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Soho 28th Augt 1780
Dear Sir
Since your departure Mastr Matthew has been much plagued with the tooth Ach & last night, he determind to have it out this morning, and although it did not Ach this morning he met the operater with all the firmness & resolution you cou'd wish, and underwent the . . . task almost with an oh! which was double what he expected, for he had two drawn instead of one Mrs. B. observ'd to the Man that there were two very bad teeth together, and that he was sometimes at a loss to know which it was that ach'd, & he advis'd by all means to have them both out & said he coud do it unknow to him, and indeed he did it with such dexterity that amaz'd me much; for when he said they were both out, I thought he had miss'd his hold and got neither, and we all declard it impossible till occular demonstration convinced us to the contrary, he is now very well for the time.
Mrs. Boulton wish'd I woud take upon me to call in all the Garden keys by way of keeping it a little more private &c &c. she said you intended doing but had not time; I beg'd to be excus'd for I think it cannot be done with propriety by any body but your self, or from your order in writing which may be shew to the possessors of the keys, if you think well of doing it by any mode of this kind I will follow your directions, but for me to do such a thing without some authority to shew they wou'd immedeately say it was my own doing and wou'd almost hiss of the premises; If you do determine upon this, query whether it wou'd be best to call in the keys or add some ward into the Locks? as I think it will be difficult to find all the keys.
Tuesday morning. Mastr. Matthew is gone to School to day very well, He is to go to Richmond along with Mr. Barney on friday next, they go in the two days Coach-On Saturday last our Button folks had their Bean feast with which they all seem'd well pleas'd; Just 160 paid and sat down to Dinner in Mr Toneys Malt House; after Dinner, & a toast the young ones withdrew and Danced (about 40 Couple) on the Green till the evening and then the Tables were all remov'd and they continued Dancing (in the Malt house) till about 12 when they in general departed with peace & plenty in Short the Day was spent with great unanimity notwithstanding a great many interlopers came in which made it more expensive than we any of us imagind; the Men paid 2/6, Women 1/-, grown up Boys above 14 years old 1/6, & all under, 8d each; this I expected wou'd have made a jovial Day with the addition of 3 Guineas from Button Co. but it only paid for Ale, so that instead of 3 Gs. Button Co. have 6 Gs. to pay, which is just the expence of the Victuals, but upon the whole I beleive Button Co. saved Money by it, for they workd like Devils all the week and did as much work in 5 days as they generaly do in 10.
Mr. Fothergill I understand (for I have not seen him) says that all the silk machines are taken by this unfortunate Capture & Baumgartner along with them; query shou'd any application be made for a renewal of the order? but I suppose either he or Mr Keir or sombody will write you about them. we have but very few orders at present either in Buttons or plated wares & I beleive in general trade is so so.
Yours Sincerely
Jno: Scale
Mrs Boulton disires you will write to Mr. Stretch and inform him about your sons health & how you woud have him treated &c &c and likewise that you will hope to hear from your Son from School. |