| Description | (Dated at Sheffield Place.)
Sir,
I am much obliged by your polite Letter of the 10th inst. and am particularly concerned to hear of the indisposition of Mr. Boulton. If my wishes can be gratified without inconvenience and trouble, I should certainly request the communication of such of Mr Boulton’s Papers, relating to the Iron Manufactures and Trade, as may be thought proper: for, I have no doubt that manuscripts & Printed documents & memoirs are to be found, exclusively in his Collection, which may prove of essential importance to the success of the Work in question. It has been undertaken, principally, with a view of deprecating, in the strongest manner, every interference of the Legislature which shall tend to discourage the spirited endeavours which have been lately made, to procure an ample supply of so important a material of manufacture as Iron, from the British Mines: and possibly, the impolicy of restriction or taxation, in respect to this material, may be more forcibly demonstrated, and impress a permanent conviction of the truth on the minds of our Financiers & Statesmen, by a work on the Plan proposed, than by a less extensive view of the subject. I shall therefore be extremely thankful for an opportunity of consulting any of Mr Boulton’s Papers, and for such other information as you may be pleased to communicate.
I am, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant, Jas. Weale Jr. |