Also brought up the point that the mint was not at the seat of government, which had been moved to Washington, and if mint was to be removed steps should be taken immediately regarding it.
Also called attention to workmen in gold and silver melting down coins for commercial purposes to the loss of the United States.
Mr. Hillhouse, of the committee to whom was referred the report of the director of the mint to the President of the United States, on January 8, 1800, recommended, on March 18, 1800, that a committee be appointed to bring in a bill for repealing the first section of the Act entitled, “An Act establishing a mint and regulating the coins of the United States....” dated April 21, 1792, and such other sections and parts of sections of said Act as relate to the establishment of the mint, and to provide for taking care of the materials and property appertaining to the mint and which belong to the United States; and, further, that the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to report a plan for furnishing the United States with cents and half-cents as shall be deemed necessary or expedient.
February 13, 1801, Elias Boudinot advised the President that the Secretary of State, Secretary of Treasury, Comptroller of the Treasury, the Chief Justice and Attorney-General were not present on the day specified by law to assay reserved pieces of coins, and that the depositors complained of their being deprived of their reserved money, and that the check on coinage contemplated by law was frustrated. Also mentioned that the act of July 16, 1790, provided for removal of all offices attached to the seat of government to the District of Columbia on the first Monday in December, 1800. Called attention to Act of last session of Congress locating mint in Philadelphia until March 4th next.
PLANCHETS FOR COPPER CENTS, HALF CENTS AND SILVER CENTRE CENTS, ALSO PIECE OF SCRAP COPPER FROM WHICH A HALF CENT WAS STRUCK, ALL FOUND WHILE EXCAVATIONS WERE BEING MADE FOR NEW BUILDING 631 FILBERT STREET. SIZE 15/16 OF ORIGINALS.
He, on February 27, 1802, in a communication to the Secretary of the Treasury, calls attention to outstanding contracts for copper abroad which were obligatory, and the difficulty attending the securing of copper in the past. Questioned the scheme of importing coined copper cents because of a chance of a flood of lightweight cents contrary to law, and suggested that the government would have greater security by placing contract in United States.
On March 4, 1802, Robert Scott, engraver at the mint, wrote the Secretary of Treasury, Albert Gallatin, calling attention to the probability of abolishment of the mint, explained the sacrifices he had made and desired to be invested with the exclusive privilege, according to law, of furnishing cents of the regular weight and quality free of all expense to the government at the face value.
In a letter dated March 22, 1802, Mint of the United States, Philadelphia, Elias Boudinot wrote the Secretary of Treasury, giving an inventory of the real and personal property of the mint, as follows: