| Description | The outer page of the letter is covered in various calculations. [Matthew Boulton is settling an engine trial nearby. Watt invented a machine for blowing by the compressing power of water without a water wheel many years ago and gave the model to John Anderson [Professor of Natural Philosophy at Glasgow] for his class. John Wilkinson has tried ways of using it, but has not been successfil. He does not recommend that John [Roebuck] try it. ‘ None of the old Standers will be drove out of the least Iota of their pres[en]t practice though an apostle came to teach them — I have been one of these foolish people who have undertaken to teach people how to do better and have found it a most difficult enterprize and have therefore given up unless my interest be very much concerned and even then the avarice the prejudices and the villany of mankind leave no stone unturned to cut of the profit and so, very often one finds it has not been in ones interest.’ He will try the magnetism of the soft iron]. (Partners no. 47) |