Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 10.djvu/293

Rh Since I writ this, calling to mind that I had some copper halfpence by me, I weighed them with those of Mr. Culla, and observed as follows.

First, I weighed Mr. Culla's halfpenny against an English one of king Charles II; which outweighed Mr. Culla's a fourth part, or 25 per cent.

I likewise weighed an Irish Patrick and David halfpenny, which outweighed Mr. Culla's 12½ per cent. It had a very fair and deep impression, and milled very skilfully round.

I found that even a common harp halfpenny, well preserved, weighed equal to Mr. Culla's. And even some of Wood's halfpence were near equal in weight to his. Therefore, if it be true that he does not think Wood's copper to have been faulty, he may probably give us no better.

I have laid these loose thoughts together with little order, to give you, and others who may read them, an opportunity of digesting them better. I am no enemy to Mr. Culla's project; but I would have it put upon a better foot. I own that this halfpenny of king Charles II, which I weighed against Mr. Culla's, was of the fairest kind I had seen. However, it is plain, the crown could afford it without being a loser. But it is probable that the officers of the mint were then more honest than they have since thought fit to be; for I confess not to have met those of any other year so weighty, or in appearance of so good metal, among all the copper coins of the three last reigns; yet these, however, did much outweigh those of Mr. Culla; for I have tried the experiment on a hundred of them. I have indeed seen accidentally one or two very light: but it must certainly have been done by chance; or rather I suppose them to be