| Description | (Directed to William Matthews’, 6 Green Lettice Lane.)
Dear Father,
I know not scarcely what to reply to yours of the 21st instant. I am afraid I shall not be able to give you satisfaction in any one point respecting the medals. I have spoken with Mr. Smith and Middlehurst but cannot expect any assistance from that quarter. They say it will positively thrown their whole business into confusion, their orders at present beeing so very numerous, and he even works at present over time. Mr. Smith also assures me that he could not, even with the assistance of his boys and a man, bronze two groz a day. The only possible method, I think, of getting any quantity bronzed would be to hire a man from Birmingham. I have therefore desired Mr. Smith to look out for one, which may be engaged for the Mint if you approve. With respect to the gilding, you will see by my last what hopes there are of getting any gilt by Mr. Scale’s people. There are a few bronzed blanks, which have been done formerly by Mr. Smith, and of a proper size for Rousseau: these, and some gilt ones of the same, we intend to strike tomorrow and send them on Monday, if you have no objection.
The female brass screw belonging to the press last finished has been taken out and, upon examination, found to be entirely spoilt. It is broken in several places, owing to the badness of the metal. Luckily the female screw which Anthony had to turn fits the great screw of that press; we have therefore got it nearly ready to put in, and by means of grinding it with sand and water I doubt not but it will be better than the former.
We have this afternoon got the press of which the fly was broken to work again, and it seems to succeed tolerably well.
I am sorry to find you don’t meet with better success in your business before the House of Commons. I fear it will depend more upon interest than equity, and yet even in that case I do not entirely dispair of your succeeding.
There is nothing new here; our friend Mr. Matthews still continues the same. The familly joins in love to you, and I remain your dutiful son,
Mattw. R. Boulton
[Edited transcript.] |