| Description | Glasgow July 4th 1773
Dear Sir
Upon my arrival, yesterday, from Campbeltwn I received your letter of the 12th Ultmo: inclosing Dr Rs: Missive-Your motives for refusing it are honorable & perhaps prudent. As your Agent I was bound in honor to transmit you the Drs missive whch: was obtained as near the tenor of yours as I could-
Had there been no Clause allowing the Doctor a share of the profits I should have thought that you bought the property too cheap, even at the time I received the Missive from the Doctor when I thought that he might be able to pay 10/ pr pound But since that time I have thought that besides the small share of the clear proffits he asked, you ought, in case of success, to have paid somewhat to his creditors, because I have some reason to believe that If his affairs continue under the management they are in, from which I am dubious they cannot be retrieved, no one of his Creditors will receive a single shilling. Besides, the one part of your debt you have no legal Claim for, and perhaps they might If it was mentioned construe that money as advanced with a view of profit, as a partner, Whereby you might be subjected to a greater Loss than than of the capital. The only claim you have then upon the subject, is that of the £630. At the time I received the Missive from the Doctor I valued that at half price But I considered that in justice you had a preference to the whole extent of the £500- and Intrest which had been in circulation because I understood that you had advanced that money upon the Faith of being admitted a partner in the engine. I have no letters from the Doctor and I do not understand that there has been a meeting of his Creditors yet From the sentiments I heard some of them express I expect none soon; but if there are any I shall If you please, propose to them in your name that you will discharge the debt of £630- if they will Impower the Doctor to make over to you his property in the engine Invention, for all the Models &c are mine,
You may depend uopn it that neither the Dr nor I, will desire you to do a disreputable thing & had all His Creditors acted as generously He had been able to make a better dividend
My Heart bleeds for his situation and I can do nothing to help him I stuck by him till I have much hurt myself. I can do so no longer, my family calls for my care to provide for them, Yet If I have I cannot see the Doctor in want, which I am afraid will soon be the case-I shall write again as soon as I can send any news of the Doctor & remain
Dear Sir
ever
yours
James Watt
[On the same sheet are some rough memorandums by Boulton, in three lists, as follows:]
Write to Garbett / Parsons / Cox / Miss Wren / Brogrove / Spilsbury
Guernsey Hilt / Cravens Buttn Dyes / Bottle Stands / send to Read early to say Ld G Dines & rabits / Index my act / Bridg by Carless
Anthony ye Press / Clays Boxes & Report / Goodals Stockings & a Casemer Coat
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