| Description | On the same sheet:
Transcript of letter. William Moore (Penryndee) to Boulton & Watt [Soho]. 9 Jul. 1781.
Abstract of letter from John Threlkeld, 19 Jul. 1781.
Summarised "Boulton gives a sketch [within the text] and lengthy correspondence concerning taking out a patent for a new system of producing a vacuum – is greatly concerned thereat. Watt can have the honour if he can have the profit. Penryndee mine will close. Thinks he had better examine the Patent Office, to hold to rotative motions if the engine goes."
Dear Sir
I have this moment received yours of the 16th instance I have waived saying anything to you about new invented engines or gases because I would not divert your attention from the business now in hand more fun issue with metaphor and easiness but I must or when I have for some time past being an easy at my own ideas respecting the practicability of deriving mechanical power from the condensation of air the grounds of my opinion never eyes from seeing in london glass vessel filled with air which became an inflationously can dentist when brought into a contact with water as steam would have been and the same thing happens with air now if you take a glass tube hermetically sealed at A and open at B let the space between C&D be filled with mercury in a space between D&A be filled with water into which projectors much something hair or something over there as will saturate that something and when it will contain no more a bubble of air will appear at A and that will grow larger if you put in more as the vacuum cannot contain any more air and the this should they something in a cold something the moment you apply heat to the water it gives out the air and the instant you cool it that instant it is absorbed again by the swimming heat it again and it gives out air so as to raise the mercury to a considerable height but to what height has not yet been tried. However it shall be tried in the next week as I have placed a confidence in doctor Priestley who have seriously promised me to keep the secret and to give me all the facts and all he can discover in that time the doctor is under some application to me that you know not of and I think will not betray me I am sure he will not by this process you see nothing is wasted for if you were to make one sort of air destroy another that would be an expensive process but nothing more is wasted than heat neither will water under these circumstances dissolve either the iron ore copper nor will the air dissolve IVA suppose we were immediately to begin to take out a patent for making engines by means of alternately emitting and re absorbing all and severally the different airs gases permanently elastic fluids or by whatever of a name they may be called setting forth that whereas there are several substances that do contain or are capable of containing several sorts of air acids etc in a fixed or solid-state an that such airs ETC I readily detached from or are emitted by such substances upon being heated and again upon being cold are readily reabsorbed by the said substances an thereby a vacuum may be obtained and mechanical force to drive when simcox first mentioned to me the idea of detailing fixable air from chalk and then in an instant ribs open it I was alarmed until I was convinced of the impracticality of it but although I think it can't be accomplished with solid substances yet I fear it may with fluid to some purpose and therefore I think we should immediately attempt to take out a pattern and if no other good arises from it we shall meet our opponents face to face and perhaps make an advantageous compromise with them we have so much at stake that throwing away 1 or 200 lbs in patents to check the evil is nothing in comparison to it as GPA is the inventor he is very quiet in Shropshire for I had not a little about him or his invention.
When I was last at broseley Wilkinson showed me a letter from Joseph hately the elder now in Scotland by which it appeared that he wanted Wilkinson to take him by the hand saying that he had invented a new engine that would produce double the power of yours an that with 1/15th part of the fuel and that it did not interfere with yours in any respect my big I may hear from you by the return of the post with your opinion upon my above proposition of taking out a patent and tell me in what words you think the petition etc should be expressed in and tell me of if you would have it in your or in our joint names give me my share of the profits and I don't care who has the honour of it it would be a woeful stroke upon us both to have all our hopes blasted Mr Matthews writes me that Mister Williams is gone down too Portsmouth to look after his India ships and that nothing can be done till he returns which he will apprise me of Bay assured that I will leave no stone unturned to accomplish your release and that soon least these ads should make a blast and now I have got your mind into a disagreeable state I will inform you of another circumstance which doth not nor will not affect us in any degree yet if I do not mention it you may probably read it in the papers and there by become alarmed but as all is safe respecting us I refer you to last Wednesday's London news and there you will say old Mr marler's name among the bankrupt and in The Gazette of the preceding week you will find his separation from the banking house announced and that the said banking house will be carried on in future under the firm of Pele and down which house Mr Matthews says is well provided at this time in case any of their customers should withdraw their confidence as this event was foretold long ago by Mr Matthews he have used a proper caution and taken care of himself yet nevertheless these and other Fothergillian circumstances oppressed my spirits very much I can bear a certain load and I now find my self nearly loaded
Dimensions of wheel crane the cylinder...
Mr dearman begs to have his directions in the usual channel and therefore I beg you will write even to him or me on that head marry paria cannot pay the bill you draw his funds being exhausted and I expect it at maturity to be returned since copying the enclosed letter from pen reading I have received another from western in his own style and I have just now 60£ from Reynolds for half a year's rent he is now in want of Mr. Williams.
Wilkinson is come over again this morning about his forge but I am crowded with Business Today and he's therefore gone to Birmingham Mr Higgins was here yesterday to inquire no the character of fox Phillips and fox are told him they were exceedingly good and that I knew bounds to the credit or should give them fittings can furnish almost any quantity and size of oak and says he shouts ship a quantity next week at Chepstow for Fox and co.
I think that no time should be lost and therefore beg you not permit any business to prevent you from giving me your instructions by the return of post as I think I should go to London and minutely examine the Patent Office and see what he's doing and if found necessary to enter ourselves as claimants for new powers I think it an object of so much consequence that I had a great mind to have sent this letter to you by an express at seven days last may be of great moment but I was fearful of alarming you I think I should go to London to seek peace about this day seven night and therefore it might not be amiss if you send your answer to me at this place and the copy to me in London which copier shall return to you I have had Venetian merchant with me all afternoon and this evening I have been with Mr Wilkinson who is come over red hot wanting his iron forge if we are cut out of our steam engines let's keep what we can rota T of motions will always be wanted be the power what it will and therefore I beg you will send up petition an affidavit for the electric and double engine something wheels by zed pins I have now got a water tub and copper tub with proper glasses an I can make any experiments you may suggest but I shall be hindered a Monday as Mr rotten Mr Williamson and Mr. Williams all copper smelters and also Mr. John Wilkinson are to dine with me Paris mountain has left the India contract and patent half note the rest divide it 1450 tonnes amongst them at 79 pounds per tonne a fine form may Providence shield your health and protect and prosper your Ino quetions in the 4 cent wish of dear Sir yours sincerely
Matthew Bolton
not a word about absorbing air to the Lieutenant |