| Description | "On copper." (The first part of the copy is wanting.)
. . . If the import duty was taken off, the Manufacturers of this Country might live in hopes of obtaining Copper as cheap as those of other Countries where Labour is cheaper than in this & Taxes less. But you will say that Copper is now dearer all over Europe than heretofore. I know it is, & I know all the reasons why, & I can trace the effects of that Power that has been the cause of the great rise in England into every other Europian Copper Market.
It is probable that the good effects of takeing off the Import duty might not suddenly appear, but perhaps the reverse for a short time, as I have no doubt but great quantities of Copper would be Exported upon the same principle that Block & Bar Tin is sent to China at 30 Pr Cent cheaper than it is sold to the Manufacturers of this Country.
Mr Pitt has repeatedly & decidedly promised that something should be done soon in the Copper trade, or so soon as the present important political changes, which are now upon the tapis, are settled, but I do not flatter my self nor expect much will be done before it is too late.
I assure you my good Sir, if Mr Simcox & Self had not considerd the late proposed regulations as the measures of Govermt. we should not have neglected our own business as we have done, to attend their call: well knowing all our efforts would have been in vain against so great, so powerfull & corrupt an influence as Cornwall & Anglesey furnish.
I think it probable that I shall be called to Town soon, & if that is the case, I certainly will pay my respects to you & talk over the Copper business.
I presume you have read some papers that have lately been published on ye Copper Case which are composed chiefly of falsities fallacys & missquotations & are easily confuted if it would answer any good purpose. I have by this sent a small packet directed to you containing the replys we pubd. which I beg your per[usal of]. You have not already read them.
If in the course of your Summers ramble, y[ou] touch upon the borders of Staffordshire I beg y[ou will] take your Bed or Beds at Soho where you [will find] Peace Plenty & Liberty.
I am with great regard
Dear Sir
Your faithfull & obliged Fr[iend]
Mattw: Boulton
It is a fact that to work up 1000Tons of Copper in the Birm[gm] Manufactures it employs Ten Thousand Persons one Year wh. . . 10 Men would Rolle 1000 Ton in one Year & . . . Buildings, tools, & Capital employd in the first Case . . . Hundred times more than in the latter. |