| Description | Dear Father,
Ah! qui sert son pays, sert souvent un ingrat. This was the exclamation of a Roman above a thousand years ago, and you may again with justice repeat it in the eighteenth century in a country who boasts of her constitution as the best in the world. Where are the advantages of our so much praised Government? They are either imaginary, or so weakened by corruption as to become ineffectual. Every foreigner has an idea that merit and invention are only in England justly rewarded. This advantageous prejudice, which induces the best foreign artists to establish themselves in our country, will soon vanish if the legislative powers continue to suffer themselves to be biassed by private interest and cabal. The merits of your invention are too important for the state to remain long hidden. They must sooner or later pierce the clouds which envy has attempted to throw over them.
I have just recieved a very friendly and polite letter from Mr. Sulzer, who is highly delighted with his stay at Soho, and desires me to return you his sincere thanks for the politenesses you have shewn him. He begs me to send, for the Duke of Gotha, one of the copper halfpence; he thinks there is a probability of the duke’s adopting your plan.
You will be perhaps somewhat suprised to hear that I am still here: the notes, &c., which I had to copy have required a longer time than I expected. I have also in some measure prolonged my stay in hopes of recieving the books and minerals, but they are not arrived; I have therefore given Mr. Wiegleb the necessary instructions for their further transportation, and hope to be in Stadfeld in a few days.
It would give me the greatest pleasure to return with Mr. R. Motteux, but I am afraid from your last letter that he will leave Amsterdam before I arrive; in case he should prolong his stay, I will beg you to inform me.
It has, then, pleased the Almighty to put an end to poor Mrs. Roberts sufferings; his ways are incomprehensible, and we must trust that his wisdom rules and governs all in this world for the best of mankind. May he grant the best of father’s health and happiness is the constant prayer of your dutiful [son],
Mattw. R. Boulton
[Edited transcript.] |