The Musical Sofa

Official Misconduct of Franklin Peale, just uploaded to NNP at https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/536010, details charges leveled against the 19th century Chief Coiner of the Mint. Peale was in particular accused of using Mint workmen to equip a trumpet mechanism with a sofa, "designed to terrify children and disturb the nerves of female visitors." More seriously, Peale was charged with lining his own pocket in the production of award medals contracted to the Mint. Although a public domain document, copies of Official Misconduct are uncommon, and it is presented publicly here for the first time.