| Description | Dear Sir,
I received in due course your obligeing favour without date. [16 November]
I had a long conversation in London with the Baron de Vay upon the use of our steam engines in the Hungarian mines; and within these 4 days I have received a letter from him dated Veinne, November 1st, in which he makes propositions to us to enter into a partnership with Mr. Kemplin, whom he says hath obtain’d an exclusive priveledge for our inventions in all the dominions of the House of Austria, to all which I shall answer him by the next mail.
The Baron seems not to be aware of the magnitude and importance of our concerns in this country, for, besides an extensive manufacture at Soho, a mercantile warehouse at Birmingham, a mill in London, interested in most of the Cornish mines and engineer to them all—I say, besides these things, we have now more steam engines order’d and in work than it is probable will be erected in all the Austrian domineons dureing my life. And as to partnerships, he is not aware of the ruinous consequences that may possibly attend them, because when a man takes a partner, he puts it into his power to ruin him, and therefore he should consider it as the next serious thing to the takeing of a wife; for which reasons I shall decline the partnership, and probably propose that, if Mr. Kemplin will enter into an article of agreement with us for a certain term of years, and will bind and oblige himself to buy of us all the steam engines he may want to erect in the said domineons, according to a tariff to be settled of prises—I say, in that case we may (after a little further consideration) have no objection to agree with him and lead him into such practise in the erection as much experience hath taught us; and this I conceive to be the only proper plan for any connection with him. I do not hear of any specifick engine being wanted in Hungary, and, as we are full of orders for engines, it would be as great a folly in us to wander into Hungary to seek for orders as it was in Charles the 12th of Sweden to seek conquest in foreign countries and leave his own to be conquered.
Hence you will perceive the outlines of my sentiments, which I shall write to the Baron by the next post, unless it appears to you that I am in an error, in which case I will thank you for a line.
A few days ago I received a letter from Mr. Loggin informing me that Droz’s attorney had obtain’d a rule of court for us to shew cause why the award should not be set aside. I must own I am not a competant judge what is best for me to do. I do not at present see any objection to it, except that I feel my self bound in honour to support what ever the arbitrators have done, and what ever they think I ought to do I most certainly will do. But my present hasty opineon is that if the merits of the dispute is brought before a jury, and the value of all that Droz hath done added to all that he hath taught will not amount to so much as is given by the award. I don’t mean to say that the referees have not acted perfectly, but I know them to be men of such high sentiments of honour that if they incline the ballance on either side it would be in favour of the foreigner; and as this business turn’d out more troublesome to them than I expected, I avoided going into an appraisment of the work done or to be done, or entering into the proof of the fallacy and deceit of all his pretended improvments. However, I was so far content with the award as to rejoice that my vexations were apparently terminated, and I realy meant to have conform’d to the award in every particular without equivocation.
You may depend upon it that the arbitrators have not sentenced him to do any thing but what he and other workmen can do with ease in the time allow’d. He hath employ’d much of his time since his return in copying my modells of the King, the Prince, &c., and in working at his medal die of Lord Heathfield for his own use.
I have requested Mr. Loggin to wait upon you and Mr. Motteux, to learn and follow your opineons, which I beg you will continue to favour me with, as nothing will proove a greater cordial to my spirits.
Excuse this trouble, and believe me I am, with the greatest regard,
Dear Sir,
Your very faithfull and obliged friend and servant,
Mattw. Boulton
Soho, November 22, ’90.
[Edited transcript.]
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