| Description | (Directed to Messrs. Isnell & Martin's.)
My dear Son,
Here have I been ever since the 29th May, plagued by that dishonorable, ungratefull scoundril Droz, who hath not finished one pair of money dies since he came to England, and he has got from me eleven hundred pounds in hard money (sterling). He is a quack, and hath been only learning at Soho instead of teaching. He is the vainest and most conceited charlaton I ever knew, and whose only merit is that of an engraver. I have compleated my apparatus for coining, which, as a machine, answers wonderfully well; and I have only to regret that Droz ever saw it. As my object is to prevent counterfeiting of money, I should be glad to make copper coin for all the world, but, as to gold and silver, it must always be made in the country to which it belongs. However, I have no objection against erecting the coining mill in any country which chooses to adapt it, provided they want to coin great quantities of money. My mill will coin 500 guineas per minute, and work 24 hours per day without fateague to any body; and, makeing proper allowances for stopages and changeing dies, it will coin half a million per day. I wish you would talk to Mr. Hope about it and ask his opineon whether he thinks it would be an object in Holland, as such a mill alone would coin duccats for all the world much finer, and reduce all their mints to one.
As you have now stay'd so long, I hope you and Mr. Robert Motteux will come together. I must beg of him to shew you all the things worth seeing at Amsterdam, and that he will accompany you to Mr. Hope's. Your success in life will depend very much upon the acquaintances you make, and therefore I wish you to loose no opportunity of makeing personal acquaintance with such men as Mr. Hope and all others of honorable character, whether merchants or philosophers. The Dutch are very slow in the adoption of new inventions, but I am certain they will one day or other adopt my coining mill, as well as our engines for the draining of their country and for the working of their most important windmills for sawing timber, makeing oyl, paper, flower, spining, &c., &c. I beg you'l see as many of their mills as your can; also see the steam engine we have erected near Rotterdam, and make enquiries as to the general opineon of it, as perhaps you will find it necessary to return to Holland upon that business.
I beg you will present my best compliments to Messrs. Isnell & Martin, and say I hope for a continuance of their orders and for the pleasure and satisfaction I have so many years enjoy'd in connection with their worthy house. You will find the people of Holland plain, honest, industruous, frugal, and much alive to their interest. It is a far better school for a young man than France was, but it's now chang'd-whether for the better, time only can shew.
I foresee that I shall stay in London till the 21st instant. Your sister is well and is at Mr. Motteux's, which is a comfortable thing for me as well as her self, as I should not have been satisfy'd to have left her at home all this time which I have been in town.
I cannot help complaining of you[r] want of punctuality in writing and answering of letters: you will soon find, when you come to stand upon your own legs, that it will plunge you into disputes, it will loose you your friends, and be attended with thousands of disadvantages. Your letter of the 19th May is the last I receiv'd from you, whereas if you would, like Mr. Robert Motteux, write once a week, I should have the satisfaction of hearing of you weekly. I have at this time no guess where you are, but suppose you have left Steidtfeld. Pray send me a line by the return of post, and say when you think you shall set your feet upon your native land.
I am afrighted at the possible consequences of tomorrow's meeting at Paris: there is always great probability of mischief ariseing where such great numbers of people assemble together. I hope for the best.
If all is not quite peacable [in] Flanders I beg you'l not go that road, but come directly home to Harwich. Wishing you both a pleasant journey and a safe voyage, I remain, dear Matt, your most affectionate father and friend,
Mattw. Boulton
[Edited transcript.] |