| Description | Dear Father,
It gives me infinite satisfaction to hear I have removed your alarms of my account, and I hope my endeavours to conduct myself in future according [to] your wishes may be successful.
I have observed in the Mercure de France for August 4th a paragraph in which your and Mr. Watt’s name was mentioned; it sets forth the great advantages of your engine in respect to the old one, and the utility arrising from its application to all sorts of mills, &c., citing the Albion Mill et Mr. Whitbread’s brewery as examples; it was not signed by any name, nor have I the least idea who the author can be.
Last Monday there was a "lit de justice" held here, which is in general an assembly where the King declares his will; however, the Parliament have protested against every resolution made there, but I believe they will be obliged to register them a[t] last, and the business will finish by sending a few of the members to the Bastile. It is expected these frequent meetings will produce some important changements in the administration of this country; nothing certain transpires at present, for every body here is most uncommonly discret, fearing lest he should cause his name to be put upon list of reform; at Paris they speak more freely, as it is thought that if the Queen goes there she will not be so well received.
You will see by my last letter of August 1st that I have paid Mr. Bourdon £600, and at present I have no other bills unpaid. The following is the account of the money received from Mr. Dellessert, and also of that paid to the masters, &c.
I am glad to hear of the good effect the air of Soho has produced on the health of Mrs. Matthews, and, with many compliments to the familly in general, I remain, dear father, your dutiful son,
Mattw. R. Boulton
PS. I should be greatly obliged to you if would send me a pair of shoe buckles with Mr. Bourdon’s sword.
Received Paid
£ £
Feb. 20 500 From Feb. 20 to April 18th,
April 4 1000 for masters and expences 500
ditto 8 72 From ditto to July 31 for masters 460
July 17 1000 For private expences 238
2572 Paid to Mr. Bourdon 1200
2398 2398
Rest 174
[Edited transcript.]
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