| Description | INTRODUCTION
This volume is entitled on the front cover, in a hand which appears to be Matthew Boulton’s own, ‘MB...1st Jany. 1786.—And commenced again 1797 at page 75,’ and on the spine, in M. R. Boulton’s hand, are the words ‘M. Boulton (private) Letter Book, Jany. 1786 to 1788.’ In spite of these inscriptions, however, the book contains a single document of 1783 (12) and is empty after page 67.
The first seventy-five pages are numbered in a contemporary hand; the remaining pages (about two-thirds of the book’s contents) are unnumbered. Unless stated otherwise, all the documents are press-copies of originals in Matthew Boulton’s own hand. Bound in at the front of the book is an Index, filled up in a contemporary hand, to which an employee of the Assay Office has added some entries.
A transcript of 21 will be found after the table of Contents.
CONTENTS
Page
1. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to [? James Lawson]. 22 Jan. 1786. 10
2. Copy resolutions of a Committee. [c. Jan. 1786.] 12
(Copy of an original in an unidentified hand.)
3. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Thomas Wilson [Chacewater]. 24 Jan. 1786. 18
4. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Rev. S. Parlby [Stoke by Nayland]. 18 Feb. 1786. 24
5. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Peter Capper [? Bristol]. 18 Feb. 1786. 25
6. ‘Proposals for establishing a Cornish Copper Company, to consist principally of
those who are really interested in mines, and whose interest it is to keep the price
of fine copper at a proper standard.’ [c. Feb. 1786.] 26
(Copy of an original in an unidentified hand.)
7. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Richard Phillips. 4 Jan. 1786. 32
8. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to John Vivian. 4 Jan. 1786. 33
9. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to George Watson (Bristol). 4 Jan. 1786. 34
10. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Thomas Wilson (Chacewater). 4 Jan. 1786. 36
11. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Charles Blagden [London]. 10 Jan. 1786. 37
12. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to ?Mr. Hinckley. 7 Aug. 1783. 38
13. [Boulton & Watt] (Soho) to the Adventurers of the North Downs Mine. 23 Jan. 1786. 39
(Copy of a transcript in an unidentified hand. Headed ‘1st copy’.)
14. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to G. C. Fox & Sons (Falmouth) and
G. Fox (Perran). 26 Jan. 1786. 41
15. Copy calculations respecting a Cornish Copper Company. [c. Jan. 1786.] 44
(Copy of a transcript in an unidentified hand.)
16. Copy memoranda respecting a Cornish Copper Company. [c. Jan. 1786.] 46
(Copy of a transcript in an unidentified hand.)
17. Boulton & Watt (Soho) to Fox, Phillips, & Fox. 2 Feb. 1786. 48
18. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Peter Capper (Bath). 27 Jan. 1786. 49
19. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Thomas Wilson [Chacewater]. 1 Feb. 1786. 50
20. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to —. 24 Jul. 1786. 53
21. Matthew Boulton (Birmingham) to Mr. Sadler (Oxford). 4 Jul. 1786. 53
22. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Samuel Wyatt [Albion Mill]. 13 May 1786. 54
23. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Sir Robert Herries & Co. 24 Aug. 1788. 55
24. [Matthew Boulton] (—) to H. J. Browne (‘Badger’). Oct. 1788. 56
(Transcript, copied into the book by an unidentified hand.)
25. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Lord Hawkesbury. 16 Oct. 1788. 56
26. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to John Talbot Dillon. 9 Oct. 1788. 58
27. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Mr. Bureau. 9 Oct. 1788 59
28. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to Benjamin West. 31 Oct. 1788. 59
(Copy of an original in an unidentified hand.)
29. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to John Rennie (Albion Mill). 23 Oct. 1788. 61
30. Matthew Boulton (Soho) to William Matthews [London]. 23 Oct. 1788. 61
(Copied on the same sheet as 29.)
31. [Matthew Boulton] (—) to Lord Hawkesbury. [c. Oct. 1788.] 62
(Transcript, copied into the book by an unidentified hand. Incomplete.)
32. [Matthew Boulton] (—) to Lord Hawkesbury. [c. Oct. 1788.] 63
(Draft.)
33. [Matthew Boulton] [Soho] to Dr. Lind (Windsor). 30 Oct. 1788. 63
(Draft.)
34. [Matthew Boulton] [Soho] to Gilbert Meason. 21 Oct. 1788. 64
(Draft.)
35. [Matthew Boulton] (—) to Mr. Fawkener (London). Oct. 1788. 64
(Draft.)
36. [Matthew Boulton] (—) to Mrs. Barker [Lichfield]. Nov. 1788. 65
(Transcript, copied into the book by an unidentified hand. Incomplete.)
37. [Matthew Boulton] (Soho) to Pinsot d’Armand (London). Nov. 1788. 65
(In French. Copy of an unsigned original in an unidentified hand,
directed to 72 Jermyn Street, St. James’s.)
38. [Matthew Boulton] (Soho) to Rev. S. Parlby (Stoke by Nayland). Nov. 1788. 66
(Copy of an unsigned original in an unidentified hand.)
39. R. A. Daniel (Truro) to Matthew Boulton. 12 Sep. 1788. 67
(Copy of a transcript in an unidentified hand.)
40. Beginning of a letter in an unidentified hand. 68
TRANSCRIPTS
21. Matthew Boulton to Mr. Sadler. 4 Jul. 1786.
Birmingham, July 4, 1786.
Sir,
I have just been inform’d that you have been makeing some experiments in applying steam engines to the driveing of wheel carriages.
As the sole privilege of working steam engines by the elastick force of steam, acting upon a piston, with or without condensation, is granted to my partner Mr. Watt by an Act of Parliament, the term of which is unexpired; and as, amongst other improvments and applications of his principles he hath particularly specify’d the application of steam engines for driving wheel carriages, in a patent which he took out in the year 1784; supposeing you may not be acquainted with these circumstances and wishing to prevent you from falling into any expensive mistakes, I have taken the liberty to give you this notice, which I and Mr. Watt desire you may consider as a formal one, and remain (for partner and self), sir, your most obedient servant,
Mattw. Boulton
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