“_Royal Mint, November 6th, 1856._
“MY DEAR SIR,—
“I am happy to inform you that your nomination to office in the
Mint has been approved by the Treasury.
“Would you favour me with a call to-day before three o’clock, if
quite convenient; or, if not, to-morrow morning after eleven.
“Ever truly yours,
“GEORGE FREDERICK ANSELL, ESQ.” “THOMAS GRAHAM.
I was thus appointed to a supernumerary clerkship, and took office in
the Rolling Room of the Royal Mint; but before doing so I particularly
inquired of Mr. Graham, in the presence of Mr. W. H. Barton, the then
Deputy-Master, what authority I should have, and how far I should be
supported if I attempted to enforce obedience, and whether I was at
liberty to call for statements and examine original documents and
books. He verbally authorised me to examine such books as I wished
to examine, and desired Mr. Barton to give me such statements or
information as I might ask for; and as to my authority, he said, “If
you order the men to dance a hornpipe on the table, they shall do it,
and all orders shall pass through your hands.” With such power, and a
salary of £120 a year, or rather £10 a month, I took office on the 12th
November, 1856.
An examination of the books in the Royal Mint will prove that I quickly
corrected the irregularities in the Rolling Room, and increased the
amount of finished work by 100 per cent. Loss of bullion became unknown
in that room.
In the Adjusting and Cutting Room, however, the losses and rejected
work continued to be astounding, the loss averaging seven ounces of
gold per diem, and for days together running so high as twelve ounces.
The Master had many times urged me to relinquish the direction of the
Rolling Room, and to take charge of the Cutting Room. I, however,
maintained that it was wiser “to begin at the beginning and clear up as
I went.” To this he reluctantly assented, but on the 25th of February,
1857, the officer who had charge of that department, as well as of the
Weighing Room, exhibited so decided an opposition to the written order
of the Master, that it became necessary for me to yield the point.
On that day I changed duties with the officer alluded to. The Master
wished me also to superintend and assist the officer so removed to the
Rolling Room, and I made a note to that effect in the official book of
that department, which doubtless still remains.
It had been the custom with officers in the Mint to consider it
derogatory to understand practically the machines in use, and the
officer whom I replaced did not know for years afterwards whether the
cylinders used in the Drag Bench were fixed or movable, and described
them as “going round like the rollers!!!” I had, however, a different
opinion; and, notwithstanding the scorn and contempt of the “gentlemen”
of the Mint, made myself minutely acquainted with all details, so
that I could perform the manual labour of each workman; this had been
observed, and when I took charge of the Adjusting and Cutting Rooms
the foreman of those rooms barricaded himself in his recess with a
determination to prevent me seeing his operations. I stepped from one
copper trough to another, and thus placed myself at his side, greatly
to his astonishment. His remarks were significant, “You mean to learn
the duties?” “I do.” To which he replied, “Man proposes, God disposes.”
I directed the removal of the barricades, and invited the foreman into
my private room, where a little conversation enabled him to understand
his new officer.
I then delegated to Mr. Richard Pilcher the charge of the Weighing
Room, and gave him the key of the stronghold in that room: while I
remained in the Mint he retained that position, and still holds it. He
served me faithfully and fearlessly.
Subsequently I weighed to the foreman of the Cutting and Adjusting
Room, in the presence of himself and the workmen, a given weight of
gold, which I watched in its progress, and weighed at each stop. As was
to be expected, there was a final increase of weight: many explanations
were asked, and given; but I firmly demanded all the gold so delivered,
each day, and thus replaced _habitual loss_ by habitual gain.
Without passing into too minute detail, it is sufficient to state, that
while some men were removed, others were introduced. That these changes
were made by me I can conclusively prove by the Master’s written orders
and letters to that effect. But the following letter to the Treasury
seems to tell an indisputable tale.
EXTRACTS FROM LETTER OF MASTER OF THE MINT TO THE
LORDS OF THE TREASURY.
_Royal Mint, August 6, 1857._
“The late foreman, who was dismissed.... The dismissal of
J—— B——, late foreman in the Adjusting and Cutting
Rooms, arose out of an investigation respecting the nature
and extent of the waste of bullion in the operations of
coining, which is a subject demanding the most watchful
attention in the direction of a Mint. This loss is
understood to have been represented by the moneyers as
averaging 7 parts in 10,000 parts of gold coined, or £700
in one million sterling coined; and it has continued
undiminished under the new arrangements. Such an amount of
loss of metal appeared to me excessive, and certainly is so
when compared with the corresponding loss in the Mint of
Paris, which I am informed on good authority lies between
3 and 5 parts only in 10,000 parts of metal, and this with
much hurry of execution, and with inferior machinery, and
other circumstances against the Paris Mint.
“The appointment of the new officers, Mr. —— and Mr.
Ansell, in the Coining Department gave me means of laying
out the inquiry with effect. It is a subject of considerable
difficulty from the circumstances that the losses to be
detected, as they occur, are minute in themselves, although
their cumulative effect is great; and such losses are
often masked and concealed by legitimate change of weight
in the bullion, due to oxidation of the alloy, adhering
oil, &c. Without entering into details I may state that I
have reasons to believe the inquiry will result in a large
reduction of our waste, and great profit to the Mint, which
I trust will appear in the returns of the next gold coinage.
A portion of the loss is traced to culpable proceedings on
the part of the dismissed foreman, who, as tryer of fillets,
appears to have occasioned much mischief by producing bad
work (blanks out of remedy) seemingly with a purpose.
* * * * *
“By the vigorous action of two of these officers, Mr. ——
and Mr. Ansell, great economy has been enforced throughout
the Coining Department. Mr. Ansell, since his appointment in
November last, has been acting on the salary of a temporary
clerk, £10 a month, with the addition of £2 10_s._ per
month when engaged from 8 A.M. till 6 P.M.
I now beg strongly to recommend that Mr. Ansell’s
monthly salary shall be increased to £12 10_s._, in
consideration of his valuable services, with the addition of
£2 10_s._ per month when engaged from 8 A.M.
to 6 P.M. as heretofore.
* * * * *
(The master then goes on to request my Lords to do this
for Mr. Ansell.)
“THO. GRAHAM.
“_August 6, 1857_ (No. 1114).”
In this letter the Master justly attributes the stoppage
of the losses to the dismissal of J—— B——, at my
recommendation, and in consequence of my investigation, as
is proved by my Report to the Master, and by his letter to
the Treasury, copies of which I can furnish; but that this
was the case is demonstrated by the following order:—
“_Royal Mint, 10th July, 1857._
“Ordered that J—— B—— be discharged from the service of
the Mint, in consequence of frequent neglect and inaccuracy
as Tryer in the Adjusting and Cutting Rooms of the Coining
Department, in accordance with the Report of Mr. Ansell, of
July 8th. Confirmed by Mr. Buckle.
(Signed) “THO. GRAHAM.”
(EXTRACT.) LETTER FROM THE TREASURY TO THE MASTER OF THE MINT.
“_25th August, 1857._
“My Lords sanction proposed arrangements of the 6th, but
desire to receive a Report of the circumstances connected
with the dismissal of J—— B——, in consequence of the
investigation respecting waste of bullion.
(Signed) “W. H. STEPHENSON.
“_Mint (No. 1163), 27th August, 1857._”
I, in consequence of this letter from the Treasury, went to Somerset
House and to Doctors’ Commons, and obtained many particulars relating
to J—— B——; and the Master wrote a Report to the Treasury, of which I
have, and can produce, a copy: it is dated 15th June, 1858.
(EXTRACT.) LETTER FROM THE LORDS OF THE TREASURY TO THE
MASTER OF THE MINT.
“_Treasury Chambers, 3rd September, 1858._
“SIR,
“In reply to your letter, dated 17th ultimo, recommending
the grant of increased salaries to Messrs. —— and Ansell,
I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s
Treasury to state, that although they readily admit
Messrs. —— and Ansell’s claims upon their favourable
consideration, they cannot authorise the full amount
recommended for them: their Lordships are pleased to fix
Mr. —— and Mr. Ansell’s salary at two hundred and twenty
pounds a year, including the allowance hitherto received by
him for additional attendance—both these augmentations to
take effect from the commencement of the present year.
(Signed) “C. E. TREVELYAN.
“_Treasury (No. 14409), 3rd September._
“THE MASTER OF THE MINT.”
Notwithstanding these facts the Master of the Mint, towards the
end of 1859, showed by his actions that he meant to introduce his
bankrupt brother, to whose character your Lordship alluded in the
House of Lords; and whose ignorance of the duties, coupled with great
inequality of temper and intemperate habits, rendered him totally unfit
for the office. Such being the unmistakable intention of Mr. Graham,
who disregarded the advice tendered to him by influential persons, I
addressed to him the letter which follows:—