Health

Health is a constant theme which crops up in the Boulton and Watt letters and appears to have been a subject at the forefront of their minds. There are many reference to health through the letters not only to Boulton and Watt themselves but also to other family members.

James Watt is nearly always complaining of a headache and is constantly dogged by bad health. “ I have been a bad correspondent to you lately having been in bad health and bad spirits, much I hope summer will mend. I have felt the late east winds very severely”. [Ref: AD1583/2/44] And “ My health is much better but I fear I have habitual asthma”. [Ref: AD1583/2/49] Part of this could perhaps be down to stress, constant travel and the commitment Watt had to pursuing his business aspirations. Whatever the reasons these constant illnesses obviously had a major impact on Watt life and from a comment in a letter to Thomas Wilson in 1790 after the loss of one of Wilson 's sons suggests that Watt was severely depressed. “ I am sorry to hear of the loss of your son, but the longer I live in the world, the less I can rationally regret those who leave it early, expecialy when bad health is like to be their portion And any rate we must patiently bear these losses we cannot prevent”. [Ref: AD1583/4/26]

Watt sufferd many losses throughout his life but perhaps most notably in the 1790s when after the death of Thomas Day in 1789 he lost no fewer than three more friends including Dr Black, a loss which affected him deeply. This decade also saw the death of his daughter, Jessy who died of consumption in 1795 and the gradual decline of his son Gregory 's health which led to his eventual death in 1804. The children's illness are a constant concern for Watt as appears in the letters:

“Mr Watt sen[io]r is gone to the Continent in hopes of meeting with Gregory whose health has latterly been such as to cause considerable anxiety” [AD1583/11/57]

“Mrs W[att]. setts out beginning of next week for Devonshire with Jessy, I believe they will Stop at Teignmouth. Jessys recovery has been very slow, but is now able to walk about the house & we are in hopes the disease is conquered” [AD1583/6/46].

And in a letter by James Watt junior, he tells Wilson of the death of his sister and the profound effect it has on his father.

“Your fear respecting poor Jessy's illness are but too well founded, she expired on Friday Morning the 6th Instant in the arms of her father and mother, of the rupture of a bloodvessel in the Lungs. The state of extenuation to which she was reduced had before left us but with very little hopes, and without this accident, she could only have lingered a few days longer, until a gradual extinction of life had taken place. It is a consolation to us, that she was insensible of her situation to the last and experienced but little pain and no violent efforts in her last end. My father and Mrs Watt are very much depressed and afflicted by this accident, which I fear they will long feel severely;” [AD1583/7/52]

It was perhaps with some relief that the Boulton & Watt partnership ceased in 1800 and Watt was able to spend time enjoying time with his wife and family. Despite an active and social retirement Watt still continued with other 'bussness persuits' but his health continued to plague him. He died peacefully at the age of 84, quite a remarkable age for someone who appears to have suffered ill health throughout his life.

Matthew Boulton did not escape illness either and had episodes is kidney stones which must have caused him intense pain at times. He writes to Wilson of a severe illness ‘ which at length hath manifested itself to be ye gravel and stone”. [Ref: AD1583/2/82] he then goes on to describe the disorder in more detail and the subsequent amazing treatment of it:

“I have not been very well ever since I was in London but on the day you met ye 2 W.s at Bristol I was taken very ill exactly as I was T Truro . I had Clysters repeatedly without effect and became closer bound by large Doses of Opium and then I lay for 2 Days and nights in great Agony but stupified w[i]th Opium. however on Sunday morn[in]g a passage, in two senses, was found, and in less than an hour after the 2 W.s arived I voided 7 large Stones about the size of smallish peas. I soon recovered my spirits put on my Clothes and came down Stairs to pay my resp[ec]ts to my Visitors however I was soon obliged to return and in the Course of that Day I voided 5 more Stones and have continued from that time untill within these 5 days to pass more so that I have now Collected 37 such Stones and have lost some”

More of this is evident in a further letter by Watt to Wilson in July 1792 “ We think of coming down, but Mr. B[oulton] is at present under a Course of Medicine for the gravel” , [Ref: AD1583/5/30]. During 1786 his health was so bad the he was unable to travel and incapacitated for some time. Watt writes to Wilson mentioning Boulton poor state of health that he is unable to come to Cornwall “his health being very poorly he cannot undertake it without risking his life…” [Ref: AD1583/2/?]. By 1802 Boulton is gravely ill “ Mr Boulton continues very ill with the complaint in his kidneys which confines him to the house & mostly to his bed, in short he is dangerously ill” [ad1583/11/56]. This poor health was to continue until his death in 1809.

Thomas Wilson also had his fair share of health problems and lost a son through illness. Watt spends no time in offering medical help sometimes contradictory as can be demonstrated through the following letters:

“In addition to the Castor oil which he takes daily, the Dr recommends, drinking half a pint of sea water every morning & bathing in the sea twice a week, but he must Stay no time in the water, only go in & come out as quick as he can. In addition to these I recommend as much out doors exercise as he can bear, whether on horseback or on foot must be regulated by trial. In any case he should avoid over heating himself” [AD1583/9/86]

“I am sorry to find Tom has not been coming on so well, I think he ought not to bathe more twice or thrice per week & should think twice sufficient. Frequent bathing is very weakening & so is drinking much sea water. I would recommend riding on Horse back as frequently as the weather permits.” [AD1583/9/91]

I am concerned to hear no better accounts of Tom's health, though I have some hopes from the boil which may probably be followed by others, I think that the bathing should be laid aside as well as the drinking the seawater  which ought to have been of service before now if they ever were to be so - Perhaps a trip by sea to Wales & back might produce beneficial effects & I think you should consult the D[octo]r on this head. [AD1583/9/98]

Many of the letters conclude with Boulton and Watt asking after Mrs Wilson health and besides the standard politeness all the letters have, it also suggests she too suffered. She had a miscarriage “ Mrs Watt joins me in condolising with Mrs Wilson on her miscarriage, but we glad to hear that She is in a good way after it” [AD1583/1/10] and there is reference to her hurting her leg. Another of Wilsons sons also appears to have been seriously ill. In a letter to Wilson from Boulton in 1797 he writes “ We are much rejoiced to hear of the favorable symtoms of your Son's convalescence. As to means of restoring him to his former Strength Mr Watt advises meat breakfast. It is a practice that has been very successfully followed by Dr Withering & Dr Beddoes & at present strongly recommend by both in cases of debility” [AD1583/9/106]

Deaths of other key people in the lives of the partnership are also noted. News of Mrs Hornblower death in 1785 is noted by James Watt “I am sorry to hear of Mrs Hornblowers death she appeared to be a worthy woman”, [Ref: AD1583/1/51] and there are several other letters by Watt lamenting the deaths of his friends.