| Description | (Directed to William Matthews’, 6 Green Lettice Lane.)
Dear Father,
I have been this morning with Doctor Ingenhouzen shewing him the Manufactory; he says he is an old acquaintance of yours, and also brought a letter from the Marquis of Landsdown. He had with him a great quantity of platina in a malleable state, a part of which he left here for a sett of buttons to be made from it. I am to go to him at the Hotel to morrow to learn from him his manner of making the aqua mephitica, which from his description must be much more expeditious than the method commonly practiced. He is troubled with gravil, and this is his remedy. He says he has much studied this disorder, and his observations with respect to acids and diet perfectly accord with those of Doctor Withering. He is going to London and probably will call upon you.
I am sorry to find from yours of the 21st that you have been ill; I wish you would be more careful of yourself, for I doubt not but many of your disorders proceed from your inattention to your diet and your anxiety of mind. Your coinage business, I know, has been greatly the cause of the latter, but I hope it will now go on smoother. The two presses now going seem to answer very well; the only alteration which has been found necessary to be made has been in the pullies, which do not stand made of wood; iron ones have been therefore substituted.
You will receive with these letters the account of pieces cut out and of those struck. Mr. Ponthon has not been idle, and yet his work does not advance much. He has always some alteration to make with his model, and cannot determine himself to begin the engraving; I have, however, persuaded him at last to take the graver in hand and so far to do violence to his ambition as to copy in part a figure of a medal of Duvivier’s.
I know of nothing further relative to the coinage.
The commissions for Doctor Priestly are finished. Mr. Southe[rn] sends his electrometer by to night’s coach, and the lamp, &c., shall be forwarded by the flying waggon of Wednesday.
My respectful compliments to Mr. and Mrs. Matthews and Mr. Watt. I remain your dutiful son,
Mattw. R. Boulton
T Cwt
Five sous pieces struck 1. 16
Cut out 15. 10
[Edited transcript.][Priestley] |