| Description | "Grantham’s application to take his son, and observations on Thetis. Holligan junior’s report on Soho Foundry counting-house. Vixen’s pump delayed."
M R Boulton Esqr
Soho
London 17 Novr. 1826
My dear Sir
I have yours of yesterday, and now inclose for your perusal a letter from Mr. Grantham, who you may recollect is a friend of Captn. O Brien's and one of the Directors of the Dublin and London Steam Company. He was in the Army, but left it some years ago to undertake the survey of some works under Mr. Rennie, and I beleive was employed by him in Ireland at the period of his death, as he has been since by the young Rennie's upon the line of the proposed Railway from Birmingham to London.-Whilst in Ireland he formed a project for a Steam boat to work upon the Shannon and to pass through a Canal which connects it with some lakes, through which there is considerable transit of passengers & goods. The Boat had been built and the Engine made by the Horsley Co. before I was acquainted with him; and as it is a double boat (of iron) with the paddle wheel between, is not likely to accomplish Wonders in point of speed. I advised him to get rid of it as fast as he could, and I beleive he is very much inclined so to do, whenever he can find a customer.
I am not certain whether I ever mentioned to you that he has two Sons, the eldest brought up as an Architect & Surveyor, and the Youngest of about 16 Year's of age, has been assisting in the Surveys he has been lately making. Both seem well disposed and industrious boys, so far as I have had opportunities of judging. He thinks the Youngest has a turn for Mechanics, and both father and Son have expressed to me a very strong desire that he should be taken into our employment as an apprentice in the Drawing Office. I gave no great encouragement, but promised to confer with you about it, which the late more urgent matters have prevented me from doing. Specimens of his drawing and writing are I beleive upon the desk where I usually write in Creighton's Office. As far as I know all the circumstances attending the boy are favourable. The father is very assiduous in his professional duties, and appears to have brought up his Sons without other expectations than that of trusting to their own exertions for their future prospects.
I send you his letter partly on this Account, but still more that you may see what he says about the Dublin Company and the Post office Proceedings at Liverpool & Holyhead. You may return it to me with any remarks that occur to You.
I inclose also a letter from young Halligan the lame boy in the upper Counting house at the Foundry, which I think important. If you were to send for him and have some private conversation, perhaps he might be able to give farther information of past proceedings and of arrangements that may be effected.
Mr Sharp has called here and left his card with a message that he wishes to see me. I presume you may divine the subject.
I am
My dear Sir
Yours truly
James Watt
Mr. Mosley writes to You about Mr. Barclay.
There is a terrible uproar at the Post office about the non arrival of the pump of the Vixen, and I expect the Vessel will be obliged to leave without it. Pray enquire into the causes. I certainly saw it packing up a Week ago. |