| Description | (Press-copy of an original in the hand of William Cheshire, signed by Boulton.)
My dear Sir,
A few Months ago your letter addressed to my Son came to Soho House, and as he was then in London it was forwarded to him there without delay; it reached him at a time when the pressure of business bore very heavy upon him, and was considerably accumulated by the change of Administration: at the same time he took a violent cold which required immediate care and good nursing; but a want of leisure caused the needful precautions to be neglected, in consequence of which two days after my Son’s return he was seized with a violent attack of fever, which for many weeks baffled the skill of his Physicians and excited very serious apprehensions for his safety.
I thank God he may now be considered past all immediate danger; but he is still prohibited from attending to any kind of business, or from writing a single letter to any person whatever.
Your letter slept unopened with many others, I know not how long, in his travelling trunk, from whence it was brought to light by accident some time since. In fine weather my Son now amuses himself with Garden Improvements, which is a good species of recreation, and will, I hope, firmly re-establish his health.
As to myself, I am not merely grown old; but being almost constantly in a state of extreme suffering from a very painful disorder of the kidneys &c, it has multiplied my infirmities, & accellerated my decay; nevertheless when it is convenient to yourselves I shall be extremely happy to see you and Mrs. Robinson, to whom I beg to be affectionately remembered, hoping she is by th[at] time happily restored to you from her confinement: I have not yet mentioned to my Son that I have taken upon me to reply to your letter (which however I cou’d not have accomplished without employing the hand of an Amanuensis) but I can very confidently assert, that it will afford both him and my Daughter a very great pleasure to see you here.
I beg you will present my kindest regards to my good friend your Mother, and tell her I shall be greatly disappointed if she is not of the Party. Pray favor me with a few days’ notice previous to your setting out.
I sincerely wish you an agreeable journey and remain, with great regard, My dear Sir, your faithful and affectionate Friend,
Matthew Boulton
[Edited transcript.] |