| Description | the principal employ. In such situations the distinction between the landed barons and the peasant is something similar to king and subject, and consequently the higher class is accustomed to be treated with ceremony and respect; and I think a benevolent good hearted baron is a blessing to his neighbourhood.
Yet nevertheless I must own I am partial to trade, inasmuch as it extends a man’s powers of doing good; and I had rather be distinguished as the greatest manufacturer in Europe than as a Count of the Holy Empire, because I suppose I pay weekly more money for ingenious labour than the first lord in England doth for common labour; and, after all, I am only a greater slave than my servants.
I wish I could instantly send you some of our soft fine Welch flannel to wear under your shirt, for ’tis immensly cold; however, I beg you’l get some such good non conducter of heat to keep you warm and to keep you from takeing cold, there being nothing worse for your constitution than sudden obstructed perspiration. Last night, Ferhenite’s thermometer sunk to 15 degrees, which is 17 degrees below the freezing point (which is 32), but as it’s probable the German’s may use Raumeur’s thermometer I must beg you to remember that 2¼ degrees of Farhenite’s is equal to one degree of Raumeur’s.
degrees
Boiling water is 212 on Farhenite’s scale, and upon Raumeur’s it is 80.
Freezing is 32 Freezing is 0
180 difference difference 80
Hence 180 degrees of Farhenite’s scale is equal to 80 on Raumeur’s, which is just 2¼ to 1 degree; and therefore 17 degrees of Farhenite’s is = to 7½ below 0 in Raumeur’s. I suppose Mr. Rheinhard has got some thermometer: pray tell me the degrees of cold on the north side of your house by day and by night, and the name the thermometer bears.
I cannot but regret the great distance you are from me, because I am deter’d by it from attempting to send you any thing; otherwise I would send you flannel, thermometers, and news papers, as wish you to read the debates in our Houses of Parliament, particularly the present between Pitt and Fox respecting the appointment of the Regency dureing the indisposition of the King. The King continues yet deranged, and incapable of performing the functions of the kingly office; and therefore Mr. Pitt proposes for Parliament to petition the Prince of Wales to solely take upon himself the Regency, and that he shall choose his own ministers and not be fetter’d with any perminent Council.
As Mr. Pitt hath acted so liberaly and manly towards the Prince, I shall hope that when he is invested with the regal powers he will not be so bad a politician as to change the ministry, particularly as the whole nation are satisfy’d with Mr. Pitt, who found the nation in distress and who hath now restored it to its highest pitch of prosperity.
Pray consult Mr. Rhenard how I can send at a moderate expence such of our newspapers as contain the most interesting debates, as I wish you to feel your self interested in the welfare of your own country and to know the state of its politicks in your time, least you should ever attain the honour of a seat in the House of Commons. Pray tell me in your next whether it is most expeditious to send my letters to Frankfort and to Mr. Striber, or shall I direct them to Mr. Rheinard’s at Stadfeld for you.
Monsieur l’Abby de Callonne, with his friend Mr. Brunell, hath favoured me with a visit dureing the last week, and seem’d much pleased with his journey. He enquired after you and desired his kind compliments. His brother (the ex-minister) hath bought a handsome house at High Park Corner, and hath bought a handsome villa at Wimbleton, and is content to quit the paths of French politicks and walk in the more peaceful ones of philosophy in England. Yet nevertheless he says, if the Estates General should at their meeting request him to come over to France he should readily go, and doubts not of acquiting himself of all their charges against him.
I saw Mr. Striber yesterday, in good health. He says he intends to leave Birmingham in about nine days and to go to Manchester and Yorkshire, &c. He is a good natur’d sensible worthy young man and I am sorry he is not closely employ’d, but hope he will soon.
Charles Startin is return’d from Spain, and talks Spanish and Portuguese nearly as fluent as German and French. I expect Miss Salt will soon surrender her self and fortune to him, against the consent of her mother. It would crown my lengthen’d years with happiness and joy to see you, in due time, connected with as good a wife (as I am perswaded she will make) and as good a fortune.
I am sensible that you have undertaken an arduous task in learning the German language so as to read, write, and speak it correctly; but remember that perseverance, close application, and unwaried attention, will conquer anything, and when you have conquer’d that language you will without trouble learn so much of any other as you may stand in need of. I therefore do beseech you to avail your sel[f of your] present retirement and spare no pains in accom[plishing the] wished for end of your going to Germany, and of all [things] practise the speaking German, right or wron[g, for by] speaking wrong you will learn to speak right.
There is another thing I wish you to learn b[efore you le]ave Stadfeld, which is bookkeeping by d[ouble entry. I a]m told there is a young gentleman in Mr. Striber’s [house who is v]ery clever in that line. It is an art on wh[ich your] future prosperity will very much depend, and therefore [pray] don’t neglect it. Such like usefull arts, with all the [branches] of usefull knowledge, and the cultivation of common sense, are much more likely to be attain’d in the meridian of Stadfeld than amongst the round of dissipations on the Boulvoir, the Opera, or in the perlieus of Versailles.
I have just invented and executed a new machine for the impregnating of water with fixable air, by which I can impregnate it much stronger (1) and in far less time (2) than by the common glass machine. I loose not a particle of the air (3) and my machine is in no danger of bursting (4).
Pray, are any of the gentlemen at Stadfeld or Eisenach mineralogists or chymists or natural philosophers? If they are, you can perhaps exchange a little philosophical news with me now and then.
Your is preparing a white dress cover’d with spangles to go to a ball tomorrow. She desires I would present her kindest love to you and many thanks for your letter of the 30th November, which she will answer very soon. She wrote to you about a fortnight ago. Pray don’t delay writing gratefully and friendly to De Lassert’s family and to Mr. Manuel, and don’t forget Mr. Guyot.
[The following passage, omitted from the copy, is supplied from the original:
Don’t forget to buy your self four or six fine soft flannel under waiscoats, for ’tis so cold I can scarcely write. But it’s an ill wind that blows no good. The navigation of the Thames is so obstructed by this severe [frost] that no wheat or flower can be brought by that channel, and now the inhabitants of London, as well as our partners, will find the advantages of our Albion Mill, which is doubled in its powers and numbers of stones since you saw it, there being now two engines and twenty pairs of stones at work, which grinds and dresses twenty thousand bushels of wheat per week, which is sufficient to supply a city containing 125,000 souls. A bushel of wheat weighs upon the average 57 pounds averdepois, or say a demi-quintel.
I have got a few plated things ready which I intended to send as a present to Mr. Rheinhard, but they must now remain untill the frost is gone. I beg you’l present my best respects to him and tell him I do no[t] forget that I owe him a letter, which debt I will very soon discharge.
Your sister is very well and sends her love to you, with thanks for your last letter, which she will soon answer.
Miss Mynd, Lawson, and all your friends, frequently enquire after you, and all wish you well, but none so fervently as your very affectionate father,
Mattw. Boulton ]
[Edited transcript.] |