| Description | The case of Pednandrea Mine was slightly different to the cases of other Cornish mines withholding premium payments. The owners or "adventurers" of Pednandrea first enquired about a Boulton & Watt engine in 1796. After various negotiations they purchased a 63 inch engine which had formerly worked at Poldice Mine. However the adventurers, led by Samuel Carpenter, considered Boulton & Watt’s premium demands for the engine excessive, and they hired Edward Bull to erect the engine "upon another, & different plan or principle to that adopted by… James Watt" in order to avoid a lawsuit (from No. 10, Carpenter’s Answer, p. 4). Bull erected the engine in October 1797, but in November William Murdock was requested to work on the engine and alter it to Boulton & Watt’s principles as it was in very poor condition. A dispute then ensued between Samuel Carpenter and Boulton & Watt’s Cornish agent Thomas Wilson about the terms of agreement for working the engine. Boulton & Watt took legal advice from J. Campbell of Lincolns Inn, and the case went to the Court of Chancery in June 1798. |