| Description | (Directed to 14 Cannon Street.)
Birmingham, May 3d, 1773.
Dear Sir,
This day I receive your favour of the 1st, and also a card from Mr. Walker for 50oz. silver, which shall be sent you by the fly to-morrow night, and shall be as fine as we can make it; and I don't doubt that 11oz. 2dw. of it and 18dw. copper will be better than the standard of 11oz. which is allowed to pass at Goldsmiths' Hall, and I expect it will be better than the standard plate of the kingdom, for reasons not prudent to put on paper, even to you.
I am very glad you have prevented Mr. Lucas, the King's assayer, being unfriendly to us; the plan which he proposes of a standard plate is equitable and judicious. When you have obtained the law, I suppose you and I shall be made acquainted with their most sacred art and mistery, but don't let us give any of them our real knowledge in exchange for their shabby occult misteries; I am much mistaken if any of them know how to make gold or silver free from every other extraneous matter; and I believe, if you was to make gold or silver lace, you would excell anything that hath been done of late years. It's a curious circumstance that you have discover'd, of their mixing the diet of 11oz. 10dw. with the diet of 11oz. 2dw.-what must we country folks think of the insolence of such pretenders to accuracy?
You will do better without the Sheffield people, except when it is necessary for them to apply to Lord Rockingham, the Lords Cavendishes, and Sir George Saville and Mr. Montagu; and it's requisite that they should make their appearance to those respectable characters who will like to have it seen that they patronise Sheffield.
I very much approve of your plan of introducing the noblemen and gentlemen you mention with the title of Guardians of the Standard, &c.; it will have many good effects. There was great merit in the thought; it was liberal and judicious. Don't you think Sir Henry Bridgeman should be one? Why may not the number be thirty? I wish Thomas Purkes to be one. I would not have Mr. Geast (not Guest) omitted; his Christian name, I think, is Richard.
I most earnestly hope you will not want me in London before the House of Lords, sooner than the end of the month. When your Bill hath passed the House of Commons don't fail to make use of my name to Lord Denbigh and beg his patronage.
I hope to receive one of the printed Reports from the Committee upon Frauds. I suppose it will not be 4 oz., and am sure Mr. Shipwith will free two or three covers for me with pleasure; I beg my respectfull compliments to him.
Thank you for speaking to Mr. Vere about Ferguson; most sincerely do I wish you may succeed. He would be a valuable acquisition to anybody who wants a confidential person in the E. Indies. Success attend you.
Believe me ever and affectionately yours,
S. Garbett
Mathew Boulton, Esqr.
[Edited transcript.] |