (Assistant to the Agent to
the Governor General at Saugor) to the
My absence from Saugor ‘till lately
prevented my replying earlier to your letter of the 20th December
last respecting the mint of Saugor and other mints in this vicinity. I now
proceed to furnish you with the best information I have been able to procure on
the subject.
1st Answer. The mint at Saugor is
the only one in the country under my immediate management. There are several
mints which coin and issue money in the territories of the different chieftains
under the control of the Agent of the Governor General in Bundelcund.
2nd Answer. The coin struck at
Saugor is called the Saugor Balashaie rupee. It is understood to contain 80
ruttees of silver and 10 ruttees of alloy.
3rd Answer. The Saugor mint was
established in the Sumbat year 1839
4th and 5th answers.
The coinage for eleven years from 1863 Sumbut inclusive was as follows
|
1863 |
378,888 |
|
1864 |
400,738 |
|
1865 |
94,379 |
|
1866 |
274,384 |
|
1867 |
148,787 |
|
1868 |
98,716 |
|
1869 |
314,405 |
|
1870 |
167,023 |
|
1871 |
49,502 |
|
1872 |
27,662 |
|
1873 |
39,600 |
In the first 8 months of 1874 Sumbut or from
July 1817 to
|
From 10th to |
62,501 |
|
April 1818 |
93,751 |
|
May |
61,618 |
|
June |
82,566 |
|
July |
92,896 |
|
August |
71,142 |
|
September |
51,575 |
|
October |
43,778 |
|
November |
82,285 |
|
December |
73,745 |
|
January 1819 |
22,078 |
|
February |
21,292 |
|
March |
29,261 |
|
April |
17,199 |
|
May |
21,350 |
From the above statement it appears that in
the three years preceding 1874 Sumbut the coinage at Saugor had dwindled almost
to nothing but in the first eight months of that year during the Mahratta
administration increased considerably and still more from the date of the
commencement of the British Government to the end of the year 1818. From the 1st
January to
6th Answer. One Darogah, one
assayer, two weighers, one engraver, two melters, two stampers, and twenty five
smiths.
7th Answer. The present monthly
expense of the mint is 266 rupees. The charges to shroffs upon coining amount
to 1.3 per cent. In the last 9 months of 1818 the expenses would have been, had
the present rate of salaries been then fixed, about 6 annas per cent on the
amount coined, but the officers attached to the establishment were then paid
according to the work done. In the five first months of 1819 the proportion of
expense to the coinage is about 1:2:10 per cent exceeding by 2 annas 7 pie per
cent the actual receipt from the shroffs.
8th Answer. The rupees coined at
|
|
Culdar Rupees |
Saugor Ballashahie Rupees |
|
March |
100 |
106:12:0 |
|
April |
100 |
106:12 |
|
May |
100 |
106:14 |
|
June |
100 |
107 |
|
July |
100 |
106:14 |
|
August |
100 |
108:4 |
|
September |
100 |
108:10 |
|
October |
100 |
108:12 |
|
November |
100 |
110:4 |
|
December |
100 |
109:10 |
In the present year the batta continued
stationary at about 10 per cent till very lately. It has now fallen to 8.12 per
cent in consequence most probably of the arrival of some lacs of treasure from
Banda for the use of the army. The sicca rupee is rarely found in circulation
here.
9th Answer. The coins of
10th Answer. The Saugor
Balashaie, the Nagpoor, Serenuggur, Jalound, Seronge, Rathgurh, Bhilsah and
Gurrah Kotah rupee.
11th Answer. Of about 800,000
rupees coined since the commencement of the British administration, it is
calculated that 350,000 rupees have been coined from dollars brought from
Calcutta via Benares and melted down here, 50,000 rupees from crude bullion
brought from the same direction, 200,000 from Serenuggur rupees melted down,
100,000 from Nagpur rupees and 100,000 from various other rupees in circulation
in the district.
12th Answer. But small quantities
of crude bullion are brought to the mint. What arrives in this district is in
European bars, which are conveyed hither from
13th Answer. The mints at the
following places may be considered as in our vicinity: Rathgurh, Bhilsah,
Bhopal, Seronge, Jhansi, Tirhee, Serenuggur, Punnah, Chutterpore, Eisagurh, and
Gurrah Kotah, and the rupees of the under mentioned places mix sufficiently
into the general circulation to entitle them to equal consideration in their
effect on the currency. Nagpore, Chandah, Sohagepore, Sudhourah, Jalound and
Oojain.
The weight and fineness of these coins is
stated to me as follows:
|
|
Weight |
Alloy |
|
|
|
Masha |
Ruttee |
Ruttee |
|
Punnah Rupees |
11 |
1 ½ |
12 |
|
Chuttapore Rupees |
11 |
1 ¼ |
10 ½ |
|
Seronge Rupee |
11 |
¼ |
13 ½ |
|
|
11 |
2 |
13 1/3 |
|
Chundah Rupee |
10 |
1 ¼ |
13 ½ |
|
Serenuggur Rupee |
11 |
1 ¼ |
9 ½ |
|
Nagpore Rupee |
11 |
- |
10 ½ |
|
Gurrah Kotah rupee |
11 |
1 ½ |
11 ½ |
|
Rathgurh Rupee |
11 |
¼ |
10 |
|
Tehree Rupee |
11 |
¼ |
12 1/3 |
|
|
11 |
1 ½ |
10 ½ |
I have the honor to send specimens of these
rupees and of those coined at Sohagpore, Sudhourah, Jalound, Oojain and
Eisagurh.
It will be observed from their standard
weight and fineness that all these rupees are inferior to that coined at Saugor
of which the weight id 11 masha two ruttees and the alloy 10 ruttees. I have
directed some specimens of old and new Saugor rupees to be sent with the others
for your inspection.
At Punnah the coinage is extremely
insignificant. Little more than a lac has issued from that mint in the last 10
years. At Chuttapore there has been a coinage of about three lacs in the last
year. The quantity coined at Seronge is not known. 33 lacs have issued from the
15th Answer. On the subject which
this query embraces I will separately address the secretary to Government in
the Political Department. It is my opinion that it will not be practicable to
suppress entirely the various currencies I have mentioned in this letter, but
that the extent of their circulation will be circumscribed and that many of the
mints in a few years will be reduced to so low a state as to be obliged to
discontinue their operations is, I conceive, highly probable. This will of
course be effected by the introduction of a new coinage which the sending up
money to pay the troops has already in some measure accomplished. And it is
practicable, I conceive, to introduce one of our currencies into the
territories which now belong to the Company, so completely as almost to
supersede all other currencies. As there would still for some time remain many
petty mints in all directions, that rupee or those coined in the Company’s
territory which holds out the least temptation to be melted down should be the one
selected for introduction, and either the Benares or Farruckabad rupees would
be preferable to the sicca rupee, as the inhabitants of our own and the
neighbouring provinces here, are already familiar with both those coins but not
with the sicca.
16th Answer. If it is considered
an object of importance to introduce one of our currencies into the centre of
The newly acquired countries, though
distinct, are not very distant from our
17th Answer. I do not feel myself
competent to decide what place in the new districts would be best calculated
for the site of a mint. Either Saugor,
Letter to Government from J H Maddock
(Assistant to the Agent of the Governor General), 12th June 1819.
My correspondence with the members of the
Mint Committee on the subject of the mint at Saugor and of those belonging to
native chieftains in this vicinity will, I presume, be laid before His Lordship
in Council. One of the queries put to me by the Committee concerns the
practicability, in my opinion, of suppressing the various native currencies
which now circulate in this quarter in the event of its being judged proper to
introduce one of the currencies of the Government into the newly acquired
territory. On this subject I have thought it proper to address you as the
question affects the interests of some of the chieftains under the control of
this office.
The introduction of one of the British
currencies into this part of India holds out so many obvious advantages, that I
would strongly recommend measures being taken to affect that object, and I have
stated my opinion to the Committee, that the establishment of a mint in some
part of the newly acquired territory, is the only likely method of
accomplishing this object completely.
There are little less than twenty native
currencies that mix in some degree in the circulation in this part of the
country. Several of these belong to states beyond the direct control of the
British Government. The following is a statement of the mints that issue money
in the territories of the chieftains of Bundelcund and, concerning which in
particular, I have now the honor to address you.
The mint at Serinaggur in Nana Govind Row’s
territory is the one in which by far the greatest coinage takes place. About
eighteen lacs are issued in the course of the year, and it is the current rupee
throughout the greatest part of Bundelcund. This mint has been established
about thirty years. There is a considerable revenue produced from it and it is
not likely that the Nana would very willingly consent to discontinue its
operations. This is however the only establishment of the kind that can
seriously obstruct a new coinage from becoming universally current from Jumna
to the Nerbudda and the Serinuggur rupee so generally pervades Bundelcund, and
has for so many years been the standard medium of exchange for labour and the
necessaries of life that in a competition with a new coin, if no forcible
measures are taken, it is likely for some time to maintain an ascendancy in the
currencies of Bundelcund. The Nana has another mint at Jalound, the issues from
which are about six lacs of rupees annually, but this rupee is much more local
in its circulation and Jalound is situated so far to the west that it could not
be expected to interfere much to prevent a new rupee from gaining general
currency. If it is competent for the Government to dictate to its jageerdars
respecting the coining of money, it would not perhaps be any great hardship to
the Nana were he desired to discontinue coining at Serinuggur, and allowed to
keep up his mint at Jalound. Such a measure might be considered the less
objectionable, as Jalound is the Nana’s capital and Serinuggur is a distant
pergunnah, surrounded almost entirely by that portion of Bundelcund in the
Company’s immediate possession.
There are mints at Jhansee, Sumpter and
Terhee, the coinage of which is much inferior in amount to that at Jalound. The
Jhansee mint has been in existance the last 40 years but the other two
commenced working since the cession of Bundelcund to the British Government.
Koar Purtaub Sing has had a mint at
Chutterpoor for some few years. He was directed by the late agent to
discontinue it. He urged, in excuse, that the different mints around had, as
well as his own had, been working without the consent of the British Government,
and that the Chutterpoor mint was older than any in Bundelcund, and having been
established in the reign of Chuttersaul. This is the fact, but it had been
afterwards discontinued, and was recommenced only a few years ago by Purtaub
Sing.
The Rajah of Cherkewy also a short time ago
commenced to coin money and was directed by Mr Wanchope to desist. There is an
old mint too at Punnah but its issues are very trifling. There are no other
native mints in Bundelcund.
None of these mints except those at Punnah,
Jhansee and Serinuggur possess even the claim of antiquity to authorize their
continuance. The two latter places are held in Jagur from the Peishwah, whose
supremacy has devolved to the British Government, and the Punnah mint is so
insignificant that it might be discontinued without any injury to the interests
of Raja Kishore Sing.
The Governor General in Council would
probably be apprehensive that an exertion of authority on this head, however
undisputed the right of Government to exercise it, might be apt to create
disgust in the chieftains against who it was directed. It certainly, I
conceive, would be a measure disagreeable to some of them and particularly Nana
Gobind Row, if the Government were to interpose their authority in restriction
of coining. Several of the chiefs, in whose territories there are mints, would,
I am convinced, readily discontinue their own, but that might not be the case
with the Nana, and his coinage is more extensive than that of all the rest put
together.
The consequence of stopping the increase of
the existing currencies in Bundelcund and issuing from above the Ghauts the
same coin which is current in the Doab, would
certainly very much facilitate the introduction of a single currency from the
To the westward of this district, the coins
of
I beg leave to add a few observations
concerning the state of the Saugor mint as at present constituted.
From an enclosure of Mr Newnham’s letter of
11th May to my address, which I had the honor to transmit to you on
the 1st June, it appeared that the Saugor rupees of a late date were
of greater weight but contained less silver than those of an older coinage. The
Darogah of the mint had frequently complained to me that the Saugor rupee was
imitated by that coined at Gurrah Kotah and that this was done so much from
system that if any slight alteration was made in the device of the Saugor rupee
it was certain to be copied in a few days at the Gurrah Kotah mint. The rupee
which was coined there, he stated, was inferior in value to the Saugor one, and
therefore as it was almost impossible to distinguish between them, the credit
of the Saugor mint, and the value of its coinage, were injuriously affected by
this imitation.
On my questioning him regarding the
inferiority of the rupees coined by him in the present year, to those of older
date, he urged in excuse that he could not be answerable for all rupees that
were circulated as Saugor ones, for that the Gurrah Kotah rupees passed
universally for Saugor rupees, and that it was often difficult even to persons
skilled in the examination of money to distinguish them. He ended by desiring
that some additional inscription might be made in the dye in characters that
would not be understood by the Gurrah Kotah people, and that unless something
of this kind were done, he could not be responsible for the Saugor coinage.
As I remained in doubt whether this excise
was well grounded or whether the coinage was really deteriorated, I immediately
procured 50 rupees coined that morning from the mint, and sent them to Mr
Newnham to request he would procure them to be assayed. He forwarded them to
the Accountant General conceiving that the point would be best ascertained in
I thought it impossible to allow the
operations of the mint to go on, while the Darogah disavowed his own
responsibility and that it was necessary either to shut up the mint or comply
with his request respecting an additional inscription. I was told that it would
be likely to alarm and distress the shroffs if the mint was closed. I therefore
gave up that idea and directed to be inserted on the rupee in very small
characters on one side the word “Saugor” in English and the year of our Lord on
the reverse. I at the same time requested Captain Stewart to procure directions
to be sent to Gurrah Kotah to prevent any further attempts at imitation.
Although there are several objections to be made to an innovation in the
appearance of the coin, they were perhaps less then what might have been urged
against shutting up the mint, and what I have done on the occasion will, I
trust, be approved by His Lordship. I am of opinion however that a mint such as
Saugor, the superintendence of which is in the hands of a native officer, can
be expected to show a proper degree of regularity under this Government.
Formerly the whole business of coining was introduced between the shroffs and
the Darogah, and the Government scarcely interfered in their transactions. The
Darogah and all his establishment were paid a percentage on the coinage and
could not be called the servants of Government. Now they receive regular
salaries, and though their responsibility is not diminished, they feel much
less interest in their own operations than formerly.
Were it not that the Gurrah Kotah rupees
would continue to pass for Saugor ones, and that a deteriorated coin would thus
be forced into circulation, I should consider it advantageous to stop the
present coining at Saugor, whether a mint on an amended principle may be
established here or not. Indeed if the examination of the rupees that have been
sent down to Calcutta proves them to be inferior to the former standard of the
mint, I shall be obliged to have recourse to that measure and probably to
dismiss from office the greater part of the persons employed in the
establishment.
Letter to Government from
Very long letter ending with:
The considerations which we have now the
honor to submit, combined with those already urged in our letter of
1st the abolition of the Benaras
rupee
2nd The limitation of the
currency of the Upper Provinces to a rupee of the value of the present
Farruckabad rupee
3rd The carrying into effect the
alteration of the standard of that rupee as already sanctioned.
4th The discontinuance of the
mint at Farruckabad
5th The coinage of the new
Farruckabad rupee at the Benaras mint and consequent improvement and extension
of that establishment. Should these arrangements meet with the approbation of
Government, we conceive it would be found advantageous to give them as early
effect as possible, as the difference of standard at present existing and the
distant situation to which bullion is necessarily sent to be coined into
Farruckabad rupees, entail much inconvenience and expense on the remittance of
treasure to the Upper Provinces on public account. Their enforcement is not
indispensably connected with the following propositions, which do not perhaps
admit of so early a decision.
6th The substitution of the new
Farruckabad rupee for the currencies of the newly acquired territory
7th and the temporary
establishment of a mint in
To the
With regard to your letter dated 26th
July, I am directed by the Governor General in Council to transmit to you the
accompanying copy of a resolution this day passed by Government on the subject,
and to request that you will at your earliest convenience take the necessary
measures for giving effect to the orders contained in the 11th
paragraph.
It is understood that the dies recently sent
by the Mint Master at Calcutta to the Benaras mint (being the same that Mr
Saunders had himself used) have a distinct private mark from that borne by the
dies in use at the Farruckabad mint.
You will be pleased to instruct Mr Saunders
to be careful to preserve the same distinction in all dies, which he may
hereafter furnish to the Mint Masters at Benaras or Farruckabad respectively,
distinguishing also by different marks those which he may himself eventually
hereafter use, or which he may have occasion to send to the mint at Saugor or
elsewhere.
Enclosure to 33
In conformity with the suggestion of the
Mint Committee the Governor General in Council resolves
1. That the coinage of the Benaras rupee be
discontinued.
2. That the Farruckabad rupee be declared
the legal currency of the
3. That the standard of the Farruckabad
rupee be assimilated to that of the present
4. That the Government will receive
Farruckabad rupees at par with the present Benaras rupees in payment of the
land revenue and in liquidation of all other public demands and will pay them
at the same valuation within the
5. That the above rule shall not apply to
bills payable in Benaras rupees and drawn previously to the 1st
January next, nor to sums due to individuals under specific engagements in
Benaras rupees contracted previously to the above date.
6. That after the 1st January
next, all money engagements of which the amount is to be paid within the
7. That with regards to engagements entered
into previously to the above date, the Farruckabad rupee shall be held a legal
tender at the rate of 102 ¼ Farruckabad rupees for 100 Banaras rupees.
8. That the mint at Benaras be constituted
on an efficient footing in regard to establishment and machinery, particularly
that a regular Assay Master be attached to it and that the manufacture be
conducted in the manner followed in the
9. That the Mint Master at Benaras be called
upon to furnish a full report in the manner in which he now conducts the
various operations of coinage and to state especially what alterations in
regard to the building and machinery will be required for the purpose above
indicated, and with the further object of rendering the powers of the Benaras
mint adequate in their ordinary operation to the entire coinage of the Western
Provinces, and capable of meeting the occasional emergencies of the public
service.
10. That the Farruckabad mint be continued
only during such time as may be found requisite for effecting the arrangements
necessary to the full efficiency of the Benaras mint. The Farruckabad rupee of
the new standard to be in the mean time coined at both mints with such separate
private marks (not discoverable by the naked eye) as may serve to distinguish
the coinage of the several mints.
11. That the Mint Committee be desired to
prepare at their convenience a draft of the legislative rules necessary to give
effect to the above resolutions with proper table for determining the outturn
in Farruckabad rupees of the new standard of bullion brought to the mints of
Benaras and Farruckabad for coinage.
12. The suggestion of the Committee for
rendering the new Farruckabad rupee the currency of the newly acquired
territory and for establishing temporarily at least, mints at Saugor and Ajmere
appear likewise to be judicious.
13. The coinage at Saugor is apparently
likely to be considerable, and the mint there ought therefore to be placed on
an efficient footing.
14. The immediate superintendence of the
mint could probably be undertaken by the Assistant to the Resident if aided by
an intelligent foreman. It seems, however, indispensably necessary that a
distinct officer properly qualified should be appointed to the charge of the
assay department and an entire set of machinery must be previously prepared.
15. Some delay must consequently occur in
completing the arrangement. In the meantime the Governor General’s agent will
be directed to report specifically the nature of the establishment which he may
judge it advisable to entertain with reference to the above remarks and to the
objects proposed by the Committee in constituting a committee at Saugor. He
will likewise report the extent of coinage for which it may appear to him
necessary to provide machinery. The question how far any and what direct measures
shall be adopted for preventing or limiting the operations of native mints with
a view to the general reform of the currency in the new acquisitions will be
further considered in the political department.
16. With regard to Ajmere, the operations of
the mint there are likely to be less important, and any resolution in regard to
it may be postponed until the information, which the Committee have called for,
have been received. The consideration of the subject will then be renewed.
From Government to
Covering letter sending resolution:
The Governor General in Council resolved
that for the purposes suggested by the Mint Committee a mint shall be
established at Saugor with machinery capable of effecting a coinage of between
20 and 25,000 rupees per diem, and with a proportionate establishment.
The general superintendence of the mint may
probably without inconvenience be vested in one of the assistants to the
Commissioner, subject to the control of that officer and with the aid of a duly
qualified person as foreman.
It appears at all events essential that the
management of the assay department should not be vested in the same person, but
that a distinct officer possessing the requisite qualifications should be
appointed Assay Master.
With reference to the understood
acquirements of Captain Presgrave of the 26th Native Infantry, His
Lordship in Council proposes to employ him in that situation and resolves that,
as Assay Master at Saugor, he shall receive an allowance of sicca rupees 600
per mensum in addition to his military pay.
In the first instance however, the Governor
General in Council conceives that Captain Presgrave may be advantageously
employed in superintending the preparation at the
While employed in the above manner, Captain
Presgrave will be permitted to draw the same allowances as is above assigned
for the office of Assay Master.
The commissioner at Saugor will be desired
to transmit a particular report on the extent and nature of the buildings now
appropriated for the accommodation of the mint at that place, with such plans
as may be necessary to enable the superintendence of buildings in communication
with Captain Presgrave to determine how far it may be necessary to contract an
entirely new range of mint buildings for the reception of the new machinery.
Letter from Government to Saunders,
I am directed by the Committee for
superintending the affairs of the mint at this Presidency, to furnish for your
information and guidance, the subjoined extracts from the proceedings of
Government in the financial department bearing date the 25th ultimo.
I am also directed by the Mint Committee to
request that in conformity with the resolutions of Government, you will direct
preparations to be immediately made for the construction of the machinery in
question.
As the Saugor mint is not likely to be
affected by any unusual press of business in consequence of an occasional and
sudden influx of bullion, but will proceed at a regular rate, it will not be
necessary that the powers of the machinery should exceed 25,000 pieces per day.
The committee further request you to state
the probable time it will take to complete the machinery in question, which is
to be of the same description as that now in use at the
Letter from Saunders to the Mint Committee
dated
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
of your secretary’s letter of the 8th instant, transmitting for my
information and guidance a copy of the proceedings of Government in the
Financial Department under the date 25th ultimo, relative to the
establishment of a mint at Saugor with machinery etc, equal to effect a coinage
of from 20 to 25,000 rupees per day.
Before conveying your instructions into
execution for immediately commencing on the machinery in question, I think it
right to furnish you with a list of such as will be required for the use of the
said mint, together with an estimate of the probable expense attending its
preparation. I much fear that the whole could not be completed in a shorter
period than from
The services of all the superior mechanics
in the mint are nearly fully occupied in superintending the repairs of our own
machinery, the wear and tear of which is beyond all former precedent. We are
likewise much pressed for space for carrying on the current work in consequence
of the extensive refinage of bullion now conducting within the mint.
From the above consideration I would express
the expediency of directing Captain Presgrave to furnish an estimate of the
expense at which he could have the same machinery prepared under his own
superintendence by some of the established machinics in Calcutta, and to report
the time it would take to complete it, with the exception of the stamping
presses, which I could readily furnish them with, having spare ones now in the
mint.
A list of machinery etc required to affect a
daily coinage of from 20 to 25,000 rupees with an estimate of the probable
expense attending its preparation at the
|
2 Laminating mills @ 1903:6:6 each |
3806:13:0 |
|
3 cutting machines @ 220:6:6 |
661:3:6 |
|
5 adjusting tables @ 55:14:8 |
279:9:4 |
|
2 milling machines @ 844:10:6 |
1689:5:0 |
|
3 stamping presses @ 1225:11:1 |
3677:1:3 |
|
3 iron ingot moulds for the melting room |
447:8:0 |
|
|
|
|
Total |
10,561:8:1 |
Letter from
The committee for the superintendence of the
affairs of the mint at this Presidency having in compliance with the
resolutions of Government, requested Mr Saunders, the Mint Master, to commence
upon the construction of the machinery required for the Saugor mint, that
gentleman has transmitted a list of such apparatus as will be found necessary
for the purpose of effecting a daily coinage of from 20 to 25000 rupees
together with an estimate of the expense, if prepared in the Calcutta mint. Mr
Saunders is, however, of opinion that the whole could not be completed by him
in a shorter period than from
As it is of importance that the machinery
should be constructed as soon as practicable and as that object may be more
efficiently attained by the employment of any of the established mechanics in
Calcutta, I am directed by the Mint Committee to furnish you with a copy of the
list of apparatus made out by the Mint Master and to request that you will
procure, for their information, an estimate of the expense of preparing it out
of the mint under your own immediate superintendence, and the time that will be
required for its completion.
Letter from Presgrave to Mint Committee
dated
In compliance with the instructions of the
Mint Committee contained in my letter of the 18th ultimo, I applied
to Messrs Kyds & Co and Messrs Calman & Co for estimates of the
expenses of making the proposed machinery for the Saugor mint.
I beg leave to enclose separate proposals
from the above mentioned gentlemen and I have to request the favour of your
laying them before the Mint Committee for their consideration.
Letter from Kyds & Co, Kidderpore, to
Presgrave, dated
At your request we have inspected the works
at the Calcutta mint, in order to satisfy ourselves whether we could undertake
to construct the machinery required for the Saugor mint, as per list furnished
by you, and have no hesitation in saying that our means are competent to the
tasks proposed and we think we could get through it in six months.
Never having made any articles of the kind
required, we experience some difficulty in correctly estimating what they would
cost, but we think that the work will amount to about Rs 12,000. Should we
however have made any considerable error in specifying the amount, we trust
that in the event of satisfaction being given by a proper and fit execution of
the work, the Mint Committee will screen us from loss, profit being a secondary
consideration to obtaining the Committees patronage in this first instance.
Letter from Calman & Co to Presgrave dated
Herewith we transmit you our [sedled]
estimate of the sums for which we would engage to make the different machinery
for the Saugor mint.
In several respects we propose to improve
the construction of them, in which we would be obliged by that assistance from
you, which your attention to the machinery in question enables you to give us.
As the whole is required with dispatch, we
trust the facility we possess for the execution of such work will enable us to
furnish them with expedition and no exertion shall be spared to render the work
as accurate and substantial as possible.
Estimate for machinery for the new mint at
Saugor, furnished by Calman & Co
|
2 laminating rollers with the moving
machinery similar to those now in use at the |
Rs 4800 |
|
3 cutting machines equally substantial
with those in present use but with some alterations if allowed @280 ea |
Rs 840 |
|
5 adjusting tables with anvils @ 40 ea |
Rs 200 |
|
2 milling machines constructed so as to be
less liable to get out of repair, but on the same principle as the present
ones @ 600 ea |
Rs 1200 |
|
3 stamping presses (the brass frames to be
furnished as proposed by the |
Rs 1350 |
|
3 sets of ingot moulds @ 60 ea |
Rs 180 |
|
|
Rs 8570 |
Letter from the Mint Committee to Presgrave
dated
I am directed by the Committee for
superintending the affairs of the mint at this Presidency to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter under date the 3rd instant, enclosing the
estimates of Messrs Kyds & Co and Messrs Calman & Co for constructing
the machinery required at the Saugor mint.
I am further directed by the Mint Committee
to request you to state your opinion on each item of Messrs Calman & Co’s
estimate, compared with the corresponding item of the Mint Master’s estimate,
and to ascertain from Messrs Calman & Co the time they require for the
completion of the work.
From Presgrave to Mint Committee dated
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
of your letter of the 4th instant calling on me for my opinion on
each item contained in Messrs Calman & Co’s estimate compared with those
furnished by the Calcutta Mint Master.
I have to request the favour of your laying
before the Committee the accompanying statement of Messrs Calman & Co’s
estimate compared with that furnished by the Calcutta Mint Master, with any
remarks attached to each item and which I hope the Committee will find
satisfactory.
In the comparative statements it will appear
that Messrs Calman & Co’s estimate exceeds that received from the Calcutta
Mint Master by Rs 78:7:11.
I beg to refer the Committee to Messrs
Calman & Co’s letter (which I enclose) of the 6th of March
relative to the time they require for the completion of the machinery.
Accompanying this is also a letter from
Messrs Kyds & Co which explains an error in the estimate proposed by them
and which I shall be obliged by your laying before the Committee.
There is then the comparison of Calman v
Mint estimates.
Then a letter from Calman & Co stating
that the work should take no more than 6 months.
Then a letter from Kyds stating that they
had missed the point about the brass frames for the stamping presses being
provided by the Calcutta mint and that they could therefore reduce their
estimate by 2070 rupees to Rs 9930.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/71, No 81. 14th March 1820.
From the Calcutta Mint Committee to
Government, dated 14th March 1820.
In conformity with the resolution of
Government under date the 25th January last, we requested Mr
Saunders the Mint Master, to commence upon the construction of the machinery
required for the Saugor mint.
That Gentleman in reply transmitted to us a
list of such apparatus as would be found necessary for the purposes of
affecting a daily coinage of from 20 to 25,000 rupees together with an estimate
of the expense if prepared in the Calcutta mint. The estimated expense of the
required machinery is stated by Mr Saunders as Rs10,561:8:1 and appears to be
sufficiently moderate, but Mr Saunders added that the whole could not in his
opinion be completed in a shorter period than from 8 to 10 months.
Conceiving it to be of great importance that
the machinery should be constructed as soon as practicable, and as that object
might be more efficiently attained by the employment of any of the established
mechinics in Calcutta, we directed Captain Presgrave, the officer appointed to
be the Assay Master of the Saugor Mint, to procure for our information an
estimate of the expense of preparing it out of the mint, under his own
immediate superintendence, and to ascertain the time that would be required for
its completion.
Accordingly, Captain Presgrave obtained two
separate proposals, one from Messrs Kyds & Co and the other from Messrs
Calman and Co. Government will perceive that the former calculate the expense
of the machinery at Rs 9930, the latter at Rs 8570. Both these sums are
exclusive of the cost of three frames for the stamping presses to be furnished
from the mint, which may be stated at Rs2070.
In submitting the correspondence which has
taken place on this subject, we beg leave to state our opinion that it will be
expedient to close with the offer made by Messrs Calman & Co. Their
estimate indeed exceeds by a trifle the amount of the estimate furnished by Mr
Saunders but is entitled to a decided preference under the assurance of Messrs
Calman & Co that the work shall be completed within five or six months,
according to Mr Saunders estimate. We therefore request the sanction of
Government to employ Messrs Calman & Co to construct the machinery in
question, soliciting at the same time an early reply, to enable us to
accomplish the object in view with the least possible delay.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/71, No 82. 17th March 1820.
From Government to Calcutta Mint Committee,
17th March 1820.
I am directed by His Excellency the Most
Noble the Governor General in Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of the 14th instant, with its enclosures, and to inform you that
under the circumstances stated, His Lordship in Council entirely approves your
proposition for employing Messrs Calman & Co in constructing, under the
directions of Captain Presgrave, the machinery required for the Saugor mint, at
an expense not exceeding Rs 8570.
You will be pleased to make the necessary
communication to Captain Presgrave.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/71, No 83. 18th March 1820.
From Calcutta Mint Committee to Captain
Presgrave, 18th March 1820.
I am directed by the committee for
superintending the affairs of the mint at this Presidency to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter under date the 7th instant, together with
your remarks on Messrs Calman & Co’s estimate for constructing the
machinery required at the Saugor mint.
The Mint Committee have received the
authority of Government to instruct you to close with the terms of Messrs
Calman & Co whose estimate amounts to Rs 8570, but as no detailed plans of
the improvements intended to be introduced in the machinery have been submitted
to them, they must rely upon your active exertions and superintendence in
seeing that the estimate is executed with accuracy and dispatch, and that the
proposed improvements are made.
Messrs Calman & Co will, according to
their request, be permitted to have such patterns from the mint as can be
spared without inconvenience.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/71, No 84. 20th March 1820.
From the Calcutta Mint Committee to Calcutta
Mint Master, dated
I am directed by the committee for
superintending the affairs of the mint at this Presidency to request that you
will furnish Messrs Calman & Co with such patterns as can be spared without
inconvenience to enable them to construct with greater dispatch the machinery
upon which they are engaged for the Saugor mint.
You are also requested to deliver over to
Messrs Calman & Co the three brass frames for stamping presses, which are
to be transferred to the Saugor mint.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/71, No 107. 20th March 1820.
From the Mint Committee to Presgrave (Assay
Master of Saugor Mint), 8th May 1820.
In reply to your letter of the 5th
instant am directed to inform you that the Committee for superintending the
affairs of the mint at this Presidency, authorize you to prepare four milling
tables for the Saugor mint on the principle of those used in the mint at Paris
at the cost stated in your letter Viz 800 rupees in lieu of the tables
previously ordered.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/71, No 125. 1st June 1820.
Letter from Presgrave (Assay Master at
Saugor) to Calcutta Mint Committee, 1st June 1820.
Having received a plan of the old Saugor
mint from Captain Phipps, Superintendent of Public Buildings, and deeming it
totally unfit for the new establishment, I take the liberty of handing you a
plan and description of a building which I conceive will be fully adequate to
the purpose of the proposed extent of the Saugor coinage and which I will thank
you to submit to the Mint Committee for their consideration. I have endeavoured
to construct the plan on the smallest and most economical scale, bearing in mind
at the same time the convenience and appropriate arrangement of every branch of
the establishment.
Should it at a future period be deemed
expedient to enlarge the mint, this plan will admit of its being easily
effected.
With reference to the verandas proposed to
be built on posts and tiles, it perhaps would not make considerable difference
in the first cost, if they should be constructed of masonry with a flat pucka
roof, and the verandas on two sides made 14 instead of 12 feet wide. This would
add much to the accommodation of the mint and be a very desirable deviation
from the plan, should it meet with the sanction of the Mint Committee. In this
case I would recommend that the verandas be not supported on pillars, but that
a wall should be built, that the doorways should be arched over and not be less
than six feet wide.
Enclosure
References to the plan of the Saugor mint
The chimnies a. a. a. a. of the melting room
furnaces are to be independent of the walls of the rooms, though place close to
them. They are to be 5 feet square at the bottom and to be carried up tapering
to a height of 32 feet. The spaces for the flues to be one foot square within
and of the same area from the bottom to the top. An arched opening one foot
square to be left in three sides of each chimney at the distance of four feet
from the ground, that thereafter three furnaces may be attached to each chimney.
The chimnies b. b. and bases for the
annealing furnaces, to be built as in the plan up to the level of the floor of
the rolling mill rooms, and the two hollow spaces to be filled in with rubble.
On these will afterwards be built the furnaces. The chimnies are from this
floor to be carried up tapering to the height of 25 feet, the flues to be one
foot square within and of the same area throughout. An arched hole of 1 foot
square to be left in the side (towards the room) of each chimney at the height
of 30 inches from the floor. The space c. between the base of the furnaces to
be arched over, leaving an open communication between the capstan rooms below,
though perfectly level with the floors of the laminating rooms above. The beams
to be laid exactly as in the plan of the floor. No other distance will answer
for the admission of the vertical wheels or the machinery they are to receive.
The floor to be boarded with stout planks. The doorways d. d. d. d. towards the
mint yard and outer veranda, to have iron bars fixed in them, that the men who
work at the capstan may have a free circulation of air though, at the same
time, they can have no thoroughfare into the mint, the entrance to the capstan
rooms being by the outer doors e. e. e. e. The door f. to be the only
communication from the laminating rooms (above) to the mint by the means of
stairs of either wood or masonry.
The walls of the (lower or) capstan rooms to
be built up 9 feet, when the beams (which are one foot thick) are to be placed
on the walls. The walls of the laminating rooms (above) to be 12 feet high. No
wall or partition to be built between the laminating rooms, the whole to be
open from one end to the other, which will give a space of 62 feet by 30 for
the accommodation of the rolling mills, annealing furnaces, cutting presses and
shear blocks.
All the spaces towards the veranda and
marked across with a single line, to be arched over as doorways but they are
afterwards to be closed up with masonry. The advantage of this will be that
they may be opened at any future period, should circumstances require it,
without injury to the buildings. It may be found advantageous to fill them up
with open work for the purposes of ventilation.
All the doorways to the interior of the mint
and those not marked across with a single line should have strong doorways and
doors.
The outer veranda to consist of nicely
squared posts with a strong plate of timber on their tops to support the
burgahs on which the tiles are to be laid.
The burgahs to be placed so close that a
large square flat tile (generally 1 foot square) may reach from the centre of
one to that of the other. Two layers of tiles set in good line to form the roof
of these verandas, which are to be enclosed between the posts with strong
wooden lattice or rail work, and to be afterwards divided off with kutchha
brick partitions into offices or store rooms as necessity may suggest.
None of the floors to be made of pucka work
excepting those of the two wings in the front of the building, Viz Mint
Master’s and Assay Master’s offices.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/71, No 126. 26th June 1820.
From R. Phipps, Superintendent of Building,
to Calcutta Mint Committee, 26th June 1820.
I have the pleasure to return the plans and
papers received with your letter of the Mint Committee the enclosed copy of a
letter addressed to me on the 23rd instant by Captain Carter,
Barrack Master of Saugor.
The probable expense of erecting the
buildings for the Saugor mint represented in Captain Presgrave’s plan will be
about 25,000 Rs and if the wings are left out and an upper story built over the
front rooms a reduction of 2500Rs may be expected.
Captain Carter has added 6 inches to the
thickness of most of the walls. I am of opinion that this is very necessary for
those of the laminating mills and for the front rooms if an upper story is to
be added but I do not think absolutely necessary for the side rooms.
Enclosure
To Phipps, Superintendent of Public
Buildings, Lower Provinces, from H. Carter, dated 23rd June 1820.
Accompanying I have the honor to forward an
estimate of the probable expense of erecting a mint and offices at Saugor
agreeable to the plan received from you and executed by Captain Presgrave.
I have made the whole of the walls on which
the beams of the roof rest, 2 feet thick, which I conceive necessary from the
inferiority of the work people and bricks procurable in the Saugor district.
The walls of the lower story of the
laminating room I have made 2 ½ feet thick from the same cause as well as to
guard against the shaking necessarily caused by the working machinery attached
to the beams which rest on them.
Permit me to observe that the rate of
masonry is calculated on the supposition that the building will not be placed
at a great distance from some of the Juarrin [quarries] and the only situation
near Saugor which furnishes clay for bricks, a difference of a couple or three
thousand rupees may be caused by this contingent.
Allow me to recommend that a spot near where
the old and new sheer Mow roads cross each other, about a mile to the south of
Mr Maddock’s house be brought to the notice of whatever officer may be directed
to fix on the site of the buildings. It appears to me the only eligible spot so
near the cantonments.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/71, No 129.14th July 1820.
Letter from Calcutta Mint Committee to
Government, 14th July 1820.
With reference to the orders of Government
of the 25th of January last and the subsequent communication
received with Mr McKenzie’s letter of the 14th April last, we have
the honor of submitting for the information and orders of your Lordship in
Council the several papers (in original) noted in the margin [1. Captain
Presgrave’s letter and plan for a mint at Saugor. 2. Letter from Captain Phipps
the Superintendent of Public Buildings. 3. Letter from Captain Carter to Capt.
Phipps].
From the report of the Commissioner at
Saugor on the extent and nature of the buildings now appropriated to the mint
at that place, of which plans have been [sent] to us from the same authority,
it appears that they are entirely inapplicable to the purposes required, being
inadequate in point of size and built of bad materials.
It appearing therefore to be necessary to
construct an entirely new range of mint buildings for the reception of the new
machinery, we requested Captain Presgrave to prepare a plan to enable the
Superintendent of Public Buildings to furnish an estimate of the expense.
From the papers now transmitted, your
Lordship in Council will perceive that according to the estimate submitted by
Captain Phipps, a new mint may be constructed on the plan suggested by Captain
Presgrave for about Rs 25400, and the plan in question appearing to be a very
good one, we beg leave to recommend its adoption. Some small addition to the
expense will be incurred if, as we are dispose to think will be advisable, the
veranda is constructed in the manner suggested in the 4th paragraph
of Captain Presgrave’s letter, but Government will of course require a building
estimate to be submitted thro’ the regular channel and the present statement
will be sufficient to enable your Lordship in Council to determine the general
expediency of the plan.
The suggestion contained in the 5th
paragraph of Captain Carter’s letter appears to be of importance, and will
naturally receive consideration in the selection of the spot on which the new
mint is to be erected.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/71, No 136. 24th July 1820.
To Government from the Calcutta Mint
Committee,
The Mint Committee at Banaras having
urgently requested that they may be furnished with laminating machines as soon
as practicable, we beg permission to appropriate for that purpose the machinery
which is now under preparation for the Saugor mint, for which a fresh set can
be got ready before the buildings required for its reception can be
constructed.
We further beg leave to employ in
constructing this second set of machinery either Messrs Calman & Co or
Messrs Kyds & Co as may be found most expedient. The charge will probably
be nearly the same.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/71, No 139. 1st August 1820.
From Government to Calcutta Mint Committee,
1st August 1820.
I am directed by His Excellency the Most
Noble the Governor General in Council to acknowledge receipt of your letter of
the 24th ultimo, relative to the appropriation of the machinery
which has been ordered for the Saugor mint, and the construction of a second
set for that establishment.
On the first point His Lordship in Council
entirely approves of your proposition, and authorises you to exercise your
discretion in regard to the second.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/72, No 10. 8th March 1821.
To Calcutta Mint Committee from Jessop &
Co,
The machinery for the Saugor mint being
completed, we beg the favour of your informing us when it will be convenient to
the Committee to have them surveyed in order that we may send them into the
mint for the purpose.
We are losing considerably from the delay,
all profits having vanished some months [ago].
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/72, No 21. 3rd April 1821.
To Government from the Calcutta Mint
Committee, 3rd April 1821.
We have the honor to submit for the orders
of your Lordship in Council the accompanying bills presented by the
manufacturers for the preparation of the machinery of the Saugor mint, which is
now complete.
The several changes of the bills for the
machinery correspond with those in the estimate sanctioned in the letter from
the Secretary to Government in the Territorial Department of the 17th
March 1820 with the exception of that made for the milling machines and ingot
moulds. On the first of those articles a reduction of 400 rupees has been made
in consequence of their construction having been simplified in conformity to a
plan suggested by Captain Presgrave and sanctioned by us. The cost of the ingot
moulds was estimated at 180 rupees but it appears from a letter addressed to us
by Messrs Jessop & Co on the 14th November that this price was
estimated upon an erroneous calculation of the weight of the ingot moulds and
that the charge they have incurred is 450 rupees. As the difference is
inconsiderable and appears to have originated in the inadvertence of the persons
in the employment of the manufacturers, as also the amount closely corresponds
with the charge made in the mint estimate for the same article although in
reality a superior fabrication, we beg leave to recommend that it should be
admitted.
The amount of the bills for the general
machinery will thus be Rupees 8450 but, besides this, there is a further charge
of 347:12 for sundry article required for the mint and assay office of the
Saugor mint and procured under a particular sanction from our committee.
The machinery has been surveyed by the
secretary to our Committee and Captain Presgrave and is reported by them as
well finished and comformable to the terms of the agreement entered into by the
manufacturers. It only remains therefore to direct its being transmitted to the
place of its destination and its application to the purpose of its
construction.
The conveyance of the machinery of the
Saugor mint will be best effected under the personal charge of Captain
Presgrave. We are not yet aware however how far the buildings necessary for its
reception are in progress and until it can be set up, little advantage will
result from its being removed. It will be desirable however that no delay
should occur in its erection as soon as the buildings to receive it are
constructed, and it will be advisable to make such arrangements as shall secure
its arrival there by that time. At present indeed the removal is probably
impracticable from the low state of the river, and must await the commencement
of the rains and in the meantime it will be advantageous to retain the services
of Captain Presgrave in the assay office of the Calcutta mint as directed by
the orders of Government of the 6th October last.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/72, No 26. 13th April 1821.
Letter from Government to Calcutta Mint
Committee, 13th April 1821.
I am directed by His Excellency the Most
Noble the Governor General in Council to acknowledge receipt of your letter of
the 3rd instant submitting bills for the machinery prepared for the
Saugor mint.
An order will be issued on the general
treasury in your favour for the sum of Rs 8787:12 to enable you to pay the
amount due to Messrs Jessop & Co on account of the machinery for the Saugor
mint.
A reference will be made to the
superintendent of public buildings in the Western Provinces to ascertain in
what state of forwardness the buildings intended for the reception of the
machinery of the Saugor mint are, and he will be instructed to expedite their
completion as much as possible.
His Lordship in Council approves your
Committee’s suggestion for retaining the services of Captain Presgrave in the
Assay Office of the Calcutta mint. That officer will however hold himself in
readiness to proceed to Saugor at the commencement of the rains.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/72, No 49. 8th June 1821.
Letter to Calcutta Mint Committee from
Government, 8th June 1821.
I am directed by His Excellency the Most
Noble the Governor General in Council to inform you that His Lordship in
Council has been pleased to permit Mr Alexander Melville, the Assay Master at
the Farruckabad mint, to be absent from his station for a period of six months for
the recovery of his health.
The Governor General in Council has been
pleased to appoint Captain D Presgrave to officiate as Assay Master during the
absence of Mr Melville with an extra allowance of Rs 300 per mensum.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/72, No 52. 11th June 1821.
From Presgrave to Calcutta Mint Committee,
11th June 1821.
Having been directed to proceed to the
Farruckabad mint to take charge of the assay office at that station, I beg to
procure through you the sanction of Government to my engaging a baggage boat
for the conveyance of such implements as will be required at that office.
Your Committee is aware I believe that the
assay office of the Farruckabad mint is very defectively supplied with
apparatus used in assaying. My services will be therefore much embarrassed
unless that defect be supplied. The subjoined articles were prepared for the
Assay Office of the Saugor mint and as they are not immediately required in
that direction, I hope I may be permitted to take them with me and use them at
Farrukhabad during the period of my stay there.
As these articles from their weight will
require a boat to be appropriated to their reception it would afford a not
unfavourable opportunity for the conveyance of one of the new cutting machines
and milling tables prepared for the Saugor mint. They will add but little to
the package and they may possibly be found very serviceable at the Farruckabad
mint. The whole will not require probably a boat of more than 300 maunds and
consequently will not tend in any way to retard my progress.
2
large assay furnaces
50
Europe fire bricks
Assay
beam and scales
Glazed
box for scales
Two
cases for assays
Two
iron trays for assays
Anvil,
tongs, pokers etc
One
new cutting machine
One
milling table
Cupel
moulds
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/72, No 53. 12th June 1821.
Letter to Government from the Calcutta Mint
Committee, 12th June 1821.
We have the honor to forward the
accompanying letter from Captain Presgrave requesting permission to take with
him to the Farruckabad mint the articles prepared for the use of the assay
office of the Saugor mint and a cutting and milling machine from those prepared
for that mint, and to be allowed the hire of a boat for their conveyance.
The report on the Farruckabad mint lately
submitted to Government will have shown the necessity of supplying the assay
office there with an appropriate apparatus and we conceive therefore it will be
highly advisable for Captain Presgrave to carry with him the articles required
for that office. The cutting and milling machines are less indispensable but as
they are not very bulky and as Captain Presgrave’s taking them with him to the
Farruckabad mint may enable him at his leisure to test and approve their applicability
to the objects of their fabrication, we are disposed to think he may be allowed
to add them to the articles intended for the assay office. In the event of the
permission being granted he will of course be apprised that he must engage a
light boat and one of little draft so that his progress may not be in any
manner retarded.
We take this opportunity of recommending
that the machinery for the Saugor mint, the conveyance of which by the present
opportunity would too much delay Captain Presgrave’s journey, be deposited in
the arsenal go-downs until it is requested at Saugor when it can be sent up the
country with the first dispatch of military stores.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/72, No 56. 19th June 1821.
Letter from the Mint Committee to Presgrave,
19th June 1821.
I am directed by the Committee for
superintending the affairs of the mint at the Presidency to acknowledge your
letter of the 11th instant and in reply to forward for your
information the following extract from a letter from the secretary to
Government in the Financial Department of the 15th instant addressed
to the Committee.
‘The Governor General in Council concurs
with your committee in thinking that Captain Presgrave should carry with him to
Farruckabad the articles specified in the text annexed to his letter, and
authorises that officer to hire a boat for the conveyance of them. Captain
Presgrave will of course use every exertion to reach Farruckabad with all
practicable expedition’.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/74, No 220. 30th April 1824.
From Calcutta Mint Committee to H Newnham
(Collector of Farruckabad) dated 30th April 1824.
I am directed by the Committee for
superintending the affairs of the mint at this Presidency to request you will
on receipt of this letter stop the operations of the mint under your charge and
pack up and transmit with Captain Presgrave to Saugor such part of the
Farruckabad mint machinery as may appear necessary or useful to him for the
Saugor mint.
I am also directed to inform you that
Captain Presgrave has been authorised to select such artificers as he considers
calculated to assist him in the operations of the Saugor mint.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/74, No221. 30th April 1824.
Letter from the Calcutta Mint Committee to Presgrave,
I am directed by the Committee for
superintending the affairs of the mint at this Presidency to inform you that Mr
H Newnham, the Collector of Farruckabad, has been requested to pack up and
transmit to Saugor such part of the Farruckabad mint as you may consider
necessary or useful for the Saugor mint and to authorise you to such artificers
as you may wish to transfer to Saugor.
In regard to your own movements you will be
pleased to communicate on the subject with Mr C Malony, Agent to the Governor
General at Saugor.
Mr Blake being unwilling to proceed to
Saugor, his services will accordingly be dispensed with.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/74, No 265. 8th July 1824.
To Presgrave from the Calcutta Mint
Committee dated 8th July 1824.
… The orders contained in my letter of 30th
April last were intended to authorize you to select from the late Farruckabad
mint such parts of the machinery as you might consider necessary for the Saugor
mint, including, of course, such articles appertaining to the former mint as
you might be desirous of transferring to the Saugor mint. Instructions will
accordingly be issued to Mr Newnham to that effect.
The committee do not feel authorized to
sanction your entertaining any workman on an enhanced rate of wages and they
are led to believe you will experience no difficulty in procuring fit men at
Saugor willing to engage on the same terms as those lately employed at the
Farruckabad mint. The committee are further of opinion that it is unnecessary
to transfer, at advanced wages, the officers mentioned in the 9th
paragraph of your letter, with the exception of the muffle maker, as they
imagine people of that description will at all times be procurable at Saugor.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/74, No 289.24th August 1824.
Holt Mackanzie’s Minute of 24th
August 1824.
The consideration of all these papers
confirms in the opinion that it is very desirable to reform the currencies of
Nagpore and the Nerbudda territories without delay.
It remains only to consider on what plan we
should proceed to effect the reform.
All establishments in Nagpore are paid in
the local currency and any immediate reduction in their pay reckoned by tale
would probably be felt to be hardship and excite dissatisfaction. On the other
hand the Government is not rich enough to continue to issue the same number of
rupees if, as must be done on an extensive enhancement of the intrinsic value
of the currency any considerable abatement be allowed to the zemindars. On the
whole therefore the advantage of having at Nagpore a currency uniform with that
of Farruckabad would be considerable. I am disposed to doubt the expediency of
introducing into Nagpore so valuable a coin as our Fd rupee and if the Nagpore
currency is not to be rendered equivalent with the Fd rupee, then it is
important to keep its value near the average of the existing currency now.
Taking the Fd rupee at 105 grains fine (as it may practically speaking be
reckoned and ought to be rendered) a rupee equal to fourteen annas (14/16) of
the Fd currency must contain 144.375 grains. This will not differ very
essentially from the average as deduced from the assays quoted by Mr Wood, the
pure contents there exhibited being 143.091 grains. The difference being in
excess may be considered to be an advantage, if, as Mr Malony states, and it
seems to be likely, the depreciation of the coins is not equal to its
debasement*, and the exchange with the Farruckabad rupee will not differ above
1/3rd per cent from the rate which Mr Malony reckons the par.
*Note. The average gross weight of the
different coinages being nearly equal, it would not appear that the debasement
is in any essential degree to be ascribed to the practice of sweating the coin.
It arises out of the fraud or ignorance of the mint officers in lowering the
standard of the fineness.
We ought therefore, I think, to recommend,
as with a trifling difference is suggested by Mr Wood, that the pure silver in
the Nagpore rupee be hereafter fixed at 144.375 grains. The standard should of
course be the same as that of the Calcutta and Farruckabad rupees, Viz 1/12
alloy to 11/12th fine, making the gross weight of the rupee 157.5
troy grains.
The change will not be of sufficient extent
to render it necessary to provide by any special rules for the adjustments
either of private or public contracts in a country where the currency has
hitherto been so very irregular. Coming to this conclusion in regards to
Nagpore, there is certainly some reason to doubt the expediency of adopting the
Farruckabad rupees for the Nerbudda territories. Those territories appear to
furnish all the surrounding districts, as well as our old possessions, with a
considerable surplus of produce. The revenue collected within them may
apparently with advantage, be drawn against so as to render it rarely necessary
to make an actual remittance of money to Banares. There will be obvious
convenience in having a currency the same or at least readily convertible into
the Nagpore rupee and tho’ I cannot consider it necessary that Government
should, as proposed by Mr Wood, go to the expense of supplying any part of the
silver necessary to raise the value of the coin in favour of the individual in
whose hands the debased currency may happen to be at the moment of introducing
the new system, yet the introduction of that system will occasion some present
loss to Government.
On the whole however, I think that the
preponderance of advantage is much in favour of the measure of introducing the
Farruckabad rupee. That coin appears now to have almost completely established
itself in Malwa. The batta to which it is occasionally subject being
inconsiderable, and there being, from Mr Wellesly’s statements, grounds to hope
that it may be generally circulated at par. If therefore any supplies shall be
required at any time to be remitted from the Nerbudda territories to Indore,
the remittance will doubtless be effected more advantageously in Farruckabad
than in Nagpore rupees. So also in the case of a remittance to Banares. Still
more must it be advantageous for the merchants of our provinces, who may have
occasion to send money to the Nerbudda territory in exchange for its produce to
find the Farruckabad rupee the established currency; and as the means of
intercourse are improved the trade and productiveness of these territories may
be expected materially to increase. In the Saugor territory all considerations
are in favour of the introduction of the Farruckabad rupee.
The normal abatement of revenue incident to
the change in the Nerbudda territory, I consider to be no evil; but likely
rather to produce good, and establishments have their pay generally fixed in
Farruckabad rupees [which] should be coined at Saugor and should be declared to
be the legal currency of that and the districts on the Nerbudda. If the Nagpore
rupee when reformed shall be found to introduce itself into the Nerbudda
districts through the operation of commercial interchanges, which would be injuriously
hindered by our refusal to receive it, there will not I think be any serious
objection to its being received at the value of 14 annas of the Farruckabad
rupee [which] might be received as equal to 18 1/3rd ans of the
Nagpore currency.
As to the mode in which the existing
currency is to be recalled, I see nothing better that can be done than to
follow with a slight modification perhaps, the course followed in Bengal.
Injustice certainly appears to have been done by the issue of a base currency
from the mint of Nagpore. But by this the Government, which is the grand
receiver, must, as in all instances of bad faith, have been the chief sufferer,
and it is of course impossible now to trace the instances of individual injury.
Probably indeed the parties to whom the debased money was first issued did not
suffer at all, for the depreciation would doubtless be gradual and even yet
does not appear to be equal to the debasement. At all events, those who now
have the money are least of all likely to have actually been the sufferers and
to give them the difference between the old and new coin, or any part of it,
would be a very gratuitous sacrifice. Nay, if Mr Wood is right in his
conjecture that they get bullion coined on purpose to sweat it (tho’ this would
not account for the indiscriminate circulation and delivery of light and heavy
rupees, and appears to be inconsistent with the comparative uniformity of the
several coins in gross weight) the sacrifice would go to enrich those who have
been chiefly instrumental in extending the debasement of the currency.
In effecting a reform of the currency it may
be very proper that Government should bear the expense of coinage, but as all
such reforms proceed on the assumption that the new coin will take its proper
value in the market, nay that it ultimately [achieves] a value above the old,
exceeding the bare difference of intrinsic worth (the one being coin and the
other bullion). It is clear that among the expenses of coinage we can [near?]
with propriety include the metal necessary for conversion of the inferior into
the superior coin. A [person] brings his 16 old rupees and if the 14 he
receives of the new equal those in value he must be satisfied. It would be
preposterous in him to ask Government to give 16 new rupees equal in value to
18 and more of such coins as he had delivered.
Taking the average weight of the present
rupees at 166.238 grains and the fine metal at 143.091 then bullion of the
standard of this currency equal in weight to a new Farruckabad rupee (of 180
grains) would contain 154.935.
The existing currency must of course be
received by weight and the natural weight to use is the new Farruckabad rupee
of 180 grains containing 165 grains pure metal, and a quantity of the existing
currency weighing one hundred Farruckabad rupees will be equivalent to
93..14..7 Farruckabad rupees.
(Note. The fractions of grains will be
omitted in order to assimilate our coinage to that of Madras and may indeed in
any practical view of the question be left out of calculation even while the
nominal standard of weight remains unaltered.)
At this rate they would be received for a
time both at our treasury and at the Saugor mint. Subsequently after a
sufficient opportunity shall have been given to holders of the currency to have
it converted into Farruckabad rupees (say 12 months), the former should be
received only as bullion, subject to the charge of coinage.
In the adjustments of private debts, the
most equitable rule appears to be to assume the average value of the currency
from the assays which give the fine metal at 143.091 grains, [the hundred
rupees currently equal at this rate the conversion should be made?]. The same
rule will apply to Government assessment where leases have still a term of
years to run. New engagements will be expressed in Farruckabad rupees.
From Mr Maloney’s remarks there seems reason
to think that this rule may in some degree operate favourably towards the
debtor by enabling him to discharge his debt with a less number of Farruckabad
rupees than he now can. The speculation is in its nature somewhat uncertain and
at most the difference cannot be very important. In so far as it operates, it
will operate, I think, beneficently. For there, as in most parts of the
interior of India, the creditors are, I imagine, generally speaking [usurious],
like our Mahajuns and shroffs, who early get or expect to get all that they
demand or all that their needy and improvident creditors are forced to promise.
The following rules would apparently provide
for every object mentioned above.
Corresponding rules may be adopted (mutatis mistandis) in the Nagpore
country when the proposed 14 anna pieces are there coined and the mint put on a
proper footing.
A provision may be published in the Nerbudda
territories authorising the receipt of that coin as equivalent to 87 ½
Farruckabad rupees.
As to the foreign states, it seems to be
vain to expect from them any complete reform. As many of their mints,
therefore, as we can put down or get them to abolish should be abolished. The
Patarbgurh [man], if we cannot compel or purchase the inactivity of his mint
should be required to coin a rupee equivalent to the Farruckabad rupee which
requisition will I imagine soon put an end to his coinage, or at least will
render it little extensive.
Coinage being distinctly recognised as an
attribute of sovereignty all petty tributary chiefs who tho’ not subject to the
general regulations are distinctly dependents of the British Government be
prohibited from coining…
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/74, No 349. 15th December 1824.
From the Calcutta Mint Committee to
Government, 15th December 1824.
In reply to your letter of the 26th
November last we beg to observe that as the Agent to the Governor General must
be much more perfectly acquainted than ourselves with the state of the currency
and consequent demand for coin in Bundelcund it had better be left to his
discretion whether and how long he shall defer the suppression of the
subordinate mints in that district. We would likewise suggest for the
consideration of Government whether if would not be desirable that officer
should be directed to receive the Surinuggar rupee, in which it would appear
all payments are made by the ryotts to the zemindars in discharge of revenue,
under similar rules to those prescribed by the late agent at Saugor with
regards to the Nagpore currency. Such reception to be allowed either till the
opening of the Saugor mint or as long as he may think necessary or expedient.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/76, No 223. 19th January 1826.
Letter from Government to the Calcutta Mint
Committee, dated 19th January 1826.
I am directed by the Right Honorable the
Governor General in Council to transmit to you the accompanying copies of a
letter and of its enclosures from the Agent to the Governor General at
Jubbulpore with a copy of a letter this day addressed to that officer on the
subject, and to request that you will report on the establishment proposed by
Mr Stirling and on such other points as with reference to the former
correspondence you may consider it useful to discuss.
Letter from F. Wilder (Agent to the Governor
General at Jubbulpore) to Government, dated
From my letter of the 26th
October you will have been informed of the mint at Saugor having commenced
operations and I was glad to find of your reply of the 17th ultimo
that the assay report on the specimens of the coinage I then sent was
satisfactory.
The difficulty as stated in the enclosed
letters from Mr Stirling is now:
1.
How to
obtain a supply of bullion.
2.
How to
get rid of the old currency and replace it by the new one.
3.
How to
adjust the exchange between the old currency and the new one.
He then goes on to state that the exchange
rate between the Farruckabad and Nagpore and Farruckabad and Ballashahie was
wrong.
…When at Ajmere, which territory, like this,
was surrounded by foreign mints and had a coinage of its own, I managed under
then following arrangements to establish our own currency there without
difficulty whatsoever. I obtained two lacks of rupees from the provinces and
having adjusted the exchange between the Farruckabad and Ajmere rupee according
to their intrinsic value, the latter rupees were sent as they came in to the
Futtah Garh mint and melted down without loss.
The sireeshahee rupees in consequence soon
disappeared and the Farruckabad currency, once established no further supply
was requisite nor did any inconvenience arise either to the Government or to
the people.
He suggests that a similar approach could be
used at Saugor.
Letter from Wilder to Stirling at Saugor,
Establishment required for the mint at
Saugor
|
Two English Writers |
80 |
|
General Superintendent |
100 |
|
Jumma Khurch Nuwers |
20 |
|
Wassil Bakee Nuwers |
20 |
|
Import and Export Bullion Accountant |
20 |
|
Cash Keeper |
50 |
|
Mutsuddee |
10 |
|
Superintendent of Presses |
20 |
|
Mutsuddee |
10 |
|
Superintendent of Refiners |
20 |
|
Mutsuddee |
10 |
|
Superintendent of Laminating Room and
Rollers |
20 |
|
Mutsuddee |
10 |
|
Superintendent of Dross Spillings etc |
20 |
|
Mutsuddee |
10 |
|
Superintendent of Milling |
20 |
|
Mutsuddee |
10 |
|
Superintendent of Coins |
20 |
|
Mutsuddee |
10 |
|
Superintendent of Artificers and Mistrus |
20 |
|
Mutsuddee |
10 |
|
Superintendent of materials such as iron,
wood, charcoal |
20 |
|
Mutsuddee |
10 |
|
Superintendent of Annealing furnaces |
20 |
|
Mutsuddee |
10 |
|
Besides the above a due proportion of
carpenters, blacksmiths, bhustees and lascars estimated at |
130 |
|
Foreman |
|
|
Assistant foreman |
50 |
|
|
750 |
From Stirling to Wilder,
In reply to your letter of the 5th
instant, I have the honor to acquaint you that, the new mint being now open for
the reception of bullion and its operations having commenced, the [matters] and
durabs have been necessarily employed and the old mint has been consequently
shut.
The merchants however appear to have
objections to transmitting their bullion to the new mint and complain of the
loss they are likely to sustain when compared to the rate at which they used to
pay for converting their bullion into balashy rupees…
…an application has been made to me by one
or two of the head shroffs to permit the old mint to remain open till the
coinage of the new mint has come into full play. To this application I was led
to give a discouraging reply.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/76, No 415. 31st October 1826.
From the Mint Committee to Government, dated
31st October 1826.
We have the honor to acknowledge the letter
of the Acting Secretary to Government in the Territorial Department of the 21st
September last in continuation of a letter from the secretary in that
department of the 26th July, the letter forwarding to us various
documents relating to the reform of the currency of the territories of the
Nerbudda, and the operation of the Saugor Mint.
The resolution of Government of the 10th
September 1824 have already directed the reform of the local currency, the
introduction of the Farruckabad rupee as the legal [tender] of Saugor and the
territory on the Nerbudda, the currency of the Nagpore rupee at fixed rates,
and the coinage of [the] Nagpore rupee of defined proportions and valuation,
and it is much to be regretted that the arrangements requisite to give effect
to these resolutions should not have been long decided.
The principles on which the resolutions
adverted to were established being still applicable to the territories on the
Nerbudda, it is unnecessary for us to advert to them further then to recommend
that they be carried into effect with the least possible delay subject to such
modifications as has been [suggested] by subsequent enquiry.
The Farruckabad rupee has already been
introduced at Saugor, and the specimens sent to the Presidency establish that
for all practical purposes it may be considered as equivalent with the rupee
established by resolutions.
As current with the Farruckabad rupee, the
Nagpore rupee will be of course receivable at the public treasuries and, till
the Farruckabad rupee shall be declared the currency of the Ceded Districts, in
liquidation of all demands on account of engagements contracted in that coin.
Mr Maddock’s letter of the 3rd July last, para 8, states that many
of the settlements have some time to run but we see no necessity for receiving
payments in the Nagpore currency when the Farruckabad rupee shall be
established as the currency of the Ceded Territories and we are therefore of
opinion that it will only be necessary to determine the value of the existing
currency in the reformed currency to establish the rate at which the land rent
shall be paid in the latter, and we would propose that the reformed Nagpore
rupee should be only received in addition to the Farruckabad rupee in payment
of revenue.
With reference to Mr Wilder’s letter of the
30th December 1825 proposing that the reformation of the currency
shall be effected by the principles he adopted [at] Ajmere, and that the
existing circulation should be valued to determine the rate at which it shall
be received, we are of opinion the Nagpore currency should be received
according to weight and Valued with the reference to the orders of Government
of the 10th September 1824, fixing the value of the new Nagpore
rupee and that the existing settlements should be paid in the Farruckabad
currency at the same value…
There then follows a discussion about the
relative value of the Farruckabad and Nagpore rupees.
…In the letter last cited, Mr Maddock has
submitted a proposal for the purchase of copper pyce from the bazaar to be
converted into a coin of smaller size by the fabrication of which he expects to
realise a profit. It will no doubt contribute to identify the currency of the
Saugor districts with that of Banares and Farruckabad to have a copper coin of
like weight and value current, and the Saugor mint will be well employed in
giving effect to this proposition when not otherwise employed.
In nominating Captain Presgrave to the
situation of Assay Master to the Saugor Mint it was, we believe, with fullest
expectation that the Governor General’s Agent who filled the office of Mint
Master would avail himself of that gentleman’s experience and skill in the
erection and application of the machinery and, whilst we are surprised that
those objects would have been attempted without his assistance, we do not
wonder at their failure. From the experience thus derived it certainly appears
desirable that Captain Presgrave should continue to officiate as Mint Master
and although under ordinary circumstances the union of this office with that of
Assay Master is objectionable, we do not think it will be a matter of much
importance in the Saugor mint for some time, and the objection may be waved in
consideration of the advantage to be obtained from the peculiar talents and
knowledge of the individual.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/76, No 443.23rd November 1826.
Letter from Calcutta Mint Committee to
Saunders (Mint Master), 23rd November 1826.
I am directed by the Committee for
superintending the affairs of the mint at this Presidency to forward to you for
your information the accompanying original letter and its enclosures from the
Acting Secretary in the Territorial Department under date the 9th
instant and to request you will report your opinion as to the advantage or
otherwise of Captain Presgrave’s invention for preparing milling cheeks or
dies.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/77, No 8. 21st December 1826.
Letter to the Mint Committee from
Government, dated
A long letter concerning the circulation of
debased Nagpore rupees in the Nerbudda territories. It refers back to rules of
1824, put in place regarding the operation of the Saugor mint.
…The 7th rule prescribes that the
rupee to be hereafter coined at Nagpore shall contain 157.5 grains of the
Farruckabad and Calcutta standard, that is 144.375 grains pure silver and 1/12th
or 13.125 alloy, in other words shall be a 14 anna piece of the Farruckabad
currency. This rule will of course stand to regulate the future coinage of
Nagpore rupees being in unison in that respect with what has passed.
The 8th rule enjoins that the
Resident at Nagpore shall take measures to secure regularity in the coinage
there, and to introduce the same principles as Government may prescribe for the
Nerbudda Territory. That this has not been done is sufficiently evident from
the assay reports on the Jura Putka rupees, which have been issued since the
resolution in question was passed and while the control of the mint at Nagpore
was still in the Resident’s hands. The observations of the Mint Committee on
this branch of the subject are very appropriate, but the consideration of it
belongs to the political department, to which a copy of that report together
with an extract of such part of the correspondence as relate to the Nagpore
coinage in later years, will be transferred for any orders that may appear
requisite.
On the subject of the 9th rule,
reserving for future consideration the question whether the new Nagpore rupee
shall be allowed to circulate in the Nerbudda Territory, the sentiments of the
Vice President in Council on this point will have been apparent from what is
above stated, more particularly from the rule authorizing the reissue of full
weight Nagpore rupees of description found by assay to be of the proper
intrinsic value. But more than this, adverting to the recommendation contained
in the latter part of the 12th para of the report of the Mint
Committee, His Lordship in Council is of opinion not only that the Saugor mint
should be empowered to coin good Nagpore rupees of the weight and standard
above fixed for remittance to the Resident at Nagpore whenever necessary, but
further, on application of merchants and others bringing bullion to the mint,
that it be left at their option to receive the amount (after deducting the
prescribed seignorage duty) either in Farruckabad or in new Nagpore rupees of
the regulated value and weight. Moreover, with a view to expedite the
displacement of the old deteriorated coin that an advantage of 1 per cent
should be allowed in the seignorage on the recoinage of old Nagpore rupees when
voluntarily brought in for the purpose. These measures, combined with those
directed to the discrediting of the debased coin by receiving it only at its
assay value, and promulgating that value, will, His Lordship in Council hopes,
prove effective in restoring the currency, notwithstanding the disadvantage the
territory labours under from being surrounded by petty principalities
exercising the right of coinage under no sufficient restraints.
…With respect to the management of the
Saugor mint, the observations of the Calcutta Mint Committee are entirely
approved. It is satisfactory to Government to learn that the rupees struck at
Saugor are extremely good in workmanship and of even and just assay. This
result is highly creditable to Captain Presgrave, who has hitherto had the
management of both the mint and assay departments. The arrangement is however
objectionable in principle and though, on the Committee’s recommendation His
Lordship in Council sanctions its continuance for the present, it must be
distinctly understood that the union of office is only temporary until another
arrangement can be made.
…With respect to the coinage of copper pice,
the Vice President in Council approves of the plan described in the 16th
para of the letter of the Mint Committee, and sanctions the purchase of copper
pice in the bazaar for recoinage into pice of smaller size similar to that
copper coin of Benares and Farruckabad.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/76, No 479. 25th December 1826.
Letter from Saunders to the Mint Committee,
25th December 1826.
Reply about Presgrave’s invention. Basically
says that it’s similar to that invented by Boulton and used in the new Royal
Mint. However, Saunders couldn’t get it to work in Calcutta.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/77, No 22. 3rd February 1827.
Letter from Maddock (Agent to the Governor
General) to Government, dated 3rd February 1827.
Long letter from Maddock commenting on the
above letter from Government.
…In the measures proposed by Government I
shall now venture to point out the difficulties which I imagine will be found
in their practical application.
If the rupee to be coined at Saugor as equal
to 14 annas of the Saugor Farruckabad rupee and that proposed to be coined at
Nagpore shall correspond exactly in weight and fineness, which is perhaps more
than can be expected if one is under European and the other under native
management, still the two rupees would not pass under the same denomination,
nor is it likely that their value in the bazaar would be the same, judging from
the much higher value than it deserves which the present Nagpore coin bears in
the market as compared to the Saugor Farruckabad rupees, I should fear that the
new Nagpore rupee would be preferred to the 14 anna piece coined at Saugor and,
if so, the latter would be liable to be melted down for the Nagpore mint when
issued in large quantities from the Resident’s treasury.
To Maddock from Government, dated 22nd
February 1827.
…With respect to the third point Viz: the
coinage at the Saugor mint of good Nagpore rupees of the value of 14 annas
Farruckabad, you seem to be of opinion that the introduction of a new coin will
tend only to increase confusion while the objects of Government, so far as the
receipt and issue of Farruckabad rupees constitute those objects, may best be
answered without.
It has before been noticed however, that the
objects of Government will not be answered without an entire reform of the
currency, the receipts and issues of the treasuries are a matter of even
subordinate importance to the correction of the frauds, extortions and
impositions arising from the present state of things. The question therefore is
one to be considered purely with reference to the convenience and security of
the public.
The community are used to the small rupee,
the price of labour and of all articles of necessary consumption to the poor is
regulated by it, and the people’s preference of it is sufficiently shown by the
premium rate at which it circulates relative to the coin of Farruckabad. This
rupee therefore cannot be displaced and a more valuable substituted without
some serious inconvenience and much confusion. The new rupee of 14 annas would
act as a substitute for the favoured coin and ultimately be preferred to it.
Being coined in the same mint and receivable at all treasuries at the fixed
rate of its intrinsic par with the Farruckabad, it would always bear the same
batta in respect to that coin. However, it might vary in comparison with the
old Nagpore and other debased and foreign coins.
His Lordship in Council is inclined
therefore to think that the public convenience will materially be [improved?]
by providing the good small rupee that shall circulate with a value of its own,
quite independent of the debased coin, and also that without some measure of
the kind, it will be next to impossible to effect any permanent reform while
the people retain their attachment to the coin of their habitual dealings.
It is of course an object of primary
importance to secure that a similar coin, or one of equal denomination, shall
be coined at Nagpore, in which case the two would circulate together, though of
different appearance and manufacture, in the same manner as the Lucknow and
Farruckabad rupees now circulate in several districts of the regulation
provinces.
Under all the circumstances therefore and
more specifically with reference to the determination to adhere to the rules
for the receipt of the old Nagpore rupees at their bullion value for some time
after the conversion of the engagements shall have been made at the
advantageous rate allowed above to the malgoozars, His Lordship in Council
concurs it will be necessary for the time at least to issue the small coin.
When the people shall have been some time in the habit of estimating value by
it, at a fixed rate with the Farruckabad rupee, the gradual discontinuance of
the coinage of the former will lead without violence or mischief to the general
introduction of the coin of this Government in the manner desired for all
operations.
Such are the views entertained at present on
this subject by the Vice President in Council. In Furtherance of them, the Mint
Committee at Calcutta will be instructed to prepare dies for transmission to
Saugor, preparatory to the commencement of this coinage at your mint. I am
directed to add however that it is far from His Lordship in Council’s desire to
preclude you from further representation on the subject, should you see other
grounds of objection, arising from local circumstances, to which the above principles
will not apply.
You will be pleased to communicate with the
Mint Committee at the Presidency on the subject of the dies that will be
required, and regarding the legend and manner of their preparation. It is
intended that these rupees should always be called Nagpore rupees and
therefore, tho’ readily distinguishable from the coin struck at any of the
native mints, that they should be similar in legend and date with the rupee of
that currency most nearly equal to them in value. On this point, however, His
Lordship in Council is prepared to be guided in a great measure by your
opinion.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/77, No 138. 24th April 1828.
Letter to the Calcutta Mint Committee from
Government dated
I am directed by the Governor General in
Council to transmit to you for information the subjoined copy of a resolution
this day passed by Government on the subject of the abolition of the Saugor
mint.
Resolution
Resolved the mint of Saugor be abolished and
that the establishment attached to it be discharged.
Ordered that the Agent to the Governor
General in the Saugor and Nerbudda territories be directed to remit to the
Benaras mint any bullion or uncurrent coin which may be in balance in the
Saugor mint, and to send to Benaras such part of the machinery as, on
communication with the Mint Master at that place, it may appear to be useful to
transfer.
Mr Maddock will at the same time be
instructed to report in what manner it may appear to him expedient to dispose
of the buildings and such part of the machinery and stores belonging to the
Saugor mint as cannot be advantageously transferred to Benares.
Ordered also that the above resolution be
communicated to the accountant General that he may submit to Government any
observations or suggestions relative to the business of the treasuries in the
Saugor and Nerbudda territories which it may appear necessary or useful to
submit with reference to the abolition of the mint.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/77, No 146. 5th June 1828.
Letter to the Calcutta Mint Committee from
Government, dated
With reference to my letter dated 24th
April last, I am directed by the Governor General in Council to transmit to you
for information, the subjoined copy of a letter this day addressed to the Agent
to the Governor General at Saugor and Nerbudda territories on the subject of
the mint at Saugor.
Letter to the Agent to the Agent to the
Governor General at Saugor and Nerbudda territories from Government, dated
I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter dated the 17th and 22nd ultimo and in reply
to acquaint you, under the information given therein, the Governor General in
Council has been pleased to resolve that the abolition of the Saugor shall be
postponed. You will immediately order the full seignorage duty to be levied, and
at the expiration of the current year 1828/29, you will be pleased to furnish a
particular report on the operations of the establishment that the expediency of
continuing or discontinuing it may again be considered.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/77, No 151. 17th July 1828.
To Calcutta Mint Committee from Government,
dated
I am directed by the Governor General in
Council to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a letter from the Agent to
the Governor General at Saugor and Nerbudda Territories dated the 21st
ultimo, and to request that you will report for the information of Government
if you know of anyone acquainted with the art of assaying and who might be
appointed to supply Major Presgrave’s place.
Letter from Maddock (Agent to the GG) to
Government dated
I perceive by the General orders published
in the Government Gazette of the 9th instant, has been promoted to
the rank of Major and as the regulations of Government, dated 28th
May 1823, prescribe that no officers above the rank of captain shall be
employed in mints, I beg leave to submit for the consideration of Government,
whether the enforcement of that rule in the case of Major Presgrave will not be
injurious to the public interests.
The Saugor mint is at present in a state of
probation, and the arrangement for the internal economy which has been designed
with a view to the most perfect efficiency of the establishment at the least
possible expense to Government and to private individuals, and which reflect
great credit upon Major Presgrave, are still not thoroughly matured, and I feel
persuaded that there ultimate success depends in some measure upon the
management of the mint continuing in the hands of that officer. It appears doubtful
whether the limitation in point of rank of officers who may be employed in
mints, was meant to apply to one holding the officers of Mint Master and Assay
Master conjointly, a charge which is fully as important as several which majors
are entitled to hold, but if a literal interpretation is applied to the rule in
question, Major Presgrave will be liable to immediate removal from the mint
unless the Governor General in Council shall see fit to authorize a special
exception in his favour and, under these circumstances of the case, such a
measure would, I conceive, be highly expedient.
Major Presgrave has not yet completed the
experimental iron bridge on which he has been for some time employed and it
would be desirable that it should be finished and suspended over the river Beos
by that officer rather than by another.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/77, No 167. 28th August 1828.
Letter to the Calcutta Mint Committee from
Government, dated
With reference to your letter dated the 19th
instant, relative to the employment of Captain Presgrave in the Saugor mint,
who has been promoted to the rank of major, I am directed by the Governor
General in Council to transmit to you for information the subjoined copy of a
resolution this day passed by Government on the subject.
The necessary subsidiary orders will issue
from the military department.
Resolution
The Governor General in Council remarks that
it appears impracticable immediately to provide for the conduct of the duties
of the Mint and Assay Master at Saugor in the event of Major Presgrave’s being
removed, and that the continuance of the establishment for any long period
being uncertain, there is no room for any prospective arrangement such as might
otherwise be adopted. Further, in addition to the above duties, Major Presgrave
is engaged in constructing a suspension bridge of the iron of the country, which
it is very desirable he should complete in order that the experiment in regard
to the quality of the iron and the rate at which it can be procured may be
fairly tried. The exigencies of the public service appear therefore to require
that the rule prohibitory to the employment in mints of officers above the rank
of captain should, in the case of Major Presgrave, be suspended. If it shall,
contrary to the present impression of His Lordship in Council, be determined to
keep up the Saugor mint as a permanent establishment, the arrangement to be
made for the office of Mint and Assay Master there will again be taken into
consideration.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/78, No 22. 24th February 1829.
Letter to Government from the Mint
Committee, dated
…and desiring us to report whether reference
to the limited supply of bullion now brought to the Calcutta mint for coinage,
the Banares and Saugor mints need to be maintained.
The amount coined in the Banares mint in
1827/28 was 4,370,208 and at Saugor 866,741. The expenses at the former
exceeded the amount of duty by 76,643 rupees, but this included the cost of
coining above 19 lakhs of rupees on public account. The amount of public
coinage at Saugor in 1827/28 was inconsiderable, being but 75,667. The rest was
coined on account of individuals showing a great increase as compared with the
previous year. The private coinage of 1826/27 was but 43,346 and that of
1827/28 was 791,074. At Saugor a duty of 1 per cent only has hitherto been
charged, but it was sometime since recommended to levy the whole duty of 2 per
cent in which case the private coinage of the last year would have left the net
cost of the Saugor mint not more than 10,000 rupees and it seems to be
advisable to suspend any proceedings with regard to it until the report which
has been required from the Commissioner shall afford further means of judging
how far it is beneficial and necessary…
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/79, No 229. 22nd June 1830.
Letter from Government to the Mint
Committee, dated
I am directed by the Governor General in
Council to transmit to you the accompanying papers noted in the margin relative
to gunner Keating’s military pay and allowances and to request you will state
your opinion as to the proper amount of remuneration to an individual in the
situation of gunner Keating.
You are at the same time to furnish your
opinion as to the propriety and expediency of maintaining the establishment of
the mint at Saugor with reference to considerations of economy and of public
utility.
There then follow several letters about
Keating’s pay.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/79, No 232. 8th December 1830.
Letter from the Mint Committee to
Government, dated 8th December 1830.
The first half is about Keating’s pay then…
…The Committee desire me further to state
that they conceive the Saugor mint may now be abolished. From a statement of
the coinage and charges of that establishment received from the Accountant
General, a copy of which is submitted, it appears that coinage on public
account in 1829/30 little exceeded a lac of rupees, and that on private account
was but 575,000. The charges amounted to 40,463, the duty and profits,
including the copper coinage, to 28,226, leaving a net expense of 12,237
rupees, a charge to which the amount of coinage on account of Government is not
proportionate, nor does the mint appear to be necessary for the convenience of
public intercourse, the amount of private coinage having been stationary for
the last two years, and falling considerably short of the coinage of 1827/18.
Statement of Coinage and Charges from
1825/26 to 1829/30 of the Saugor Mint
|
Year |
Honble Company’s Coinage |
Indl’s Coinage |
Charges |
|
1825/26 |
114,089 |
11,450 |
I have not copied these |
|
1826/27 |
438,419 |
41,477 |
|
|
1827/28 |
72,403 |
750,959 |
|
|
1828/29 |
13,966 |
535,538 |
|
|
1829/30 |
102,097 |
575,679 |
|
|
|
740,974 |
1,921,103 |
|
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/80, No 37. 11th January 1831.
From Government to Mint Committee, Dated 11th
January 1831.
I am directed by the Vice President in
Council to transmit to you for your information and guidance, the subjoined
copy of a letter this day addressed to the Agent to the Governor General in the
Saugor and Nerbudda territories.
To the Agent to the Governor General in the
Saugor and Nerbudda territories, dated 11th January 1831.
I am directed by the Vice President in
Council to inform you that it has this day been resolved to abolish the mint at
Saugor and to discontinue the establishment attached to it, and I am
consequently instructed to request that you will send to Calcutta such part of
the machinery as on communication with the Mint Committee at this place it may
appear to be useful to transfer.
You will at the same time report in what
manner it may appear to you expedient to dispose of the buildings and such part
of the machinery and stores belonging to the Saugor mint as cannot
advantageously be transmitted to Calcutta.
No.38, 39, 40 & 41.
Letters explaining in some detail why the
Saugor mint should be continued, with the Mint Committee eventually agreeing.
. Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/80, No 40 enclosure. 22nd April 1831.
Extract from a letter from Presgrave to the
Agent to the Governor General, 27th April 1831.
A table showing the value in Farruckabad
rupees of 100 Farruckabad (new) sicca weight of each of the under mentioned
sorts of rupees current in the Saugor and
(I have only extracted the list of rupee
types)
|
|
Denomination
of coins |
|
|
Jubulpore rupees |
|
|
Chaudah old rupees |
|
|
Chaudah new rupees |
|
Nagpore Rupees |
Jubra rupees |
|
Muryhola or 7th sun rupees |
|
|
Mehroo rupees |
|
|
Chapha rupees |
|
|
Old [buina sun] rupees |
|
|
Doboondia rupees |
|
|
Neshaader or zereputka rupees |
|
|
Jeen Fooleece or kulgeedar rupees |
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/80, Nos. 156, 157 & 158. April 1831.
Letters to and from Presgrave etc.
In April Presgrave asked for a further
supply of dies from Calcutta for ‘rupees, four and eight anna pieces’. He had
to repeat his request in July.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/80, No 42. 2nd August 1831.
Letter from Government to the Mint
Committee, dated 2nd August 1831.
I am directed by the Vice President in
Council to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated the 16th June
last, with the several papers mentioned to accompany it, recommending the
continuance of the Saugor mint ‘till the 1st May 1833.
In reply I am desired to inform you that
under the circumstances stated and the recommendations of your committee, the
Governor General has sanctioned the continuance of the Saugor mint, but instead
of fixing a distant date for breaking up the establishment, His Lordship has
thought it better that the maintenance of the mint shall be understood to be
dependent on the result of experience as to whether the profits upon the
coinage cover the entire charge incurred and can be reckoned to do so for a
constancy.
The Agent to the Governor General has been
directed to report periodically on this particular point, that in case of a
diminution of the coinage or other failure of the sources of profit from the
establishment, the Government may issue the necessary orders to relieve itself
from the expense, giving such notice prior to abolishing the mint as may from
the circumstances appear necessary.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/47, 2nd October 1832, No 1. 10th May 1832
Letter from the Agent to the Governor
General in Saugor and the Nerbudda Territories to Government, dated 10th
May 1832.
The orders contained in your letter of 21st
December 1826 to cause 14 anna pieces to be coined at the Saugor mint have
never been carried into execution and, as it is highly expedient that a coinage
of equal value with the Nagpore rupees should be put into circulation, I shall
be happy to instruct the Mint Master to manufacture a coinage of this
description should His Honor the Vice President in Council be pleased to
sanction the measure.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/47, 2nd October 1832, No 5. 2nd October 1832.
Letter to the AGG Saugor and Nerbudda
Territories from Government, dated
… On the third point the Vice President in
Council still entertains the same doubts as heretofore as to the possibility of
driving out of circulation a coin of small denomination like the Nagpore rupee
by one of higher nominal and real value, but under the hope you express that a
sufficiency of rupees of the Farruckabad currency will be kept in circulation
for the dealings of Government to be carried on therein, the Vice President in
Council is inclined to think it will not be necessary to look further and as
the order before issued appears never to have been acted upon and is not, in
the opinion of the Vice President in Council unobjectionable, it may continue
to be suspended.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/47, 30th October 1832, No 3. 30th October 1832.
Letter from Government to AGG Saugor &
Nerbudda Territories, dated 30th October 1832.
…With respect to the prospect of Major
Presgrave’s promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, the Vice President in
Council deems it unnecessary to anticipate what may be determined on that
occasion.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/48, 29th March 1833, No 8. 5th February 1833.
Presgrave (at Saugor) to Bentinck.
…It does not at first sight appear why the
prices of bullion and foreign coins, whose intrinsic values are perfectly
known, should thus vary in the Market as compared with the coinage of the
Honorable Company but this fluctuation, it is known, does exist and may be
exemplified in the Balashy rupee, formerly the Mahratta coinage of this city
and continued under the Honorable Company’s Government until the opening of the
present Saugor mint.
The Balashy rupee has been for many years
the current coin of this part of the Saugor and Nerbudda territories. The
natives therefore have been long accustomed and still continue with few
exceptions to make it the medium of all their transactions. It is inferior to
the Farruckabad rupee. The difference in intrinsic value may be taken at 10 per
cent. It generally however passes for more than its assay value. Sometimes the
difference is not more than 4½ or 5 per cent. At others, as during the
collection of land revenues, it falls, or rather, the Farruckabad rupee
becoming more in demand rises consequently in premium to a difference of 12½ or
13 per cent.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/48, 29th March 1833, No 7. 11th March 1833.
Minute by the Governor General (Bentinck),
dated
I beg leave to circulate for the perusal of
Council the remarks of Major Presgrave made at my request upon the various
subjects contained in the report of the Mint Committee at Calcutta under date
the 29th October last.
I have seen no public establishment in
India, the good management of which struck me more favourably than that of the
Saugor mint under Major Presgrave. The machinery, if it can be so called for it
consists for the most part of the simple apparatus of the native mints, and the
agency are exclusively native. The process is native, improved, but not
changed, by the ingenuity and mechanical genius which this officer possesses in
so eminent a degree. Near to Saugor [is] a beautiful iron suspension bridge surpassing
every other I have seen in India formed of ore taken from the neighbouring
mines, cast by him, and the whole planned and erected without a model, and
without his ever having seen any work of the same kind.
I should be very glad to see a comparative
statement of the charge for coining in the Saugor and Calcutta mints, and the
difference the result between the simple process and almost manual labour of
the one and the splendid machinery of the other with its European
establishment. To the eye there was no decidedly perceptible difference in the
appearance of the coins manufactured at the two mints.
Another paper of Major Presgrave describes
the great variety of rupees current in the Saugor & Nerbudda territories.
The greater part are coined in the Nagpoor mint & it will appear remarkable
that the quantity of each coinage in that state differs from that of the
others. It would be a great convenience to trade generally if rupees of all the
mints had the same quantity of silver and alloy as our Farruckabad rupees so
that an uniform currency should prevail. Next to this it would be desirable that
all the rupees coined in each state should be of the same standard.
It is deserving of consideration whether
this recommendation should not be made to the Rajah of Nagpoor and to the other
chiefs and prices in Malwa and Rajpootana.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/172/32, March Nos 4 & 5. March 1833.
Letters requesting more dies from Calcutta
for use at Saugor mint – rupee, 4 and 8 anna pieces.
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/32, April No 13. 29th April 1833.
Letter from Prinsep to Presgrave dated 29th
April 1833.
Asks for a statement of the copper coinage
of Saugor during 1831/32
Bengal Consultations. IOR
P/162/32, August No 9. 29th May 1833.
Letter from Presgrave to Prinsep, dated 29th
May 1833.
I have the honor to enclose a statement of
the copper coinage accounts of the Saugor mint made up, as desired, separate
from the silver accounts for the year 1831/32.
Prior to August 1831 copper was purchased to
carry on coinage of pice. Large sums of cash were from time to time paid out of
the mint for that purpose. Since that period I have succeeded in carrying on
the coinage in a more advantageous manner for Government which I trust will not
escape the notice of the committee. Under the present arrangements no cash
whatever is laid out in the purchase of copper and none in the payment of
expenses of manufacturing the copper into pice.
The merchant brings his copper and deposits
it in the mint to be coined for him at convenience, that is, when the
workmen (Durabs) are not employed on the silver coinage. In proportion, as the
quantity of silver for coinage in the mint is greater, so is the manufacture of
copper into pice decreased.
The copper being coined the whole of its
weight into pice is given to the proprietor, who pays:
1st the cost of all the expenses
on the manufacture of it into pice, which amounts to 15..14..6 per maund.
2nd A nett profit to Government
(which in the account herewith transmitted is called duty) of 25 rupees per
maund.
The above charges of 25 rupees a maund for
duty and 15..14..6 for the expenses of making the pice, are paid by the
merchants, not in pice, but in silver rupees. Consequently the mint remains
unencumbered with any stock of pice. At first the practice was to take this
amount of duty in pice, but that creating a stock in the mint, it was
discontinued. Rupees were taken for duty and pice were taken (from those
coined) form the merchants as they were required for use or to supply the
treasuries whenever they required them, and thus there are no larger stocks of
pice in any of the treasuries supplied from the Saugor mint, than are required.
The merchants also pay for two chuprassies
employed in the mint to look after the copper coinage.
When pice are required at any of the
district treasuries they are taken from those in the mint coined for
individuals from whom they are purchased and remitted to the district treasury
requiring them. The carriage of them to their destination is defrayed by the
merchant who also pays a pandar or responsible man to accompany them and count
them over.
The charge to the merchant of 15..14..6 per
maund includes all expenses of making, stamping, bags, dies.
No extra establishment is entertained in the
mint for the coinage of copper.
There then follows a statement including:
Pice made May 1831 to April 1832 5,974,415
|
Remitted to the Saugor treasury |
288,500 |
|
Jubbulpore treasury |
650,000 |
|
Hussingabad treasury |
780,000 |
|
Baitool treasury |
520,000 |
|
Rehily treasury |
195,000 |
Letter to Government from C Morley, dated
With reference to the large amount of copper
currency, as per margin, in store in the district treasuries of the Lower and
Western provinces including the Ceded Territories, ascertained from the last
received cash balance reports and to that on the copper pice coined on account
of Government and individuals at the Saugor mint during the past four years, I
have the honor to recommend for the consideration of the Right Honorable the
Governor General in Council the propriety of immediately prohibiting the
coinage of copper by that mint…
Letter from the Mint Committee to
Government, dated
A letter about the comparative costs of
coinage at
Number of Pice Produced in Rupee Value
|
|
|
Banares |
Saugor |
|
1813 to 1825,6 |
587,785 |
|
|
|
1815 to 1820 |
|
593,657 |
|
|
1820 to 1823 |
|
253,320 |
|
|
1823 to 1826 |
|
89,000 |
|
|
1826/27 |
|
74,161 |
|
|
1827/28 |
|
214,267 |
6898 |
|
1828/29 |
105,192 |
78,336 |
|
|
1829/30 |
170,200 |
85,399 |
82,700 |
|
1830/31 |
402,116 |
|
40,828 |
|
1831/32 |
567,416 |
|
73,207 |
|
1832/33 |
268,976 |
|
79,755 |
Letter from the
I am directed by the Mint Committee to
transmit to you the accompanying specimens of Tirsoolee pice and request you to
say whether any of them are of the coinage of the Sagur Mint, and firther
whether any can be pronounced to be spurious? Should you have been careful in
preserving an uniformity in the die of your copper
coin, or should you have adopted any private mark whence you can recognize the
coinage of the Saugor Mint, the Committee will be obliged by your furnishing
specimens for deposit in this office.
Letter from Presgrave to
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
of your letter of 23rd April and for the information of the Mint
Committee to inform you that of the five specimens of pice only one (No. 4) is
of the coinage of the Saugor Mint. The remaining are, three of the Benares Mint
and one a forgery upon the
|
|
Grains |
|
|
No.1 |
95.25 |
37 sun |
|
No.2 |
94.7 |
37 sun |
|
No.3 |
95.5 |
37 sun |
|
No.5 |
96.4 |
37 sun |
|
No.6 |
98.6 |
Sun 45, A Saugor
Pice |
The above pice I have returned with this
letter
I have enclosed three specimens of the
copper coinage of Saugor Viz
|
No.6 |
First Coinage. From 1826 to April 1833 bearing sun 45 and the
Tirsoolee on both sides of the coin |
|
No.7 |
Coinage of 7 months in 1833 bearing 45 sun.
On these the tirsoolee is only on one side of the pice |
|
No.8 |
The last coinage. 200 maunds of copper sanctioned by Government after
the coinage had been discontinued |
The pice bear no private mark but are known
and easily recognized by their general appearance. All Saugor pice bear the sun
45. The same is borne by the Farrukhabad rupees, whilst all the pice coined at
It may not be out of place here to state
that a most extensive and barefacedly open manufacture of almost all kinds of
copper pice has been carried on for the last 20 years or more at Nagoud, a town
in the Rewah country, also in various other villages in that neighbourhood and
in Boondilkhund.
In consequence of the appearance of base
pice intended for circulation as Saugor Mint pice, I was not unsuccessful in
discovering four shops (at Nagoud) and several coiners, some of whose dies were
seized.
The profession of the proprietors of these
shops is to coin ‘Bissennaut’ pice’, that is Rewah pice which they did by
authority of the Raja. However, under this blind they have carried on for years
a far more lucrative manufacture, that of forging all kinds of pice. This
manufacture is not limited to the town and neighbourhood of Nagoud, although
the term Nagoudia is applied to all spurious coins whether gold, silver or
copper in this part of
So long as the petty Rajahs of the
surrounding states are permitted to have mints and strike their own coin,
encouragement will be afforded to the fabrication of base money.
The system, amongst the petty Rajahs, is to
have an enclosed piece of ground containing houses for the accomodation of
coiners. Within this enclosure, any, and as many, people who will pay two
rupees a month for every anvil they employ, may live and work at making pice
for any merchant who may bring copper and pay them for their labour, an
understand existing between the Rajah (who does not trouble himself about what
is coined) and the coiners, that if any of the latter are traced out as forgers
and application is made for them by the British authorities, the Rajah will not
protect but deliver them up. At the same time he will himself offer them no
molestation or hinderance, they, with their risk before them, taking their own
precautionary measures to avoid detection by strangers. In this way they coin
for merchants the Rajah’s pice openly and in the day, whilst the fabrication of
pice requiring circumspection is carried on away from public observation and
during the night.
I beg to enclose specimens of some of the
forgeries that have been practiced upon the
Letter from the
I have the honor by the direction of the
Mint Committee to forward for your information copy of the resolution of the
Supreme Government Communicated through the Government of Bengal, for the
abolition of the Saugor Mint.
As directed by Mr Secretary Bushby, the Mint
Committee has acquainted Colonel Presgrave therewith, and has requested that
officer to submit a bill for the difference of his salary as Mint and Assay
Master and of what he would have received as Lieutenant Colonel in command of a
regiment, namely 150 rupees per mensum from the date of his promotion. He has
likewise been directed to make up a statement of the mint establishment in
advance to the 31st October, the sanction of Government having been
solicited for the granting of a months pay to all the subordinates and workmen
on this occasion of their being paid off and discharged.
In reference to para 4 of Mr Secretary
Bushby’s letter, I am directed to request that you will arrange with Colonel
Presgrave as to the disposal of the machinery, stores and buildings of the
Saugor mint, subject of course to the direction of the Government of the Agra
Presidency.
Adverting to the latter part of the same
para, the Committee presume that the Agra Government has been requested by the
Supreme Government of India to issue the necessary istructions for the
transmission of any Government bullion balance, remaining in the mint, to
Any suggestions you may have to offer on the
expediency of establishing a depot for the exchange of rupees of legal currency
for the bullion of merchants or for the uncurrent rupees of the province, will,
inaccordance with the 2nd para of the Government orders, be
addressed to the Agra Government. On this subject, I am directed to put you in
possession of a copy of the opinions and suggections of the Committee contained
in a recent report to Government on the operations of the Saugor Mint.
Letter to
I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 8th
instant with its enclosure, viz letter from the secreary to the the Government
of Bengal dated 25th ultimo relative to the disposal of the Saugor
mint buildings, machinery, dies etc.
The whole have been transferred to the charge of Lieutenant McSmith
officiating Principal Assistant of Saugor to enable Colonel Presgrave to join
his regiment which was duly reported to, and received the sanction of
Government. Consequently it can signify little whether the machinery, tools etc
remain a few days longer where they are not [?]. Regarding the building, I
shall shortly be at Saugor, and will make inquiries as to the best means of
disposing of it. Regarding the machinery and stores I would venture to suggest
a mosification of the orders of Government.
All machinery exclusively calculated for coining, I will at once send
into the magazine, but by looking over the enclosed list od stores you will
perceive that some would be useless in the magazine, some would not pay their
carriage to the magazine, some may be turned to account in other ways, some had
best be broken up and some sold off to the highest bidder.
I would propose to be allowed some latitude in the disposal of the
stores, to let the magazibe officers select such tools etc as may be of use to
them. The English office table, Almirahsfor records and such as these, may be
advantageously transferred to the Principal Assistant or some other office. The
brass badges (hitherto I suppose worn by Chuprassees attached to the mint)
should be broken up and sold as old metal or used in the magazine, and so on as
may be deemed expedient on an inspection of the stores.
Regarding the dies, the orders in the first paragraph of the letter from
the Secretary to Government, are to break then up, but in the next it is
proposed that serviceable dies should be sent to Calcutta, on which I beg the
favour of definite instructions. I think it would be best to deface them on the
spot, in presence of some officer. This will effectually prevent them being
ever turned to any bad purpose, for as a new coin is to be introduced the
former dies are useless and they might possibly be stolen on their way to
Calcutta.
There then follows a long list of the items in the mint.
Letter from
They agree with suggestions in previous letter. Dies to be defaced by a
blow of a chisel after having been softened by heat and then sent to