HC Deb 21 June 1842 vol 64 cc344-5
Sir G. Cockburn

stated, that in consequence of what had been stated last night in reference to the alleged payment of the crew of the Pique in light sovereigns, he had since made further inquiries into the matter, and had found that every sovereign that was sent down to Portsmouth to pay off the Pique was previously weighed, and ascertained to be full weight. Two thousand sovereigns were transmitted at the same time for the payment of the Pique's crew and of the dockyard men, and every one of these sovereigns were first proved to be full weight. At Plymouth there had been a few cases in which sailors had been inadvertently partly paid in light sovereigns; but in every instance, on the mistake being pointed out, the deficient sovereign was taken back and a full-weight coin given.

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