| Description | INTRODUCTION
This volume is entitled inside the front cover as follows:
Mattw: Boultons / Letter Book begun / in Cornwall Augt 1780 / to Feby 1781
The title is in Boulton’s own hand, except for the closing date, which was added by William D. Brown. The initials M.B. appear on the front cover. The book contains 89 folios numbered in a contemporary hand, each folio number referring to two facing pages, in the manner of a ledger; but two folios were not originally numbered—one between folios 6 and 7, the other between folios 20 and 21: these have now been marked 6A and 20A respectively. To these folios are fixed the documents listed below. A few folios are empty.
All the documents are press-copies, except the draft letter to the Rev. H. H. Tremain (82), and all the copies are of originals in Boulton’s own hand, except where noted, these exceptions including a few letters written by Logan Henderson.
The book appears to have been in regular use through the whole of the period mentioned in its title, but it does not contain copies of all the letters Boulton wrote during this time. There are no copies here of the letters written by Boulton to Watt on 2 Sep., 19 Oct., 11 Nov., 13 Nov., and 25 Nov. 1780, the originals of which are in the Boulton & Watt Collection (Box 20/8). Some of these were written on occasions when it may be supposed that it was inconvenient for Boulton to make a copy. For instance, the letter of 19 Oct. was written at Mr. Rosewarne’s house, when Boulton had stolen out of the room where he was being entertained with music and singing to send a line to his partner. Likewise, the letter of 25 Nov. was written hurriedly at Dolcoath Mine and ends with the scribbled line, "The post will be gone. Adieu."
Transcripts of 2, 50, and 90 will be found after the table of Contents.
CONTENTS
Page
1. Matthew Boulton (Plangary) to James Watt [Birmingham]. 31 Aug. 1780. 1
2. Matthew Boulton (Plangary) to William Matthews [London]. 7 Sep. 1780. 2
3. Matthew Boulton (Plangary) to James Watt (Birmingham). 7 Sep. 1780. 2
(There is no copy of the fourth page.)
4. Matthew Boulton (Plangary) to John Fothergill [Birmingham]. 4
5. Matthew Boulton (Plangary) to James Watt (Birmingham). 9 Sep. 1780. 5
6. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to James Watt (Birmingham). 11 Sep. 1780. 6
7. Matthew Boulton (Plangary) to Blewett & Bevan. 14 Sep. 1780. 6
8. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to Elizabeth Montagu (—). 14 Sep. 1780. 7
9. Matthew Boulton (Plangary) to James Watt [Birmingham]. 14 Sep. 1780. 8
10. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to Samuel Rehe. 16 Sep. 1780. 11
11. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to William Matthews [London]. 16 Sep. 1780. 11
12. Matthew Boulton (Chacewater) to Zaccheus Walker [Birmingham]. 16 Sep. 1780. 12
13. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to John Fothergill. 16 Sep. 1780. 12
14. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to James Watt (Soho). 18 Sep. 1780. 13
(Original: B&W Box 20/8.)
15. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to James Watt (Birmingham). 23 Sep. 1780. 14
(Original: B&W Parcel D/3.)
16. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to James Watt (Birmingham). 25 Sep. 1780. 15
(Original: B&W Box 20/8.)
17. Matthew Boulton (Plangary) to John Edwards. 28 Sep. 1780. 17
18. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to James Watt (Birmingham). 30 Sep. 1780. 17
(Original: B&W Parcel D/3.)
19. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to John McIntosh [London]. 5 Oct. 1780. 19
20. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to John McIntosh [London]. 5 Oct. 1780. 19
(Identical to 19.)
21. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to George Mackey (London). 5 Oct. 1780. 20
(Directed to the Glass Warehouse, Blackfriars. Includes a draft on William Matthews.)
22. Logan Henderson (Redruth) to Prichard & Barlow. 2 Sep. 1780. 20
(The date may be an error for 2 Oct.)
23. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to James Watt (Soho). 2 Oct. 1780. 20A
(Original: B&W Box 20, Bdl. 8. There is no copy of the second page.)
24. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to James Watt (Birmingham). 7 Oct. 1780. 20A
(Original: B&W Box 20, Bdl. 8.)
25. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to —. 7 Oct. 1780. 21
26. Logan Henderson (Redruth) to William Matthews [London]. 5 Oct. 1780. 22
27. Logan Henderson (Redruth) to James Watt (Soho). 4 Oct. 1780. 23
(The original (B&W Box 20, Bdl. 8) also contains a letter from Matthew
Boulton, added below Henderson’s after this copy had been taken.)
28. Memorandum in answer to the objections of Cornish adventurers. [c. Oct. 1780.] 24
(Copy of an original in the hands of Logan Henderson and Matthew Boulton, signed at the end by Boulton.)
29. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to James Watt (Soho). 11 Oct. 1780. 28
(Original: B&W Box 20, Bdl. 8. There are no copies of the fourth and fifth pages.)
30. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to Ann Watt. 14 Oct. 1780. 31
31. Logan Henderson (Redruth) to [James Watt]. 19 Oct. 1780. 32
32. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to Thomas Day. 16 Oct. 1780. 32
33. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to John Fothergill. 16 Oct. 1780. 33
34. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to John McIntosh [London]. 21 Oct. 1780. 33
35. Logan Henderson (Redruth) to James Watt. 16 Oct. 1780. 34
36. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to James Watt (Birmingham). 21 Oct. 1780. 35
(Original: B&W Box 20, Bdl. 8. There is no copy of the fourth page.)
37. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to James Watt. 24 & 25 Oct. 1780. 36
38. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to Mrs. Charlotte Matthews [London]. 25 Oct. 1780. 38
39. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to Mrs. Elizabeth Montagu. 28 Oct. 1780. 38
40. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to John McIntosh [London]. 28 Oct. 1780. 39
41. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to John Motteux [London]. 30 Oct. 1780. 40
42. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to John Vivian. 31 Oct. 1780. 41
43. Logan Henderson and Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to James Watt. 4 Nov. 1780. 41
(Boulton’s part of the letter begins immediately below Henderson’s.)
44. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to James Watt (Birmingham). 6 Nov. 1780. 43
(Original: B&W Box 20, Bdl. 8.)
45. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to James Watt. 13 Nov. 1780. 44
46. Logan Henderson (Redruth) to John Dickson (London). 9 Nov. 1780. 45
(Addressed to Stone Cutter Court, Crutched Friars.)
47. Logan Henderson (Redruth) to James Woodmason [London]. 9 Nov. 1780. 46
48. Statement of the account of the Wheal Chance adventurers with Boulton & Watt,
to 31 Oct. 1780. 46
49. Matthew Boulton (Plangary) to John Edwards. 13 Nov. 1780. 47
50. Matthew Boulton (Plangary) to —. 14 Nov. 1780. 47
51. Matthew Boulton (Plangary) to James Watt (Birmingham). 16 Nov. 1780. 48
(Original: B&W Box 20/8.)
52. Memorandum respecting the Wheal Chance engines. [Nov. 1780.] 49
(Press-copy of an original in Matthew Boulton’s hand.)
53. Matthew Boulton (Plangary) to John Edwards. 16 Nov. 1780. 49
54. Matthew Boulton (Plangary) to James Watt (Birmingham). 18 Nov. 1780. 50
(Inserted at f. 53 is a second copy of the bottom half of the 7th page. Original: B&W Box 20, Bdl. 8.)
55. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to James Watt (Birmingham). 23 Nov. 1780. 54
56. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to John McIntosh [London]. 23 Nov. 1780. 54
(Press-copy of an original in Logan Henderson’s hand, signed by Boulton.
This letter and the following one are on the same sheet.)
57. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to George Mackey (London). 23 Nov. 1780. 54
(Copy of an original in Logan Henderson’s hand, signed by Boulton, and directed to Blackfriars.)
58. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to George Blewett [Marazion]. 20 Nov. 1780. 55
(Copy of an original in Logan Henderson’s hand, signed by Boulton.)
59. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to —. 23 Nov. 1780. 55
60. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to William Matthews [London]. 23 Nov. 1780. 56
61. Matthew Boulton (Plangary) to Martin Stephens. 16 Nov. 1780. 57
(Copy of an original in Logan Henderson’s hand, signed by Boulton.)
62. Matthew Boulton (Plangary) to [? R. L. Edgeworth]. 20 Nov. 1780. 58
63. Matthew Boulton (Plangary) to James Watt (Birmingham). 26 Nov. 1780. 59
(Original: B&W Box 20, Bdl. 8. The 3rd page of the copy does not appear on the original,
and there is no copy of the 3rd page of the original.)
64. Logan Henderson (Redruth) to Prichard & Barlow. 27 Nov. 1780. 60
65. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to James Wiss. 23 Nov. 1780. 61
66. Logan Henderson (Cusgarne) to —. 4 Dec. 1780. 61
67. Memorandum respecting the engines at Dolcoath. [Dec. 1780.] 62
(Press-copy of an original in Matthew Boulton’s hand.)
68. Memorandum to John Edwards. [Dec. 1780.] 62
(Press-copy of an original in Matthew Boulton’s hand.)
69. Matthew Boulton (Cusgarne) to Peter Capper [Redland]. 30 Nov. 1780. 63
70. Matthew Boulton (Cusgarne) to Mrs. Eliza Wilks. 5 Dec. 1780. 64
71. Matthew Boulton (Cusgarne) to Mr. Stretch. 5 Dec. 1780. 65
72. Matthew Boulton (Redruth) to William Matthews [London]. 30 Nov. 1780. 66
73. Matthew Boulton (Cusgarne) to Samuel Rehe. 4 Dec. 1780. 66
74. Matthew Boulton (Cusgarne) to [William Matthews] [London]. 9 Dec. 1780. 67
75. Bills of exchange. 68
(Copy of transcripts in Logan Henderson’s hand.)
76. Matthew Boulton (Cusgarne) to James Watt (Birmingham). 11 Dec. 1780. 69
(Original: B&W Box 20/8.)
77. Matthew Boulton (Cusgarne) to John Fothergill. 11 Dec. 1780. 69
78. Matthew Boulton [Cusgarne] to John Hodges [Soho]. [11 Dec. 1780.] 70
79. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to John Lewis Baumgartner. 26 Dec. 1780. 71
80. Memoranda concerning engines. [Dec. 1780.] 75
81. Matthew Boulton (Cusgarne) to George Blewett (Marazion). 12 Dec. 1780. 76
82. Matthew Boulton (—) to Rev. Henry Hawkins Tremain (Heligan). [Dec. 1780.] 77
(Draft.)
83. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to [Logan Henderson] [Cusgarne]. 29 Dec. 1780. 77
84. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to —. 7 Jan. 1780. 78
85. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to —. 26 Dec. 1780. 80
86. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Philip Thickness (Bath). 2 Feb. 1781. 81
(Misdated 1780.)
87. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Peter Capper (Redland). 30 Jan. 1781. 81
88. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to —. 24 Jan. 1781. 84
89. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Thomas Wilson (Chacewater). 7 Jan. 1781. 85
(Misdated 1780.)
90. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to James Keir [Winson Green]. 2 Feb. 1781. 86
91. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to [Peter Capper] [Redland]. 17 Jan. 1781. 87
(Misdated 1780.)
92. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to —. 17 Jan. 1781. 88 |