| Description | (Muirhead No. 21. Tann No. 1)
Dear Sir,
Our friend Boulton will by this post send letters both to you and to Dr R. I know not well how to resolve without seeing you. I have not the pleasure of being enough acquainted with Dr R. to judge whether we should all suit one another. His integrity and generosity every body agrees are great. You certainly know the proposal he has made to Boulton, who will tell you his determination about it. Before I knew your connexion with Dr R. my idea was that you should settle here, and that Boulton and I should assist you as much as we could, which in any case we will most certainly do. I have no kind of doubt of your success, nor of your acquiring fortune, if you proceed upon a proper plan as to the manner of doing business, which if you do, you will be sole possessor of the affair even after your patent has expired. I had not thoroughly considered this part of the matter when you left me. In a partnership that I liked, I should not hesitate to employ any sum of money I can command, on your scheme, & I am certain it may be managed with only a moderate capital. Whether it would be possible to manage the wheel & reciprocating engines by separate partnerships without their interfering I am not certain. If it is, Boulton & I would engage with you in either, provided you will live here. Thank you for the boot varnish.
One Experiment was shewed to me, and two more were described to me since you left me which will certainly soon lead the operators, altho they are not great cymists, to your alcali secret. This is what I alluded to, and I beg you will attend to it. I am in haste
Dear Watt
Your affectionate
humble Servt. W. Small.
7. Jany 1768.
Birmingham.
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