| Description | Dear Sir,
Having been much more engaged in business in the country than I usually am, I have not hitherto had leisure to write to Dr. Fordyce, nor could I write to you last night.
I perceive you have had Canal news from the hostile party only. The general meeting was held on the regular day, & squabbles were agitated innumerable. Nevertheless a Committee was chosen, which I am convinced will have more regard to justice than to every other reason for acting or forbearing to act. Lord D, Dr Ash, Mr Lloyd junr, Wm. Taylor, Mr Palmer, Mr Wilkinson, Mr Rabone, Mr. Francis, Mr Farquharson, Mr Kettle, Mr Henn, Mr Galton, Sam. Steward, Mr Lee & I. The meeting met again the following friday by adjournment, & abundance of squabbles again ensued. Mr Garbet moved that advice might be taken about the legality of the deed, which he & Mr Faulconbridge, & some others thought unlawful. It was argued that Ld Dartmouth ought to be presently consulted, & this being agreed he withdrew his motion. Mr Gibbons late in the evening moved that the former order for a Medal & thanks to Mr Bentley might be revived. Mr Henn the chairman pronounced an elogium on Mr Bentley, & put the question hastily. No body who wished this order to remain dormant imagined it could be revived, & therefore nothing was said against Mr Henn's oration
The vote therefore passed, but several members during the agitation of it left the meeting, & gave notice they did so on purpose to break the assembly up. Next day a meeting was called of the Committee, & proof being given that a sufficient number of proprietors were not present when the vote was made, the committee declared that they judged it to be void. Mr Gibbons and some others dislike this proceeding, and talk of calling a special assembly to reprove the Comm. but we have no violent apprehensions. That Mr Garbet might not be induced to continue his persecution from points of punctilio, & passion the general assembly explained the angry advertisement & the word infamous, & made more concessions to the strange schemists for the poor than I thought they should have done.
Many proprietors hoped these steps would have put some stop to his proceeding agst the Company, but it is said he will still proceed, & if he should, a most malignant war will be waged; at least I fear so. I wish you could invent any plan of mediation by Mr Holles or others. I had 3 or 4 conversations with Mr G with this view, but neither of us understood the other. The worst thing done by the general assembly was the re-choosing the obnoxious servants, which could not be avoided without disagreable personalities.
But to remedy this, two of the Committee will go in rotation to see all differences composed, & all injuries compensated. Our Summit is not navigable from dry weather, & the reservoir has lost near half its water by soaking into its sides & bottom for it has no visible leak. We shall begin to morrow to draw water from the reservoir.
All sensible cool proprietors think themselves under infinite obligation to Lord Dartmouth, & Dr Ash Mr Wilkinson & I are appointed to wait upon his Lordship with the most respectful acknowledgements of his condescension, & . . .ction of our affairs.
At present a very great majority of the Company are ready to act in concert, & have done so in every point that could be foreseen excepting the servts. They have reduced the price of weighing, & will certainly take no wharfage for coals. Mr Garbet talked at the cross of a shilling for weighing a waggonload, to be laid out partly for repairing roads, & partly for the benefit of the poor. He said Parlt would certainly grant this. I write in great haste. Will you tell Mr Gilbert, that if upon his coming into the country, he should not find every possible slip taken to remedy abuses we will agree to forfeit the canal next session & that therefore Parlt need not interpose.
I write in great haste. Your son is well. I rejoice at your success & always am
Yours entirely W. Small. Respects to Mrs B. The quarrels about the deed were almost solely personal against Mr Lee, who was accused of having suggested an improper plan, of which the Wolver Hn. people were so tenacious that Lord D. could obtain no better terms. Lee was confused & could not defend himself.
Not being a medical man, the history you have given to Fordyce is not exact. I shall endeavor to render it more so next post.
[Address-label:] To / Matthew Boulton Esqre / No 10 Walbrook / London. [Added at the head, in a different hand:] No 14 Cannan St
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