| Description | (Directed to 6 Green Lettice Lane.)
Soho 8 July 1789
Dr Sir
I was in hopes of having a little conversation with you and Mr. Matthews in London upon the inclos'd subject; but happening to get Ticketts for Mr Hastings trial (after I had taken our places in the Coach) it took up the whole day on which I purpos'd seeing you; and as such I was prevented that pleasure. And as I wish to have Mr. Matthews opinion I take the liberty of inclosing it to you for that purpose before you leave London. I think I never knew such a Stagnation in the Button trade in my Life, The complaint is general throughout the Town both in gilt, plated, & Steel. I have been almost laid up two days with the Gout in one foot but it is got quite well again.
Yours Sincerely
John Scale
Letter. John Scale (Soho) to Matthew Boulton (-). 30 May 1789. (Not docketed. It appears that this letter was not transmitted at the time of writing, but sent with the letter above. Cf. MS 3782/12/72/74 and 75.)
Soho 30th May 1789
Dr Sir
I flatter my self you will not be offended at my beging your attention for a few moments to lay before you my Wishes in our future connection. Our present agreement is for Seven-fourteen-& twenty one years-you to advance, & receive, two to my one.
Now Sir I have been perfectly satisfied with this agreement hitherto but I hope you will not think me unreasonable if I shoud request a greater Share after the experation of the first Seven years. The reasons I have for this request appear to me reasonable & equitable, but if they do not appear the same to you I shall most readily listen to your objections.
1st I am now 52 years of age and as such I have but a short time in which I can be very Active, and if I cannot obtain a Comfortable independency in the next 7 or 10 years I shall set very little value of what I can get after that time.
2d My Capital is now considerably more than the Share I wish for vizt. at the 31st Decr. last yours was £5326-& mine was £7644.
3d I consider my self as taking nearly the whole care and management of the business & I think it probable that this care is likely to remain either with me or my Sons, (as I hope they will come into business in another year or two;) for If your Son Shoud incline to be a Manufactorer I expect he will have business enough in taking a part of the burthen of your Shoulders, without confining himself to any one branch in the manufactory. Many other reasons I think might be urged to justify my requesting more than one third-half is what I wish for. If you can think this reasonable I shall be perfectly satisfied for the remainder of the 21 years-beyond that time it wou'd be a folly for you & me to talk of.
Shou'd you think this request unreasonable I wou'd then beg leave to propose another i e that I might withdraw my overplus Capital (as soon as convenient to you) in order that I might place it in some other trade to produce me more than common interest. I have never yet made any inquirey after any other business but flatter my self it wou'd not be very difficult to meet with one, but wou'd much rather it might remain where it is if upon the plan of my first request; and in that case I shou'd be perfectly satisfied if my Capital shou'd even double yours (being paid interest for it). A little while ago you just made a query of giving Mr. Bennett a Share. Wou'd it not be better to begin some new trade (perhaps Wt. metal Butts.) and Let him have the Managemt. and a Share in that trade upon the same plan as Mr. Bownas or something Like? I mention this because I hope my Own Sons will in a Short time come in to fill his place. George will be 15 in Augt. next & John 14 in Jany.
When you have consider'd this subject (at yr. Leisure) your opinion will much oblige
yours Sincerely
John Scale
|