| Description | The last letter I receiv'd from my dear son was dated from Versailles, although I hear he is now at Paris, from whence I have not receiv'd one line.
I desired you to go to Mr. Droz in one of my former letters, and hasten him in the execution of my half peny, but I have never heard from you one word upon that subject. I beg you will acquire habits of punctuality and never delay till tomorrow the doing of any thing which may be done to day, nor ever delay answering a letter till the next post, if it is possible to answer it sooner; these are indispensible maxams for forming a man of business.
Pray go to Mr. Droz, No. 18 rue Macon, and tell him I shall loose my reputation and loose the copper coinage unless he confines himself intirely to the compleation of the dies (le coin) and the other machinery pour faire le lettres sur la tranche. I propose to give one to each Member of Parliament, accompany'd with a short proposition, and unless the demi sous are quite compleat they will not answer the purpose, as one part of my proposition is to put an end to the counterfeiting of copper half pence. If he will send me a piece exactly the size suitable for his dies, I will cut a few thousand and send them ready bronzed for him to strike.
Pray tell me what are the present prevailing tast in buttons worn at Paris and send me two or three new patterns, which you can get from Metman the taylour; and ask Metman for his bill of what you owe him, which pray examine and consult some friend about the charges, and, if right, sign it and send it to me, and I will order payment.
There are certain persons in Paris who will be desireous of shewing you civilities and of leading you into mischief. You may avoid being rude to them, but avoid also their company. I wish to avoid nameing names of improper persons, but I will always name those who are not so, and will send some introductions soon to you.
Mr. De Lessert's family are most desireable acquaintance, and although I wish you to visit them as often as possible, yet there is a danger of your being thought troublesome, and therefore you must exercise your own judgment and observation when to visit and when not, for it is not always convenient to receive one's most intimate friends. Avoid going when you find a great deal of company, except when you are invited, for one should always use one's friends so as to preserve them long.
I am of your opineon that you may improve your pronunciation by going to the play sometimes, particularly when such actors perform as we saw at the Palais of Versailles, and you have my consent to go with Miss De Lessert as often as she will allow you to give her a ticket; but I wish you never to go without one of that family or Mr. Manuel.
I also desire you will learn by heart some such celebrated speeches out of plays as abound with noble and honorable sentiments, and learn to speak them like the characters themselves, in the presence and under the direction and criticisms of Mr. Manuel, for I know not so manly or so elegant an accomplishment as that of speaking in publick like an orator. I consider that as the principal advantage of a publick education over a private one. We have now many excellent young orators rising up in both our houses of Parliament, and I am perswaded it will abound shortly with more Ciceros than any assembly in the world. Speaking eloquently in publick is a branch of education that is more than ever cultivated in this country.
I am sorry Mr. Manuel doth not understand English, and more sorry that I can't write French, as it deprives me of an easy and agreeable communication of sentiments. However, I shall understand his letters and you must interpret mine.
I beg (excuse me if I say insist) that you will write to me one letter in French every week and as many English ones as you please, for I think you are too spareing of what is not very costly but what is very agreeable to me and all your friends.
I will send you a few fossills to give to such philosophical friends as I will point out, and if you wish to make any little presents to any of your friends of steel chains or buttons, or any thing which Birmingham or Soho produces, let me know and I will send them.
I wish you to read, to study, and to understand the six books of Euclid.
I wish you to understand conick sections, also trigonometry, algebra, the use of lograthims, and the doctrine of ratios; and this wish I beg you will read to Mr. Guyott and to Mr. Manuel, and they will point out the proper person to instruct you.
I wish you to attend philosophical lectures, when you have laid the foundations aforesaid, and then you will easily learn those sciences which depend thereon, such as opticks, hydrolicks, hydrostaticks, pnumaticks, &c. At the same time you are improving your self in mathematicks you may attend some publick lectures in metalurgy and chymistry in general; but above all things persue constantly something that is laudable and never pass an idle moment, for life is very short, even too short for man to attain the knowledge that is by him attainable.
You may read to Mr. Manuel such parts of my letter as relate to your self.
I had a letter last post from Mr. Bourdon, who speaks respectfully of you and regrets the loss of you. He seems dissatisfy'd with his present situation and asks my opineon about a plan for him to go into, of selling to the shops in Paris, Birmingham hardware. I shall write to him my sentiments, which are: I fear it will not answer to him; there are so many people going to Paris every day that know the good from the bad paymasters, and have so overcrowded the Paris market, and indeed all others, that I have declined sending anybody to Paris to take orders but prefer selling our goods to those houses at Birmingham whose business it is to collect orders in France and payments. I am told that steel buttons are now the mode; if Metman wants any, I can send him them at the first price.
If there are any new books published on chymistry or metalurgy, pray send them to me par la dillegance de Monsieur St. Prix, but you must always send them unbound.
Ask Mr. Guyot if he hath got Mr. Kirwin's last book upon the Phlogiston of Metals, and if he hath not I will send it to him.
Mr. Watt is gone to Scotland to fetch his wife home, and I suppose will not return of a month. I am building a handsome warehouse at Birmingham and will send you a drawing of it.
You have sent me an account of the money you have receiv'd from Mr. de Lessert, but you have not sent me the Credit side of the account, viz. the payments you have made, which I beg you'l do.
If there are any books you want from England, let me know and I will send them. I lately bought two very large octavo volumes in London with an intent of sending to you: the one is a collection of most of the beautyfull poems in our language on all subjects, and the other is a collection of the most beautyfull pieces of prose; but upon second thoughts I declined sending them, least they should take off your attention from the French language, which I hope in a few months you'l be able to write gramatically correct and speak with the eloquence of an orator.
Pray have you read Mr. Berkin's book The Friend of Youth? if you have not, pray do. I last night read to my family and Mr. and Mrs. Roberts a chapter out of it instead of one out of the Bible, titled The Peasant is the Riches of his Country.
I know not how to direct to you; pray send me your adress.
There is one thing I had almost forgot, which is to beg you will learn habits of oeconomy, otherwise you may spend much more than is necessary. I shall pay with pleasure every proper and necessary expence, but I abominate extravagance, as it tends to evil and curtails one's power of doing good.
When ever Mrs. De Lessert invites you to a dance again I beg you will go and learn to make your self agreeable to amiable ladies and to render your self a desirable partner. I own I should be glad to see you dance a minuet with Mademoiselle gracefully and elegantly.
Present my most respectfull compliments to Mr., Mrs., and Miss De Lesserts, and likewise to your young friends and Mr. Guyot. Adieu, my dear son. I pray God to preserve you, and remain ever your very affectionate father,
Mattw. Boulton
Enquire if Bob Motteux is in Paris; Mr. Panchard can tell you.
[Edited transcript.]
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