| Description | On the same sheet:
Transcript of account. Paper sent to Redruth by Bromwich Isherwood & Bradley of London. 15 Jun. 1781.
Docketed "Invoice – reams paper."
Summarised "To take a patent for the double crank. Valuable letter from Boulton concerning Hornblowers’ intended infringement. Boulton endeavours to comfort Watt thereon, and speaks at great length about the engine invention."
Mr Watt
Dear Sir
My last was 26th instant I have now to acknowledge the reception of your 2 letters dated the 21st and 23rd instant
be assured I am up on good terms with Snow Hill engineers I meet Sampson every Monday and all is well and likely to continue so as we shall never be the makers users or vendors of the intended forge and as Wilkinson is fully apprised of all the circumstances and has agreed to take all disputes appan himself we their boy stand clear moreover as Wilkinson spent an afternoon and evening with Mr stead of the castle when last in town he is persuaded that he not only can make peace between them and us but can make them useful alloys he thinks he can do the same thing between them and us as he did between gypsum and right company and three or four other iron masters who now make baruten with Petco under their patent at least Wilkinson will bring the matter to her friendly issue which is for all parties better than remaining in suspense and jealousy however it is nevertheless advisable to include the double devil in the patent which I hope you will not delay as delays are dangerous I have wrote to Handley some days ago to send me all the particulars he can respecting the horners patents Doctor P and myself are now persuaded that none of these errors can produce mechanical power so cheap as steam but he could not finish his experiments so as to give the results mathematically on account of an accident before Ling his glass table but will resume the experiment for my satisfaction although he is now positive that nothing can be done in that line
I have within these ten years passed converse with numbers of engineers philosophers and mechanics and I never heard of any man that ever pretended to afford of or practised pressing down a piston we steam or condensed theme in a separate vessel it was quite new to smeaton and so new to the Society of arts that went our engine was first talked of they would not believe that steam would do instead of the atmosphere I believe you may easily prove as far as a negative company proved by all the 1st man in the Kingdom in that line that no man ever did erect an engine upon your principle or propose such a thing nay I can positively prove by Mr edgeworth evidenced that in the year 1779 he mentioned his intention of driving a wheel carriage by steam to Gainsborough and that he found him totally ignorant of the principles of the combustion engine having at that time never seen one or ever made any experiments upon steam or steam engines you have not done as arkwright did but you have delivered a clear specification of the principles and you have illustrated those principles by the erection of 50 engines which are all exposed to public inspection and not kept secret like the cotton mills therefore I and all men must conclude that you have the sole right to the invention of making and using engines West steam is the acting power upon the piston condensing of steam in a separate vessel and taking out the air by a pump of keeping the cylinder hot as steam and of using unctuous matter to keep the piston airtight in lieu of water no man shall use any of these principles in fire engines two hour prejudice by God
there condensing in a sinking pipe induction pipe or by whatever name they may give it is point blank against the law and I think a small receptacle within the cylinder Duff also come within the meaning of it yet I have no fears from that as smeaton told me he had applied I will our condenser to his engine and it made it no better than before owing to the spin of symbol left on the inside surface of the cylinder from the symbol on the piston and if they use grease in lieu of water they come within the act
when I reflect on the obstinacy of old hornblower and when I remember Jeff rose speech upon seeing real spirit first going it's above all I would not give 2 1/2 for it and when I consider your generous conduct towards that family in being engineer for them at Paul di san giving them the reward of that office as well as the battle we have fought for them on every occasion I say when I reflect upon these things I am fired with resentment and therefore I would expel their root and branch from the engine trade in Cornwall we have dealt generously by them and by all our employers in Cornwall and we have yet more install for their interest we found their minds in a ruinous state we shall put them in a prosperous state and when the present engines are got to the extent of their powers I believe you can enable them to go perhaps 20 fathom deeper I have also something in view that will preserve them from the a procession of copper Smithers and keep up there also a reasonable price we have truth justice honour power and law on our side therefore cheer up don't below spirited but support yourself as a man against the folly and villainy A fools and rascals if we permit the hornblowers to smite us on the right cheek and thereby intimidate us to turn the left also I think we ought to wear horns as long as we live let us dismiss this disagreeable subject until we have new matter to go up on don't spare your threats I think we should prevent any of the Shropshire founders from casting their cylinders I intended setting out to London on Monday but I have this they received 2 letters from Gregory mine telling me the engine... and requesting need to meet the principle adventures there on Thursday next August 2nd and from various circumstances I think it very necessary that I should do so in order to guard our profits and our character I think at first condenser by transmitting cold through the metal and a pipe more than 30 foot long in many cases maybe better than the present as I think you make make better vacuum what would a thin diaphragm of copper or brass do near the bottom of the cylinder and apply cold water under it when you want to condense I can't be so good as as the philosopher Walker is coming to town and begins a course of lectures on Monday I expect from his syllabus he will set people are talking about engines I have subscribed but can't attend he dines with me tomorrow I think it's better to make him a friend than an enemy I have wrote this post again 2 Spalding and to Mr. Turner I had a letter today from Henderson he seems offended I don't write to him tell him I will write in a few days but I am overworked tell me when you find it necessary that I must come to Cornwall and I will come fothergill after talking as foolish a bath as to veer is now gone to London for the benefits of the air presenting my best respects to Mrs Watt an my wife who is poorly a Jew God grant you health and is the same wish of your affectionate Friend M Boulton
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