| Description | INTRODUCTION
This volume is entitled on the front cover, in a hand which is probably William D. Brown’s, "M.B. 1780 to 1789." It contains 114 pages, on which are fixed the documents listed below. The pages and entries have now been numbered, but the numbers are not original.
The documents are all press-copies, except 8, 20, 37, 62, 81, 82, 94, 95, 107, and 116, which are drafts. Most of the copies are of originals in Boulton’s own hand, exceptions being noted in the list; a few of them are incomplete. All the drafts were written by Boulton.
The documents in this book derive from several distinct periods; for example, 1-18 are all dated between 22 Apr. 1780 and 3 Aug. 1780 (that is, till just before Boulton’s expedition to Cornwall, when he began Letter Book IV); and after this, with the single exception of the draft letter to the Anglesey Copper Company (20), the sequence does not begin again till January 1783. Inside the front cover is a memorandum by William D. Brown pointing out that 79-84 "are placed out of their course" after November 1788.
Transcripts of 19, 25, 30, 43, 55, and 117 will be found at the end of the list of Contents.
CONTENTS
Page
1. Calculations from experiments made upon the Chelsea Old Engine and New
Engine, 15 May 1778 and 6 Jul. 1779. c. 1780. 1
2. Matthew Boulton [London] to James Watt [Birmingham]. c. Apr. 1780. 2
3. Matthew Boulton (London) to John Edwards [? Hayle]. 22 Apr. 1780. 3
4. Matthew Boulton (London) to James Watt [Birmingham]. 14 May 1780. 5
5. Matthew Boulton (London) to James Watt [Birmingham]. 17 May 1780. 9
6. Matthew Boulton (London) to John Fothergill [Birmingham]. 24 May 1780. 10
7. Matthew Boulton [London] to John Fothergill [Birmingham]. 30 Jun. 1780. 12
8. Matthew Boulton (London) to Col. Watson. 10 Jun. 1780. 14
(Draft.)
9. Matthew Boulton (London) to Jabez Carter Hornblower. 30 May 1780. 15
10. Memorandum. Matthew Boulton (—) to Zaccheus Walker. Jul. 1780. 16
11. Bills of exchange to William Matthews, on (i) John Bligh, and (ii) the Governor
and Company of Shadwell Water Works. 17
(Copy of transcripts of two bills.)
12. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to James Maubrey (London). 22 Jul. 1780. 19
13. Matthew Boulton (—) to James Watt. 20
14. Boulton & Fothergill (Soho) to [the East India Company] [London].
28 Aug. 1780. 21
(In an unidentified hand.)
15. Matthew Boulton (London) to James Watt. 24 Apr. 17— . 23
16. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to [Mrs. Elizabeth Montagu]. 31 Jul. 1780. 24
17. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to George Mackay (London). 1 Aug. 1780. 26
(Directed to the Glass Warehouse, Blackfriars Bridge.)
18. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to John McIntosh [London]. 3 Aug. 1780. 27
(Includes an order to be passed to George Mackay.)
19. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Charles Foreman. 11 Jan. 1783. 28
20. Matthew Boulton (—) to the Anglesey Copper Company. Jul. 1781. 29
(A draft. Docketed ‘Intended letter for the Anglesea Copper Company.’)
21. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to William Matthews [London]. 11 Jan. 1783. 30
22. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to William Matthews [London]. 9 Apr. 1783. 31
23. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to William Matthews [London]. 2 Aug. 1783. 31
24. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Samuel Aislabie. 28 Jan. 1784. 32
25. Matthew Boulton [Soho] to Miss Elizabeth Vernon Fothergill. [28 Jan. 1784.] 32
(Addressed to "Bessey." Copied on the same sheet as 24.)
26. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Samuel Moore. 27 Jan. 1784. 32
27. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Thomas Day (—). 27 Jan. 1784. 33
28. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to William Matthews [London]. 30 Apr. 1784. 33
29. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Joseph Rathbone [? Coalbrookdale]. 23 Apr. 1784. 34
30. Matthew Boulton (Birmingham) to —. 12 Feb. 1784. 34
31. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to John Wilkinson. 23 Apr. 1784. 35
32. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Catherine Barker. 3 May 1784. 35
33. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to William Matthews [London]. 16 Dec. 1784. 36
34. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Thomas Wilson. 10 Feb. 1785. 38
35. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Thomas Wilson. 10 Feb. 1785. 39
36. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Mrs. Turner. 10 Feb. 1785. 40
37. Matthew Boulton [Soho] to Thomas Day (Anningsley). c. Oct. 1780. 40
(Draft.)
38. Matthew Boulton (Chacewater) to William Matthews [London]. 5 Sep. 1785. 41
39. Matthew Boulton (Chacewater) to John Hurd. 5 Sep. 1785. 43
40. Matthew Boulton (Chacewater) to Josiah Wedgwood. 5 Sep. 1785. 44
41. Matthew Boulton (Chacewater) to George Watson Jr. 5 Sep. 1785. 45
42. Matthew Boulton (Chacewater) to John Scale. 7 Sep. 1785. 46
43. Minutes of a meeting of the Cornish Metal Company at Truro. 1 Sep. 1785. 47
(In an unidentified hand.)
44. Matthew Boulton (Chacewater) to Samuel Wyatt. 12 Sep. 1785. 48
45. Matthew Boulton (Chacewater) to James Watt. 14 Sep. 1785. 49
46. Matthew Boulton (Chacewater) to Samuel Garbett. 7 Sep. 1785. 50
47. Matthew Boulton (Chacewater) to Samuel Garbett. 5 Oct. 1785. 51
48. Matthew Boulton (Chacewater) to Jane Rotton. 24 Oct. 1785. 52
49. Matthew Boulton [Chacewater] to John Wilkinson. c. 24 Oct. 1785. 52
50. Matthew Boulton (Chacewater) to Samuel Garbett. 24 Oct. 1785. 53
51. Matthew Boulton (Chacewater) to James Watt. 21 Oct. 1785. 55
52. Matthew Boulton (Chacewater) to Rupert Leigh. 24 Oct. 1785. 56
53. Matthew Boulton (Chacewater) to John Hurd. 24 Oct. 1785. 57
54. Matthew Boulton (Chacewater) to the Misses Linwood. 24 Oct. 1785. 59
55. Matthew Boulton (Chacewater) to John Scale. 24 Oct. 1785. 60
56. Matthew Boulton (Chacewater) to Thomas Carne. 28 Oct. 1785. 61
57. Matthew Boulton (Chacewater) to Zaccheus Walker. 29 Oct. 1785. 62
58. Matthew Boulton (Chacewater) to James Watt. 4 Nov. 1785. 64
59. Matthew Boulton (Chacewater) to John Hurd. 21 Nov. 1785. 65
60. Matthew Boulton (Chacewater) to John Wilkinson. 21 Nov. 1785. 66
61. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to George Birch. 7 Jan. 1788. 68
62. Matthew Boulton (—) to Mr. Morris. Feb. 1788. 69
(Draft.)
63. Matthew Boulton (Birmingham) to —. 12 Aug. 1788. 69
64. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Thomas Williams. 3 Jul. 1788. 70
(Copy of an original in an unidentified hand, signed by Boulton.)
65. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to William Matthews [London]. 3 Aug. 1788. 71
66. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to William Matthews [London]. 16 Aug. 1788. 72
67. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Mr. Barrow (Manchester). 26 Sep. 1788. 74
68. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Ralph Allen Daniell. 1 Oct. 1788. 75
(Copy of an unsigned original, partly in an unidentified hand.)
69. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Thomas Wilson. 1 Oct. 1788. 76
70. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to John Wilkinson. 1 Oct. 1788. 77
71. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Thomas Williams. 8 Oct. 1788. 78
72. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Samuel Wyatt. 25 Sep. 1788. 79
73. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to William Matthews [London]. 9 Oct. 1788. 80
74. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Mr. Robinson (Ridwell). 18 Nov. 1788. 81
(Copy of an unsigned original in an unidentified hand.)
75. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Benjamin West. 21 Nov. 1788. 82
(Copy of an unsigned original in an unidentified hand.)
76. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to John Wilkinson [Greenfield]. 28 Nov. 1788. 83
77. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Benjamin West. 28 Nov. 1788. 84
(Copy of an original in an unidentified hand, signed by Boulton.)
78. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Thomas Darcy (Dublin). 24 Nov. 1788. 85
79. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to William Matthews. 13 Nov. 1787. 86
80. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to [William Matthews]. 19 Nov. 1787. 88
(Incomplete.)
81. Matthew Boulton [? Chacewater] to Baron Hamilton. 18 Sep. 1786. 89
(Draft.)
82. Matthew Boulton (Birmingham) to Baron C. de Stein. 24 Nov. 1787. 89
(Draft.)
83. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to [Thomas Williams] [Anglesey]. 22 Dec. 1787. 90
(Incomplete.)
84. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Thomas Williams (Anglesey). 27 Dec. 1787. 91
85. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Pasqual Mensa. 8 Dec. 1788. 92
(Copy of an original in an unidentified hand, signed by Boulton.)
86. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to John Winter. 8 Dec. 1788. 92
(Copy of an original in an unidentified hand, signed by Boulton.)
87. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Francis Butcher. 12 Dec. 1788. 93
(Copy of an original in an unidentified hand, signed by Boulton.)
88. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to William Matthews [London]. 12 Dec. 1788. 93
89. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Samuel Wyatt. 22 Dec. 1788. 94
90. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Charles Startin. 31 Dec. 1788. 95
91. Matthew Boulton (—) to John Wilkinson. No date. 95
92. Matthew Boulton (—) to Mr. Dillons. No date. 96
(Incomplete.)
93. [Matthew Boulton] (Soho) to Mons. Pradeaux (Paris). Jul. [? 1788]. 97
(In French.)
94. Matthew Boulton (—) to Thomas Wilson. 1788. 98
(Draft.)
95. Matthew Boulton (—) to Mr. Bartholet. 1788. 99
(Draft.)
96. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Mr. Morandy. 3 Jan. 1789. 100
97. J. L. Baumgartner (London) to Matthew Boulton [Soho]. 10 Jan. 1789. 101
(In French. Press-copy of a transcript in an unidentified hand.)
98. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to —. 7 Jan. 1789. 101
(Fixed to 97.)
99. Mr. Streiber (Eisenach) to Matthew Boulton [Soho]. [? 1789.] 101
(In French.)
100. Matthew Boulton (Birmingham) to John Motteux. 15 Jan. 1789. 102
101. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Mr. von Homrigh [Amsterdam]. 18 Feb. 1789. 103
102. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Mr. von Homrigh (Amsterdam). 23 Feb. 1789. 104
(Copy of a transcript in an unidentified hand.)
103. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to John Motteux. 16 Mar. 1789. 104
104. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Benjamin West. 2 Mar. 1789. 105
(Copy of a transcript in an unidentified hand, signed by Boulton.)
105. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Thomas Wilson. 23 Mar. 1789. 106
(? Incomplete.)
106. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Mrs. Charlotte Matthews [London]. 29 Mar. 1789. 106
107. James Watt (—) to William Matthews [London]. 27 Apr. 1789. 108
(Draft.)
108. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Mrs. Charlotte Matthews [London]. 13 Apr. 1789. 109
109. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to James Wiss. 1 Apr. 1789. 109
110. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Thomas Wilson. 14 Apr. 1789. 110
111. Bill. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Whately & Sheldon. 16 Apr. 1789. 110
112. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Jean-André de Luc (Windsor). 17 Apr. 1789. 111
113. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Fox, Philips, & Fox. 20 Apr. 1789. 111
(Copy of a transcript in an unidentified hand, signed by Boulton.)
114. Matthew Boulton (Birmingham) to Benjamin Huntsman. 24 Apr. 1789. 112
115. Boulton & Watt (—) to William Matthews. 24 Apr. 1789. 112
116. Matthew Boulton [Soho] to William Matthews [London]. c. 27 Apr. 1789. 113
(Draft.)
117. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to William Matthews [London]. c. Apr. 1789. 113
(Incomplete.)
118. Rough calculations respecting copper, in Matthew Boulton’s hand. 113
TRANSCRIPTS
2. Matthew Boulton to James Watt. ? Apr. 1780.
Dear Sir,
I was with Lord Dartmouth to day and shew’d him our new green book of letters and chosen specimens. He had his fears about forgery, but I dispell’d them entirely. He hath appointed Thursday morning for me to bring the machine to his house and to practise the art himself. He says he mention’d it to the King at the time he seal’d the patent, and hath promised to speak to him again about it and let me know if I am to wait upon G.R. Lord D says the King writes a great deal and takes copys of all he writes with his own hand, so that he thinks it will be a very desireable thing to his Majesty. I had a message from Lord Shelburn to day desireing me to let him see the machine and its uses some morning before ten. I am to wait on Lord Dartrie tomorrow morning with it; he has subscrib’d, and wishes to take over to Ireland some of the proposals, as he sets out on Thursday next. Mr. Woodmason says the bankers mob him for haveing anything to do with it and say it ought to be suppress’d. I beg you will acquaint Lawson that one half of the specimens sent will not do: they are bad wrote, are defused, are blotted, and are pucker’d up, and will do much harm if we send ’em out; therefore please . . . [The copy is incomplete.]
19. Matthew Boulton to Charles Foreman. 11 Jan. 1783.
Dear Sir,
Soon after my arrival in Cornwall, I took a ride to your agent Mr. Stephen Newton’s , who could not show me the books of Wheal Speid, as they were not in his possession, but he promised to send me a state of your account, which I did not receive, although dated the 3d, till the 16th December (two days before I took my departure from Cornwall). And being then hurried in packing up and settling my Cornish affairs, I was under the necessity of deferring writing to you till I returned home, when I found by mistake I had packed Mr. Newton’s account, with other papers, in one of my trunks that was sent by a carrier, and which did not arrive till yesterday. I therefore must beg your pardon for the delay, and hope you will not impute it to neglect.
As to the truth or correctness of the account, I cannot at present judge of it, but when I have had the pleasure of a little conversation with you upon that head, I shall be better qualified to take up the subject; and as I shall return to Cornwall about the beginning of May, I will then go to the purser or bookkeeper of the mine and examine the original books, without which it is impossible for either you or I to be any check upon the accounts; it would be [impossible ] for them to commit any fraud, when one had access to the books, except such as all the adventurers shall partake of. Indeed I would have done that now, but Mr. Newton lived twenty miles from me, and the days were so short and winterly as not to afford me proper opportunity; besides, I had more business this last journey than it is probable I ever shall have again, even no less than setting to work half the great mines in that county, in which some difficulties arose; but I have the satisfaction to say that all I ever expected to accomplish in that county is now done.
The balance of this account is £5. 15. 6¾ in your favour, and he further says that there is about £50 worth of tin now at grass, belonging to you and Mr. Percy, which will be sold about Christmass, and that you shall then hear from him. The mine is more promising than heretofore, and is now getting money.
I intend coming to town about the end of next month, when I will do myself the pleasure of waiting upon you, and talk over this business, and settle our other accounts till the end of the last year, if agreeable to you.
I most heartily wish you health, and a long succession of happy years, not only for the sake of your goodself, but also for the sake of those who have the happiness to call you friend. With respectful compliments to the ladies at Epsom , I remain,
Dear Sir,
Your faithful, obliged, and obedient friend and servant,
Mattw. Boulton
Soho, near Birmingham,
11 January 1783.
25. Matthew Boulton to Miss Elizabeth Vernon Fothergill. 28 Jan. 1784.
My dear Bessey,
You did very right in writing to me upon the subject you did. I and your mother are both obliged to you: it is such sort of attention that she is entitled to, both from you and me.
However, I had, from my own feelings, wrote to her just before your favour of the 23d came to my hand, and have requested that she will come with Polly and stay with me till I go to Cornwall. She is to appoint an hour when she will be at Meridin , where my chaise shall meet her.
Mr. Bedford hath also wrote to her, and assured her that she may rest perfectly satisfy’d now in respect to any powers that are within the reach of Ravee’s malevolence. Sinkelare is also at Birmingham, but if it was the King that claim’d upon her it would be in vain.
I intended writing before this time to Mr. Foreman, and to have requested him to have examin’d the state of B. & F. accounts, an abstract of which I brought to Mr. Matthews before Christmass, and which is now in his hands. Your mamma saw the ballances. But I have been prevented by a new acquaintance (the gout) and likewise by our Christmass accounts, as well as by the severest weather I ever felt. However, I shall in a few days . . . [The rest of the letter is wanting.]
30. Matthew Boulton to —. 12 Feb. 1784.
Sir,
Presumeing it may be agreeable to you to receive an early intimation of the proceedings and business herein after mention’d I venter to intrude on your precious moments.
You will see by the inclosed (which is published in the Birmingham Chronicle of this day) that at a meeting of the inhabitants of this town, it was resolved to adress His Majesty. An adress was accordingly prepar’d and approved by a great majority, viz. 101 for it and 4 only against it. The said adress is now lying at our publick Hotel for every person to sign, who may think proper, and I am perswaded it will be sign’d by most of the gentlemen, merchants, and manufactorers of this place.
You may be assured that the Birmingham adress arises spontaniously from the hearts and real sentiments of its inhabitants, who are as independant as free, and as uninfluenced by great men of every description as any set of people in His Majesty’s dominions; and that no arts or secret influence hath been exercised to procure it.
If any thing could have restrain’d me or my fellow townsmen from this publick declaration of our sentiments, it would have been our respect, our love, and our veneration for two amiable, good, and noble lords (our near neighbours), whose politicks on the present occasion may probably be biased by their relationship to a distinguished nobleman in a blue ribbon: but neither that, or any other consideration is sufficient to withold us at this important crisis, from doing what we think is our duty to our King and the constitution of this country.
I was at Edingburg (for a few days only) in November last, when I had the honour of dineing with my Lord President, where I learnt that you was then in that city. I intended to have taken the liberty of offering my respects to you, but I was prevented by my numerous engagements and the shortness of my stay. If you should ever make this place in your road to Scotland, I assure you it would afford me a singular pleasure if you would honour me with a call and permit me to shew you some of the fruit of that countinance and protection you were so good as to shew to me and my friend Watt in the prolongation of our steam-engine patent by an Act of Parliament.
Wishing permanent health to your self and the constitution of this country, I remain, with great regard,
Dear Sir,
Your faithfull, obliged, and obedient humble servant,
Mattw. Boulton
of Soho, near Birmingham
At 4 o’clock this afternoon there was 400 names and upwards annexed to our adress, without carrying it about from house to house; and although that is a small number in proportion to the whole number of the inhabitants, yet when you have deducted all the women and children and all the numerous class of leathern-apron’d workmen, you will find a large majority of the merchants and master manufactorers will have sign’d it.
43. Minutes of a meeting of the Cornish Metal Company at Truro. 1 Sep. 1785.
Minutes of the Meeting at Truro, September 1o, 1785.
1. Sir Francis Basset elected governour.
2. Mr. John Vivian elected deputy governour.
3. A vote of thanks to Mr. John Vivian.
4. Do. to Col. Rodd, chairman.
5. A select committee of 7, and any 5 to be competent to do business, to sit every Thursday.
6. General meetings of directors to be held quarterly, the 1st the 20th October next, to sign articles of agreement and partnership, &c.
7. The appointment of officers to be in the governour and directors.
8. The deputy governour to give up his whole time to the business, under controul of the directors.
9. Mr. Richard Phillips elected inspector of assays; him, the deputy governour, or principal clerk, with the secret committee of 3, to fix the price of ores.
10. John Williams, David Williams, and Richard Penrose to be assayers of the miners’ office at Truro.
11. William Jenkin, Hercules Michell, William Smith, and James Jenkin to be the samplers and weighers of ores.
12. Mr. Yeatherd to be the cash-book keeper and John Provis under-clerk in the counting-house at Truro.
13. Francis Bennallack, surveyor, and John Penrose, Richard Roskrow, John Jenkin, Charles Jenkin, assay masters, in the private sample assay office at Redruth.
N.B. the salaries of the above officers to be fix’d the 20th October next.
14. The money subscribed to be laid out immediately as wanted for purchasing ores.
55. Matthew Boulton to John Scale. 24 Oct. 1785.
Chasewater, October 24, 1785
Dear Scale,
I have yours of the 10th instant, by which I am sorry to see that we are so barran of orders, though it is not otherwise than I expected, in consequence of the various edicts, prohibitions, &c. of most of the great states of Europe. Surely our ministers are bad politicians to suffer the gates of every commercial city almost in the world to be shut against us, nay not only to loose our trade but even to combine against the manufacturers themselves to discourage instead of protecting them. Since things are grown so bad in foreign countries, I believe it may not be amis to try to obtain a share of the consumption of our own, but it will not answer to send out a rider once in 2 years. The thing must be well plan’d and steadily executed, if begun, whether the foreign orders do or do not come in. If you send out a rider, I think you had better take a man that hath been in that employ, that hath a good adress, and is already in possession of the knowledge of the good and of the bad houses, and who by his own personal acquaintance can lead us into a trade. One of our plated workmen (near the toy room) from Sheffield applied to me in favour of his son, who is now a rider at Sheffield. He writes a neat good hand and hath been long in that employ, and I believe bears a good character. You may talk to the father about him, for I think him a very likely person. I also wish you would talk to Mr. Walker about the plan. The lamps will procure him a favourable introduction to many persons.
As Steward doth not now confine himself to us, I see no reason we should confine our selves to him: no other manufacturer doth, nor will. It will be the begining of December before I see you, and then we will come to some firm conclusion upon the intended trade, which is . . .
I have no objection against Ford pounding up the water as high as my shrubery, but if he pounds it one inch higher he robs me of my fall for the mill, and by the same rule he may pound it up a yard. I therefore will not submitt to be rob’d of any part of the fall which I have enjoy’d for more than 20 years. Pray speak to him if you see any inconveniences likely to arise.
I believe you are right respecting the situation of the stable, and therefore wish you would cause the floor to be raised in the old stable and sell all the horses except my daughter’s.
There is a house in Birmingham whose firm is Lindop and somebody—I forget the other name; they keep a Birmingham Warehouse at Falmouth. Pray, are they good? and would it answer for us to serve them with Soho goods? or should I find another person here to sell them?
I order’d, in a letter to Miss Mynd, a few lamps to be sent here for Mr. Wills of Truro; he is a likely young man for that purpose, and for the sale of plated wares a few. Pray desire Mr. Hodges to add any other new lamps, if he hath got any, to the assortment for Wills, and also add some cheap japan’d ones, particularly the japan’d sliding lamp: the cheap sorts will sell most.
I observe what you say respecting your sister’s money. We will settle that when I see you.
Present my respects to Mrs. Scale and all our Soho friends, and let Miss Mynd know I am well, but fear it will be December before I see you, when I hope to see the mill in good forwardness. I am,
Dear Sir,
Your faithfull friend,
M: Boulton
Occuring remarks on lamps.
1. The cups which catch the oyl at bottom should have a spout by which the oyl can be poured out of it into the cock or vase without spilling.
2. I observe one of the plated sliding lamps, that when the glass rests upon the bottom of the nick the flame burns dull, but upon putting a bit of stick in the nick to raise the glass, it burns bright. Therefore it’s necessary to see that the glass doth not go too low, but fixt at such height as the flame burns brightest.
3. The light shade is so much better than the dark ones that all lamps should have them, and when dark ones are order’d they may be added, but all should have light shades, even the japan’d and brass ones; and I beg a pair may be sent with Wills’s lamps, per coach, for the last 2 brass Tuscan lamps that were sent.
4. Send 2 printed directions with each lamp, and a gage to cut out paper shades by.
5. You may venture to make many lamps to put into candlesticks, both of plated and pinchbeck and japan’d; they will serve for their present candlesticks or for mahogany ones.
6. The trimoner stands are unnecessary.
7. A cheap kind of lamp may be made with a glass vase and a cock, without a candlestick, but so as to fix into candlestick already made, the reservoir and burner made be made of metal laquer’d or of plated.
117. Matthew Boulton to William Matthews. c. Apr. 1789.
Soh[o,]. . .
Dear Sir,
I delay’d acknow[ledging] . . . favour of the 21st, in hopes of . . . news respecting my visitors but to . . . saw nothing of them untill Tuesday . . . time I have been entirely taken up . . . sending off medals to their Majesti[es] . . . and to the people, but from a crack in . . . prevented from executing so larg a qu[antity] . . . ; however, I shall have another die finished tomorrow. I shall send its first fruits to Mrs. Matthews and . . .
As to the subject of grievences I consider [our] account settled, and hope never to open a new one with my friend. I only recommended it to you to consider me sore all over, and to make allowances for my interference, and above all to continue your friendship and good will towards me, which will be a great alleviation of the evils I have had to combat with
I received an agreeable letter yesterday from Lord Hawksbury, and from its contents I suppose I shall be sent for to the Treasury in a month or less, and then I hope to be reliev’d totaly from my suspence.
I have this morning very great hopes of returning Mr. Williamson very soon as much improved as his mistress or as Winnington was.
I am indebted to Mrs. Matthews 2 letters, which I will pay per first opportunity, and in the intrim beg she and you [will] accept of my love and every good wish, remaining ever,
Dear Sir,
Yours affectionately,
M. [Boulton]
Turn over . . . [The copy is incomplete.]
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