$319.
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
19
C.O.
Reference :-
· 885
10 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
SIB,
No. 198.
(FALKLAND ISLANDS.)
TREASURY SOLICITOR to TREASURY.
FALKLAND ISLANDS.-TREASURE TROVE.
Treasury, July 17, 1863.
Mr Lords having been pleased to refer to me the papers noted in the margin, relative to the above matter, I beg to report that I submitted a case upon the subject to the Attorney and Solicitor General, which, with their opinion thereon, I beg to enclose.
Their Lordships will perceive that the Law Officers have taken the same views as those I had the honour to express in my report of the 1st June last, regarding the Crown's right to the treasure in question, if discovered, and as to the proper mode of finding the Crown's title thereto by inquest of office.
Upon the course of proceeding in order to discover the treasure, and with reference to the vessel already chartered on a voyage in search of it, I hesitated to advise, and thought it proper to consult the Law Officers of the Crown.
It will be for my Lords to determine what course should be taken in reference to those particulars, having regard to the opinion of the Attorney and Solicitor General.
I enclose a copy of the finding of the jury in the case of the Mountfield Treasure Trove, which should be sent to the Colony as a guide for the form of inquest.
The Secretary of the Treasury.
I am, &c.
(Signed) H. R. REYNOLDS.
Rape of Hastings, An inquisition indented taken for our Sovereign Lady the Sussex to wit. Queen, at the dwelling house of Richard Thompson, known by the name of The John's Cross Inn, in the parish of Mountfield, in the rape of Hastings, in the county of Sussex, on the 27th day of March, in the year of our Lord 1863, before me, Nathaniel Polhill Kell, gentleman, coroner for the said rape, by virtue of my said office and of the statute in that case made and provided, upon the oaths of Isaac Mannington, James Crouch, Thomas Buss, Robert Fuller, Daniel Olney, John Pinyon, Edward Muggeridge, Thomas Badcock, James Moon, Richard Tempson, Joseph Tempson, George Hayward, and Isaac Thompson, the several persons whose names are hereunder written and seals affixed, good and lawful men of the said rape, duly chosen and here assembled before me at the time and place aforesaid, and now here duly sworn and charged to inquire on the part of and for Our Sovereign Lady the Queen of and concerning certain treasure lately found in the earth and soil of and in a certain field situate and being in the parish of Mountfield, and in the occupation of one Thomas Adams, of the said parish of Mountfield, farmer, and they the said jurors being duly sworn and charged upon their oath aforesaid to inquire on the part of our said Lady the Queen, of and concerning the said treasure as aforesaid, and having heard evidence upon oath produced to them, do on their oath aforesaid say that on the 12th day of January, in the year of our Lord 1863, William Butchers, of the said parish of Mountfield, labourer, being employed by the said Thomas Adams in ploughing in the said field, did then and there find deposited, hidden, and concealed in and under the earth and soil of the said field, in the parish of Mountfield aforesaid, in the rape aforesaid, certain pieces of old gold of the weight of 11 pounds or thereabouts, and of the value of 530, and upwards sterling of current moneys of this realm, and which said pieces of old gold were of ancient times deposited, hidden, and concealed as aforesaid, and the owner or owners whereof cannot now be known, and the jurors aforesaid on their oath aforesaid, do further say that the said several pieces of old gold so deposited, hidden, concealed, and found as aforesaid before and at the time of so finding the same as aforesaid, were and from thence hitherto have been and still are the gold money and property of our said Lady the now Queen. And the jurors aforesaid, upon their oath aforesaid, do further say that the said William Butchers and Silas Thomas, of the said parish of Mountfield, bricklayer, and Stephen Willett, of the town and port of Hastings, cab proprietor, from the time of the said finding until and at the time of the taking of this inquisition at the said parish of Mountfield, in the said rape of Hastings, in the said county of Sussex, concealed the said finding of the said several pieces of old gold from
A
16978,-359. 25.--9/86.