| Description | (Formerly enclosed the documents below.)
Memorandum of Matthew Boulton. c. 1781.
“State of case, Matthew Boulton and Keir.”
1778. Mr. K. having signify’d to B. the badness of the glass trade and intimated his likeing to some connection with me, and as I forsaw that my attention would be withdrawn from Soho, and thought that if death should sever me, that such a friend would be a desireable representative, but Mr. K. signify’d he could not be happy without a farm, and as Sir C. Holt’s was then to be lett, he walked with me over it and encouraged me to take it, which I did with a view of accomodating him.
On the 25 March 1778 he left Stourbridge and came to his house, which took up much of his attention at the beginning.
April 25, I went to London, where I stay’d 50 days, dureing which time Mr. K. came to the manufactury, I suppose, very often, but did not take upon himself the management of any department except the refineing of the plated scraps and making AF, which, with all his apparatus, he made an inventory of, debited to B. F., and turn’d over to B. & F. with his man Richard.
AF—Bad and lost.
Refineing—lost.
Took one large corner house and fitting up for experimenting, and has been kept ever since for that purpose.
June 16, I returned from London, soon after which Messrs. L.V.W. slam came upon them and I was obliged to return again to town and on
June 28 I set out with Mr. K. in a chaise. I at that time shar’d part of the agitation with that house and I found much consolation in the company and advice of Mr. K., whose assistance and friendship on that occation I shall ever retain a gratefull sense of, as it afforded me much consolation at a time I stood in need of it. Of course I endeavoured to render our mode of traviling agreeable to him, and to prevent him from being at any expence. Mr. K. about this time was serviceable with his advice in many respects and by his assistance in writing many letters.
It soon became necessary to settle some plan of profits, and according[ly] a memorandum was drawn up by his directions, and sign’d and deliver’d to him by B. & F., by which Mr. K. was to act in the place of M. B. in the management of the business in general, and in consideration thereof he was to have enjoy’d ¼ of the profits without advancing any capital. Under this agreement, M. B. had reason to believe K. was well satisfy’d, and left Soho with a quiet mind when he set out with Jary and wife to Cornwall, October 5, 1778, and return’d about New Year’s Day following, dureing which time Mr. K. had looked into Egginton’s business, so as to be able to form some opinion of what was right and what wrong. Mr. Perrier arrived about that time and Mr. K. was usefull with his advice on that occation, and continued to be so at times, particularly in the Hawksbury affair.
Reels, bolt manufactury, of which I commented, casting, forging, rolling prises, credit, [? inter], coppying machine. My introduction to Navy board from access to improve his knowledg in all our manufactury. Experimented on painted glass, on useing bolt-metal for or moulu, and 20£ in candlesticks, &c.
See his letter to me.
Discontented all summer, but at Michaelmas I made another proposal of giving him 5 per cent. of all my profit, both engine, &c.
[Edited transcript.]
Memorandum by Matthew Boulton. c. 1781.
“Case of Keir and Matthew Boulton.”
Memorandum by Matthew Boulton. c. 1781.
“Matthew Boulton and Keir.—Time and trouble.”
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