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[Page 26]
of alloy is has not been exceeded, he also assays the money after it is Compleated & must assent to its perfection both in weight & in Purity before it Can be deliverd. by his Pot assays, as they are Calld, which is the assay of the Bars before they are passed from the melter to the moneyers, he is able to detect all attempts at an increase of alloy, which if Coined to the Extent of the Remedy would Create cause a vast Loss to the Public & Equal gain to Some persons, to his Care & attention & to that of his Predecessor must be attrib attributed the great perfection of the Coins of the Present Reign which exceeds all that has gone before it, his Trust is Evidently beyond any other in the office and in his Probity is Liable to abundance of temptation, & to in this & his Skills the whole perfection of the Coin actualy depends
The business of the Kings Assayer is great Coinage incessant, Should he Stop all the business of the office must Stand Still, in Fact in Brish [British ?] Coinages it is too much for any one Person he is therefore allowd an assistant under the name of his Probationer who if he attains the Skills & practices the Probity of his master, is sure to Succeed to his appointment; in the Case of Mr Harris formerly the Kings Assay