| Description | (Directed to 6 Green Lettice Lane.)
Dear Father,
I feel myself how much you will be disapointed at the invoice of to day. What perhaps may appear to you neglect is, I can assure you, entirely owing to misfortune. You know, I suppose, of the failure of Jerrom’s fly, and in consequence of which we were reduced to one press. The one which broke before (viz. Abraham’s) is again mended, and we have now two going. But I really think they will not continue long, for the force exerted is too great in proportion to the different parts of the presses, and no sooner is one part strengthen’d than another fails. The female screws of the other presses seem to threaten us with the same misfortune as that of No. 4, and I should really think it prudent, so soon as possible, to reduce the money to a smaller size, or otherwise you will have the whole machinery in pieces. I have myself been present at most of these accidents, and I can assure you they have been done in regular working.
Glover has finished the stoves for bronzing, and every thing is now ready and only waiting for hands to begin. I mean to go to Birmingham tomorrow on purpose to see if it is not possible to procure a proper person, as hitherto all our endeavours have been fruitless. I attended the bronzing of some pieces by one of Mr. Smith’s men, and I do not see any thing in the operation but what a plain sensed man may easily accomplish. Mr. Lawson thinks the millwright you have got since James’ departure not likely to suit you. All allowances made for the attraction of one Scotchman to another, I think he judges rightly, and it would be very advisable to have at the Mint a good workman, which this man is not. His proposition, therefore, of getting one from London it may be well to execute.
With the sincerest wishes for your health and prosperity, I remain your dutiful son,
Mattw. R. Boulton
[Edited transcript.] |