| Description | "Creighton’s perplexities, and arrangements required in consequence of them."
Soho April 23d 1825
My dear Sir
I find upon enquiry that the sketch of the Spinning Fly applied to the Dredging Engine was sent to Mr Brown on Friday. Neither your letter respecting it, nor Messrs Lonergan's application ever came under my view & unless I am accidentally in the Counting House at the arrival of the Postman or carefully look through the confused heap of letters lying scattered over the table it is difficult to get a sight of the correspondence. There is undoubtedly much matter to engage Mr Creighton's attention but I think the pressure upon it is much aggravated by his peculiar habits. Little or no verbal communication takes place between him & the other agents-even to those in the same office with himself his instructions are given in notes written in a tone & with a brevity which often render repeated explanations necessary.
In all cases where the business could be as well transacted by delegation as by himself he adopts the latter course & loads himself with minutiæ which would have a less distracted attention elsewhere.
With a secretary competent to embody general directions in a well written letter much of the correspondence might be removed from Mr Creighton & his attention left to be concentrated more immediately on mechanical subjects & general directions to the executive.
I fear also there is another growing cause of his confusion & perplexities, but it will be better discussed when we meet.
I wrote you at length on Friday with observations on the Crocodile & City of Edingburgh Expts to which I refer & believe me to be
Yours truly
M Robinson Boulton
P. S. I inclose a letter received yesterday from Hawkins & shall be obliged to you to inform me for his government whether the dignity to which he aspires can be obtained or the impediments which exist to his wish. |