| Description | (On the same sheet is a draft message in Matthew Boulton’s hand.)
London Street, April 18, ’06.
Dear Sir,
It has afforded me much satisfaction to learn that you are enjoying a very tolerable state of health, and which I trust will long be continued to you. The medals and coins you presented to the ward of Aldgate to be buried in the foundation of the Charity School about to be erected were ceremoniously deposited, with all attention to your direction for their preservation for ages to come, on Tuesday last. After the ceremony the alderman, common council men, and elders adjourned to one of their annual dinners, and the first toast after dinner was "health and long life to Matthew Boulton, Esq.," preceded by a speech from Alderman Coombe, which was highly honourable to your character; and, as I was present and could only promise to report what passed to you, perhaps you may not think it too much trouble to acknowledge the compliment to the alderman when you issue specimens of your present copper coinage
Many months ago you had an application from the wife of Bensusan the broker, and desired me to find her out and, if circumstances justified it, give her five guineas for your account. After some enquiry and loss of time I traced her out, but she was then settled in a way of providing comfortably for herself and the children with her, in the occupation of a fancy dress maker. I have within these few days received the enclosed note from the unfortunate woman, who has since called on me and told me a piteous story about the situation of her husband and two of their daughters of the ages of 16 and 17, whom Bensusan had fixed in situations at Paris as governesses and teachers of the English language. It seems Bensusan went out, during the short peace we had, to recover debts owing to him, amounting to about £3000, which, after various delays on the part of the debtors, he put into suit. The war breaking out again, he could no longer prosecute, but in the character of a British subject he has since been persecuted and detained in prison. He is now disheartened in consequence of the removal to Italy of the families his daughters were placed with, and he implores his wife to go to Paris and relieve him from the responsibility of these children, which he feels he is no longer equal to. She is preparing to set out on Monday next for this purpose. She leaves three infant children to the care of a friend. Her case has been made known amongst Bensusan’s connexions, who have subscribed their five or ten guineas each to the amount of £130, great part of which she must take with her. The little remainder is to be left for the support of her children till her return. I cannot help thinking ten or twenty guineas would be well bestowed on her. In the hope of hearing from you on this subject on Monday morning, and with every good wish for you, I am, dear sir, your ever obliged servant,
Jno. Woodward |