AD1583/10/1 Letter,
Watt junior to Wilson regarding bond required from Richard Trevithick, and other
matters
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
3 Jan 1798
Endorsed: Boulton & Watt 3rd Jan[uar]y 1798
Addressed to: Mr. Wilson, Truro, Cornwall
''Mr.
Wilson Truro
Soho 3 January 1798
Dear Sir
We have your favours of 30th & 31st Ult[im]o and having considered
the circumstances you mention relative to Trevithicks working single at Dingdong
for some time to come, we think upon the whole it will be best to make out the
Bond upon that supposition now, & have a fresh bond when it is intended to be
made double. The Lump Sum for working single is £158, which, if convenient to
Trevithick, may be paid at once and there will be no occasion for a bond. The
Instalments were proposed to accommodate him, but if he has the money, he will
save you and himself trouble by paying it down. Should this not suit him, we
would wish you to propose to him to pay by four Instalments at three months
distance each, with Interest on Arrears, which will make the whole payable in
one twelvemonth. - But if Trevithick should object to this, and say that it was
understood the payments were to be monthly, you will insist upon the whole being
liquidated in two Years at the utmost, with Interest as before upon Arrears
reckoning from the date of the Bond, which should bear date the Day of starting
the Engine. - The Bond to be simply an Engagement for the Money on the part of
Trevithick & to express no Covenant upon our Part. -
We observe that Trevithick has concluded his Agreement for the St.
Agnes Engines. As soon as the Dingdong business is concluded and we understand
that a formal application is made by him for leave to work them upon our
principle, we shall state the Sum for which he is to give bond, in which we
shall make allowance for the time necessary to get them to work. -
At the time of mentioning Mr. Edwards name, I had not in mind the
circumstance of Mr. Warren's being employed. You are at full liberty to employ
whichever gives you the most satisfaction. -
Mr. Murdocks Aff[idavi]t is received & sent up to Mr. Weston. It
appears to us very proper in every respect, except perhaps, that allusion ought
to have been made to the Engine being similar to that constructed by Bull
against which Verdict was obtained. If this is essential, Mr. Weston will send
it down to be resworn. -
We have as yet not communicated his Instructions upon the case of
Pednandrea, nor has he sent the Memorandum for entry in the Mine Books. -
We have nothing farther to add at present, but our earnest request
that the main subject of this letter may be brought to an early conclusion and
remain very sincerely
Yours
for
Boulton & Watt
Ja[me]s Watt Jun[io]r''
AD1583/10/2 Letter, G Watt to Wilson regarding visits to
Goldsithney, and the stoppage of Wheal Jewell
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
4 Jan 1798
Endorsed: G: Watt 4th Jan[uar]y 1798
Addressed to: Mr. Wilson, Truro, & forw[arde]d by Mr. Jenny
''Penzance Jan[uar]y 4th 1798.
Mr. Wilson.
Dear Sir
I rec[eive]d yours in due course and immediately went to
Goldsithney but found both the Gundrys were at Penzance - I went again to
Goldsithney next day & found old Capt[ai]n Gundry - and settled to go to
Dingdong with Capt[ai]n Thomas on Saturday - In the course of the week I shall
obtain information concerning the wherry - Wheal Jewell has stopped being
unable to keep the water - They will probably lie by till May -
I proposed if I had procured the requisite information to have come
to Truro on Saturday but this arrangement precludes it - On Tuesday I go to an
account at Herland and on Sat[urday] next week shall perhaps come to Truro.
with Comp[limen]ts to Mrs. Wilson who I hope is well I remain Dear
Sir
your obliged &
Humble Servant
G Watt
[marginal] Shall thank you to get the tables for me by the time I come''
AD1583/10/3 Letter,
Watt junior to Wilson regarding form of entry for agreements with mines
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
10 Jan 1798
Dear
Sir
Your favour of the 6th is at hand. My last of [blank] Inst[an]t has
I hope been found explicit with regard to Trevithick. It was left optional with
him to pay by Instalments, because it was thought it would not be in his power
to pay down & that by insisting upon it we should defeat our own purpose. -
We have written to Mrs. Matthews about the India Bills & when we
have her answer shall let you know our determination. -
You may send the 10 Blocks of Tin as you propose.
The following is Mr. Weston's advice respecting the Entry of
Agreements, which you will please to adhere to.
''I recommend that whenever you want to get an Agreement entered on
any of the Mine books you should leave as little as possible for the Adventurers
or their purser to do. Therefore I should advise that you state your terms in a
letter, (concerning which you cannot need any assistance from me), then let the
Entry on the Mine Books be as follows,''
At a meeting of the Adventurers of -------- Mine held this Day at --------
present A B,
C D &c
Read a
Letter from Messrs B[oulton]&W[att] as follows,
[Insert the Letter]
Whereupon it was resolved & agreed to accept the terms offered to the Mine
Adventurers by Messrs B[oulton] & W[att] in the said letter + [see below] and
ordered that the Purser do transmit a Copy of this Resolution to Messrs B&W,
with a request to them to proceed to execute the Agreement with Dispatch.
Where we do not erect the Engine, the part underlined, may be omitted.
As to the letter to be sent to the Adv[enture]'rs, we approve of the
form of that to Trescaw Mine contained in your favour of 24 Dec[embe]r, except
that we wish you to substitute for the words ''unexpired term of the Patent'',
the following, unexpired term of the Act of Parliament.
Mr. Weston will send down Murdocks aff[idavi]t to be resworn before
the 1st day of term, when Pednandrea Business will also be brought
forward. We remain
D[ea]r Sir Yours for
B[oulton]&W[att]
J Watt Jun[io]r
[marginal] + or Extract as the whole letter need not be copied if it relates to
any thing else''
AD1583/10/4 Letter, Carpenter to Wilson submitting proposal
to settle dispute by arbitration
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
13 Jan 1798
Endorsed: Mr. Carpenter 13th Jan[uary] 1798
Addressed to: Thomas Wilson Esq[ui]r[e], Truro
''Sir!
With a view of avoiding litigation (if possible) I do hereby offer
to Messrs Boulton & Watt, through you, to submit our dispute to the arbitration
of any respectable characters, residing within the county of Cornwall or Devon.
After what had past, you, I am certain, will not be at all surprized
at my late refusal of meeting you with the Gentleman, I formerly named as my
referee - unless a regular submission had first been made to abide by his award.
It was my most earnest wish that it might be decided by persons residing here,
because they would be better able than strangers to appreciate the characters of
those, by whom they were to be furnish'd with evidence: but, Sir, my anxiety is
so great to avoid an expensive law suit with men, whose wealth may afford them
the means of crushing me, that I will readily consent to leave the dispute to be
decided, by any respectable bankers in London, persons on the Royal Exchange,
Bank of England, or any eminent counsel in either of the courts of law or equity
in Westminster Hall.
Your forwarding to Messrs Bolton and Watt this proposal will oblige
Your humble Servant
J:
Carpenter
Redruth
1st jan[uar]y 98
In the event of their compliance, I will name my referee, who shall
be exempt, by character as well as fortune, from the smallest suspicion of
partiality. Indeed I would go further for my own part, and wave the terms first
concluded upon; by which means Messrs Bolton & Watt as well as the country in
general might be possess'd of an equitable basis of compensation for the
priviledge of using what they claim to have invented.''
AD1583/10/5 Letter, G Watt to Wilson regarding his
dislocating his arm near Penzance
Item
1 sheet
Manuscript
14 Jan 1798
Endorsed: G: Watt 14th Jan[uar]y 1798
Addressed to: Mr. Thomas Wilson, Truro
''Penzance Jan[uar]y 14th 1797.
Dear Sir
I take up the pen to relieve your friendly anxiety. My arm
certainly was dislocated partly what is called a sub Luxation, but was
reduced almost immediately by Mr. Williams' holding it as we walked into
Penzance - The pain is nearly gone & in a few days I shall have tollerable use
of it -
Remember me to Mrs. Wilson & Thomas who I trust are well & excuse
this short scrawl as I write in some pain.
I am D[ea]r Sir
your Obliged &
Humble Serv[an]t
G Watt''
AD1583/10/6 Letter,
Watt junior to Wilson regarding bonds from Trevithick and Carne, and other
matters
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
15 Jan 1798
Endorsed: Boulton & Watt 15th Jan[uar]y 1798
Addressed to: Mr. Wilson, Truro, Cornwall
''Soho 15
January 1798
Mr. Wilson
Truro.
Dear
Sir
We have your favour of the 11th Inst[an]t and are glad to find you
have settled with Trevithick; We have not entered into the calculation of
Interest, but have no doubt it is quite right, and you have our best thanks for
your exertions in this affair. - We wish Mr. Warrens Draft to be sent to us & we
will either return it signed or write a letter to Trevithick which will be
equally efficacious. - You will please desire Trevithick to state by letter to
you the size of the St. Agnes Engines & whether wanted to work Single or Double.
-
The India Bonds from Carne are approved of, so that you may
endeavour to get the remainder of the Debt paid in the same Manner if possible.
It is understood that all the Bonds are to be endorsed by Mr. Carne & that
Interest upon the time they have to run at the rate of 5 per Cent per Annum is
to be allowed. If you take more it will be Usury. -
We beg you to observe that we have no objections to your employing
Mr. Edwards, but what arose from his former neglect of our business. If you find
him willing to attend to it, we should certainly wish him to be employed
occasionally, or always, as you please.
The case of the new Wh[ea]l Jewel near Goldsithney requires
consideration & cannot be replied to immediately, as it must involve in it many
questions of the utmost importance.
We remain respectfully
Dear Sir
Your
ob[edien]t Servants
for Boulton & Watt
Ja[me]s Watt Jun[io]r
P.S. We
had the pleasure of seeing your partner Mr. Gould at the Stourbridge meeting,
but could not prevail upon him to accompany us hither. We are sorry he has such
unpleasant Intelligence to communicate, for it seems now understood that among
the other benefits of Mr. Pitts administration is to be enumerated a tax on Iron
and the consequent starvation of one half of the Inhabitants of this
neighbourhood''
AD1583/10/7 Letter,
Watt junior to Wilson regarding terms for Mr Carpenter
Item
1 folio and 1 sheet
Manuscript
29 Jan 1798
Endorsed: Copy to Mr. Carpenter no date & J Watt Jun[io]r Jan[uar]y
29th 1798
''Soho 29th
January 1798
Mr. Wilson
Truro.
Dear
Sir
The absence of my father & Mr. Boulton Jun[io]r for the last week,
has been the cause of your not hearing from us upon the Wheal Jewel business and
in answer to your letters of the 18th & 25th Inst[an]t which came duly to hand.
-
Now that the barrier we had erected with so much trouble, has been
broken down in one instance, and sapped in another, it appears to us to have
become matter of necessity and not of choice, to abandon our intention of
enforcing the lump sum in Cornwall. We cannot however avoid stating that we are
very far from being convinced that it might not have been carried into effect
had we met with a cordial & zealous cooperation, such as every change of system
must require in the first stages of its Introduction. Some difficulties were
also to be overcome in the other parts of the Kingdom, as well as in Cornwall,
but perseverance & uniformity of language soon overcame them & since the terms
have been generally understood, we have had more Orders & fewer disputes than at
any former period and we must farther observe that some of these Engines, being
for Mines, were under similar circumstances to those of Cornwall. We have never
found it extremely difficult to convince parties it was their Interest to pay a
moderate sum at once, rather than be burthened with an Annuity the purchase of
which would amount to considerably more. There are many other arguments which
might be deduced from our situation to shew the propriety of the measure, if it
were proper to appeal to the reason, instead of appealing to the pockets of
Individuals. But the principal one in which you appear to us never to have
properly understood, or never properly impressed upon others, was, that we
would not assent to other terms and that they must either have the Engines
upon them, or not have them at all. It is very evident from your letter to us of
the 6th August last, that you did encourage Carpenter to offer us the 2/3rds
although you were present when our letter was written to Teague & you yourself
sent a copy of it from hence to Mr. Carpenter on the 14th April 1797: nay the
terms were confirmed to you again in the most explicit manner so late as in our
letter of the 7th June & we never had the remotest idea of departing from them.
What Inference can people draw when you hold one language & us another, but that
we have no steady regulation for our business and that the whole is abandoned to
the caprice of the moment. - Examine our letters ever since the lump sum was
first proposed in 1795 and say whether we have not been uniform in our demands
for new Engines. You must recollect that our motive for lessening our
demands at Wheal Ramoth & Wheal Fortune, was, that these Engines were erected
previous to any Agreement being made and upon that Account we were at the mercy
of the Adventurers. Wheal Abram having been built under similar circumstances,
our friendship for Mr. Kevill induced us to put it upon the same footing. But at
the time these concessions were made, the principle was not abandoned, & it has
been since repeatedly enforced, particularly in conversation with you in London
& when last here. We appeal to your recollection whether this is not fact. We
mention these circumstances not with any idea of reproach, we are persuaded you
thought you were acting for the best, but it is necessary to free ourselves from
the implied imputation of inconsistency and to shew you that we have not acted
but upon mature consideration.
We have a letter from Carne upon the Wheal Jewel business, which we
shall answer by acceding to their proposal for the two thirds, indeed we could
alledge no good reason, for refusing them the terms granted at Trescaw. You will
therefore please to see that the terms are properly entered upon the Mine Book &
for this purpose we shall send you by our next a copy of our letter to Carne. -
What we have said of the two thirds, is not meant to have any
reference to Mr. Carpenter, for although we are aware that that case is
considerably embarassed by your conversation & by Mr. Murdocks acts, we shall
readily obtain the Injunction & you may rest assured that we shall not suffer
ourselves to be trod under foot, whilst we have a shilling left to pay the
Lawyers bill.
Proper Affidavits for that case are now making out for you & for Mr.
Murdock and also a fresh one for the latter in the case of United Mines. These
you will please to get dispatched as soon as you receive them & you will inform
Mr. Murdock that we wish him to be very guarded in his Conversations with
Carpenter or his Agents, & if applied to by them for an Affidavit, to refuse it,
saying that he has made one already. -
On the other side we send you the Copy of a letter which we wish to
have written by you to Mr. Carpenter and remain
Dear Sir
Yours sincerely
for
Boulton & Watt
Ja[me]s Watt Jun[io]r
Copy of letter to be written to Mr.
Carpenter
Sir
I duly transmitted the Copy of your letter of the 1st January to
Messrs Boulton & Watt, by whom I am instructed to inform you that their own
opinion was against the proposed reference, and that being now confirmed therein
by the advice of Counsel, they decline it.
The terms they have offered to accept, are either that you pay
monthly their full premium amounting to £55 per Month, during the remainder of
their exclusive privilege, or so long thereof as the Mine shall work, or the
that you purchase their license by the payment of the sum of £800, which you
will observe is a less sum than was asked by them previous to your erection of
the Engine without their consent. -
I remain &c &c
J.W.''
AD1583/10/8 Letter, G Watt to Wilson regarding Trescaw,
Wheal Jewel and Ding Dong mines
Item
1 large sheet
Manuscript
31 Jan 1798
''Penzance Jan[uar]y 31 1798
Dear Sir /
Enclosed you will receive a copy of the entry made on Treskow
account book - All present signed it excepting Mr. Bull who Looked very black -
Very little objection was made & that I soon crushed by hinting that unless they
complied with this portion of the agreement on their side Boulton and Watt would
certainly be at liberty to insist on much more severe terms & the short clause
at the end was inserted at the Request of John Penrose who behaved very well and
was the first to propose that it should be immediately entered.
They are very anxious to obtain B[oulton]&W[att]s answer respecting wh[eal]
Jewel and wished me to write to Soho on that subject this however I declined but
promised to write to you. J. Penrose told me privately and as he said in
confidence that a number of the adventurers of Wh[eal] Jewel, were disposed to
employ Trevithick but that if B&W would grant the same terms they had given to
Treskow he would pledge himself that Murdock should be their man - This he
begged me not to mention to Carne or another other adven[ture]rs. This I
promised & beg you will also be silent but why any injunction for secresy should
be given I know not unless either Carne or himself is playing an underhand game
- When you write to Soho it may be proper to mention this and also that if B&W
do not grant them the terms allowed at Treskow they will stop till summer & Men
work the old engine in the dry months till the act of parliament is expired.
I arrived here very safe but thoroughly soaked as from the nature of the day you
may suppose -
Thomas Gundry has promised faithfully to inform me when Ding Dong goes to work
double - Trevithick has been there rectifying the Engine. I hear he is concerned
in Wh[eal] Treasury Engine with Bull & Co - I dined with Tho[ma]s Revill on
Sunday - and was invited by him to come & spend some days at Trevenson - the Old
Gentleman is very much better -
With Comp[limen]ts to Mrs. Wilson I remain dear Sir
your obliged humble servant
G Watt''
AD1583/10/9 Letter,
Weston to Wilson regarding injunctions for Mr Carpenter and for United Mines
Item
1 sheet
Manuscript
31 Jan 1798
Endorsed: Mr. A: Weston 31st Jan[uar]y 1798.
Addressed to: Mr. Thomas Wilson, Merchant, Truro, Cornwall.
Mr.
Thomas Wilson
Merchant Truro.
Fenchurch Street
31
Jan[uary] 1798
D[ear] Sir
I am preparing to file a Bill for an Injunction against
United Mines in respect to their New Engine.
I shall send a Draft of an Affidavit to be sworn by Mr.
Murdock - which must be ingrossed on a stamp & sworn by him. If the Draft should
not state the facts correctly, or if Mr. Murdock can now say more than he could
before, let the Affidavit be altered by Mr. Warren. The Aff[idavi]t lately sent
was not full enough in some particulars.
I am also preparing an injunction for Mr. Carpenter. It will
be a friendly act towards him to let him know it, because the expence will be
large - & he must pay it, as many others before him have done, in like Cases.
The Draft of Mr. Murdock's affid[avi]t will be sent Tomorrow - or
possibly today, if the Copy can be made in time.
I am D[ea]r Sir Y[ou]rs
A Weston''
AD1583/10/10 Letter,
Weston to Wilson enclosing draft affidavit for William Murdock
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
31 Jan 1798
Endorsed: Mr. A: Weston 31st Jan[uar]y 1798
Addressed to: Mr. Thomas Wilson, Merchant, Truro, Cornwall
Mr
Wilson
D[ea]r
Sir
Having written a Letter to you by this post I beg Leave to refer
thereto & I inclose a Draft of the affidavit proposed to be made by Mr. Murdock
concerning the United Mines New Engine.
I wish to know what Mr Murdock can say concerning Mr. Carpenter's
Engines which must be our next object.
I am D[ear] Sir
Y[ou]rs &c
A Weston
Fenchurch Str[eet]
31 Jan[uar]y 1798.''
AD1583/10/11
Letter, Watt junior
to Wilson enclosing copy of letter, Boulton & Watt to Carne
Item
2 folios
Manuscript
31 Jan-1 Feb 1798
AD1583/10/11/1 Letter,
Watt junior to Wilson regarding letter received from William Carne
Piece
1 folio
Manuscript
1 Feb 1798
Endorsed: Mr James Watt Feb[ruar]y 1 1798
Addressed to: Mr. Thomas Wilson, Truro, Cornwall
Mr.
Wilson
Truro
Soho 1st February 1798
Dear Sir
In consequence of a letter received from Carne, of which you have a
Copy on the other side, we have written the inclosed answer, which you will
please to forward, after having taken a Copy. -
We are not very certain about our Agreement with the Mine, being to
the purport he mentions; we shall be obliged to you for information upon that
point and also a statement of our Account with the Mine. The sum we have stated
for the materials of a Six Horse Engine, will be the same at all events we have
long ago reduced the Premium upon these small Engines to a manufacturing profit,
and patent, or no patent, they will be much the same. We can easily conceive it
may be possible to get up such Engines cheaper in Cornwall by using inferior
materials & inferior workmanship, but we are certain it is neither worth our
while, nor upon the whole the Interest of the proprietors to employ such
Machines. -
This affair having occasioned a reference to the Trescaw Agreement,
we observe an error in the terms for the working double, which we did not Notice
before, having taken it for granted that your calculations were right. You have
stated the single Premium at £18. 13 [shillings]. 4 [pence] & the double at only
£28 per Month; this should surely have been £37. 6s[hillings]. 8d [pence]. - If
this has been a mistake, as it appears to us, the Adventurers cannot fairly
object to its rectified & we must request you to get it done. -
As the 2/3rds Plan is now resolved upon, it may be proper to give
verbal intimation of this to any of the Adv[enture]'rs of Wh[ea]l Treasury
you are acquainted with, as if the arrears due from the new Adv[enture]'rs were
paid up, we should be disposed to accept of the 2/3rds in Monthly payments for
the future, a proper Agreement for that purpose being entered into by the
Adventurers. -
Nothing farther occurs at this Moment & I remain
Dear Sir
yours sincerely
for Boulton &
Watt
Ja[me]s
Watt Jun[io]r
Copy
Penzance 26th Jan[uar]y 1798
Gent[leme]n
Having some Conversation with Mr. Wilson last Monday respecting
Wh[ea]l Jewel Mine, near Marazion, where I had a large share, who informed me
you would not consent to our erecting a new Engine on the same terms as Trescaw
Mine, viz to pay 2/3 of the Customary savings. -
And having attended Wh[ea]l Jewel Acc[oun]t on Tuesday the
Adv[enture]rs desired me to write you upon the subject. Will thank you to inform
me by a line per return of post, if you will admit us to erect an Engine, say a
40 Inch Cyl[inde]r on paying 2/3rds Savings, or not, - in course of refusal, the
mine will remain unwrought until the Expiration of your patent. -
We want a small Engine for Herland to work our whims, ab[ou]t 18
Inch Cyl[inde]r single - please say what would be nearly the amount of one
compleat, without any rotative work - You will observe in our Agreement for
savings, we have liberty to erect as many Engines as we wanted on the same
premium so that you will not charge us any thing for Premium, waiting your
reply,
I remain &c
W.
Carne''
AD1583/10/11/2 Copy of letter, Boulton & Watt to Carne regarding the rebuilding of the
engine formerly at Herland
Piece
1 folio
Manuscript
31 Jan 1798
Endorsed: Copy of a Letter from Boulton & Watt to W[illia]m Carne dated
Jan[uar]y 31st 1798
''Soho 31st
Jan[uar]y 1798.
Mr. Carne
Penzance.
Sir
In reply to your favour of the
26th ins[tan]t we have the honour to inform you, that we shall assent to the
Adv[enture]rs in the mine of Wh[ea]l Jewel in Goldsithney rebuilding the Engine
late belonging to Herland with a Cylinder of 40 inches dia[mete]r upon our plan,
on condition of paying the sum of £14. 15 [shillings]. 4 [pence] per month
whilst working, single, that is, under the load of 10lb½ to each inch of the
area of the piston, and the sum of 29. 10. 8 when working double or above 10½lb
to the inch, for so long during the remainder of the unexpired term of our
exclusive privilege as the Engine shall continue to be wrought on the said mine;
Provided that an agreement be entered into the mine books by the Adv[enture]rs
in their next meeting for the fulfillment of the above conditions & that a Copy
thereof signed by the Adv[enture]rs present be sent to Mr. Wilson or to us.
We do not now make any single rota[ti]ve Engines, as we do not consider them so
eligible for that pourpose as double ones. One of our double Six horse engines
would be somewhat more powerfull than an 18 inch single four feet stroke, and
perhaps would not on that acc[oun]t be objectionable. The metal materials of
such an Engine, fitted up here in the compleatest manner, would be delivered by
us at Birming[ha]m for the sum of £370. You will understand that their proposal
comprehends every part of the metal materials of the Engine, excepting the
boiler itself, the rotative work & the strap pins & bolts for the framing.
Should we be favour'd with your order we hope to be able to compleat it, in less
than 3 months from its receipt. You will observe that the above sum is payable
in 3 months from delivery here. We are respectfully - Sir
Your Ob[e]d[ien]t h[um]ble Serv[an]ts
Boulton & Watt.''
AD1583/10/12 Letter,
Weston to Wilson regarding William Murdock's affidavit
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
6 Feb 1798
Endorsed: Mr. A: Weston 6th Feb[ruar]y 1798
Addressed to: Mr. Thomas Wilson, Merchant, Truro, Cornwall
Mr.
Thomas Wilson.
Sir,
The delay in returning Mr. Murdocks affid[avi]t is of no consequence
compared with the importance of beginning with a correct affidavit. The Draft
sent you was only pro forma, & of course subject to correction as to
matters of Fact, by the person who is to swear to it.
- There has been no mistake on the part of Messrs Boulton & Watt - nor is there
any error in fact in the Affidavit in respect to the Engine's being similar to
that which Bull erected at Balcoath Mine; For, the Affidavit after speaking of
the Separate Condenser & Air Vessel states, that in those
respects the Engine erected by the Adv[enture]rs in United Mines is exactly
similar to the Engine erected by Bull at Balcoath Mine, w[hi]ch is correctly
true.
I had no Instructions for the Affidavit of Mr. Murdock - except his
own Words in the Affidavit sworn by him the 30th dec[embe]r last in which
nothing at all is said about the form of the Engine, whether Double or
Single, nor is the form at all material in substance, tho' for the sake of
making the complaint more explicit there will not be any impropriety in setting
forth that it is a double Engine with a Rotative Motion - because these
circumstances will shew the injury done is the greater. - But in principle these
Circumstances make no Difference. The use of the Separate Condenser & Air Pump
form the essential ground work of the Infringement.
You may delay still the sending of the Affid[avi]t 'till I write to
you again, as I intend to apply to B[oulton]&W[att] for explanation as to the
History of this Engine, w[hi]ch I perceive from what you say is not new, but
appears in this instance for the third time, with the addition of a
Rotative Motion.
I am, Sir, y[ou]r
most ob[edien]t S[ervan]t
Ambrose
Weston.
Fenchurch Street
6 Feb[ruar]y 1798.
PS. The
Injunction against Hornblower & Maberly was obtained upon an affidavit made by
Mr. Watt & Mr. Southern, That the Engines built by Hornblower for Maberly were
erected upon the same plan & principles as Bull's Engine at Balcoath Mine. And
yet no two Engines could be so unlike in form as Hornblowers to & Bull's.
It is the application of the method of saving Steam & Fuel invented
by Mr. Watt which is alone material. And it does signify how varied & disguised
in form. The knowledge of this fact should be universally diffused - &
the want of it's being clearly understood has caused B&W all the plague they
have met with.
AW.''
AD1583/10/13 Letter,
Weston to Wilson regarding the history of the engine re-erecting at United Mines
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
7 Feb 1798
Endorsed: A: Weston 7th Feb[ruar]y 1798
Addressed to: Mr. Thomas Wilson, Merchant, Truro, Cornwall
Mr.
Thomas Wilson.
Sir,
I have not yet got either from Boulton & Watt or yourself what I
most of all want which is to know whether when the Engine now re-erecting upon
United Mines - was first built upon the Mine called Crane any Licence was
granted by B[oulton]&W[att] or by you as their Agent by virtue of w[hi]ch the
Adventurers in that (Crane) Mine obtained a Right to transfer the Engine from
place to place at their pleasure. I know that such a Grant of Liberty to remove
the Engine without further Consent is very unlikely, as such an unrestrained
Right of Removal has never been granted, I believe, in any instances, & I
believe I may say certainly was never granted in Cornwall.
Your History of the Engine is by no means a detailed one nor
sufficient for my purpose. I want to be informed what agreement was made & what
licence granted on occasion of the first erection at Crane Mine - what premium
was to be paid and whether any & what right of removal was granted; - what new
agreement was made on the successive removals to Chasewater & Wheel Carpenter.
In regard to the latter, Wheel Carpenter, I observe the
Adv[enture]rs in that mine were to pay 3 Guineas p[er] month - and I conclude
that this was by virtue of a new agreement & not a continuance merely of the
same payment p[er] month as had been agreed upon in respect to Crane &
Chasewater.
You will understand from what I have said that the object I have in
view is to ascertain this point - that the Adventurers in United Mines have no
Right to erect the engine in question upon their Mine - without first
obtaining Messrs Boulton & Watt's consent, in this instance, in like manner as
it was obtained by the Adv[enture]rs in Chasewater & Wheel Carpenter upon the
removals to their respective Mines.
It is upon the footing of no such Right having been granted that the
injunction is to be obtained - & tho' it is a manner self-evident from common
sense that no such right in fact exists, I am desirous of exploring the history
of the Engine to the bottom in order that our Affi[davit]s may be precise &
correct.
I cannot possibly treat with
Franco.
I am Sir y[ou]r most ob[edien]t h[um]ble S[ervan]t
A Weston.
My
Compl[imen]ts to Mr Southerne if he is with you.
I presume Nothing has been said or done by yourself or Mr. Murdock
w[hi]ch can be called connivance at or Consent to the proceedings of United
Mines in this Case.''
AD1583/10/14 Letter,
Watt junior to Wilson regarding United Mines engine
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
8 Feb 1798
Endorsed: Mr. J: Watt Jun[io]r 8th Feb[ruar]y 1798
Addressed to: Mr. Wilson, Truro, Cornwall
''Mr
Wilson
Truro
Soho
8th Feb[ruar]y 1798
Dear Sir
We have your favours of the 1st 3rd & 4th Feb[ruar]y to which we
have little to reply. -
As you have often sworn that Bulls Engines are the same as ours, you
need not be scrupulous at swearing that ours are the same as his, meaning the
same in principle. We have sent Mr. Weston at his own desire, a statement of all
we know of the History of the Engine now building on United Mines. It would be
as well if you were also to send him a detailed history of it, least we may have
fallen into errors. We suppose it will be material to state the particulars of
the Agreement between us & Wh[ea]l Carpenter, whether verbal or in writing, &
also what you know of the purchase by United Mines.
Upon the other subjects of your letter we shall write tomorrow,
meantime remain Dear Sir
Yours sincerely
for Boulton & Watt
J Watt Jun[io]r''
AD1583/10/15 Letter,
Watt junior to Wilson regarding various matters
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
12 Feb 1798
Endorsed: Boulton & Watt 12th Feb[ruar]y 1798
Addressed to: Mr. Wilson, Truro, Cornwall
''Mr
Wilson
Truro
Soho 12 Feb[ruar]y
1798
Dear Sir
In consequence of the apprehensions stated by you in your favour of
the 7th Inst[an]t as being entertained by Murdock, we have judged it expedient
to dispatch Mr. Lawson to procure the necessary evidence and take the Oaths in
his stead. He is furnished with Notes by us of what is to be done, and you of
course will put him in the shortest way of getting through with his business, as
he must be at Norwich on the 23rd Inst[an]t to inspect another Piracy. -
I omitted in a former letter answering that part of your letter
wherein you mention Mr. Murdock's wish to have his Account settled from
Midsummer to Xmas at the rate agreed upon. We have not the smallest objection &
beg you will do it in future as a matter of course, sending us statement of
particulars when settled.
The India Bills were received & are at your Credit. I have no time
to say more & remain Dear Sir Yours sincerely
J
Watt Jun[io]r
T[urn].O[ver].
P.S.
If you have not yet done it; do not fail to send Mr. Weston by Lawson a history
of Wh[ea]l Carpenter Engine from the beginning and a statement of all the
various Agreements entered into, particularly of the last one with Wh[ea]l
Carpenter. send him a Copy of the licence or Agreement. He wants to know whether
the Adv[enture]'rs in United Mines have any ground for alledging that we have
granted a general licence for the use of this Engine by any persons to whose
hands it may be transferred.
Send also a history of the Engine built by Bull & Murdock at
Pednandrea. Was it the first Engine at Poldice? or was there any Agreement for
it & what? State all you know about it. -''
AD1583/10/16 Letter, Watt to Wilson regarding Gregory
Watt's recent accident
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
12 Feb 1798
Endorsed: Boulton & Watt 12th Feb[ruar]y 1798
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Truro, Cornwall
''Soho Feb[ruar]y 12th 1798
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
I have received your long letter which I intended to have answered
to day but find I have not time & am going from home to morrow for a day or two
- The letter is in general satisfactory. I thank you sincerely for your care of
Gregory, but would have been more obliged to you had you wrote to me as soon as
heard of the accident, I should have been easier in my mind than I was, for I
suspected the real fact or something worse, concealments occasion distrust on
other similar occasions, & I beg there may be no more of them & that you will
always let me know the worst, particularly at present inform me whether you
understand he has been hurt any where else or has any cough or pain in his side
or breast - I have thought much on Tom's case but can at present advise nothing
else but a sea voyage if his medical advisers see no harm in it. A sail of a few
hours could easily be tried & observations made on the consequences, on this
subject I shall write more fully, mean while with comp[limen]ts to Mrs Wilson &
family I remain
Dear Sir
Yours Sincerely
James Watt''
AD1583/10/17 Letter,
Watt junior to Wilson regarding charges for double engines, and other matters
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
16 Feb 1798
Endorsed: Boulton & Watt 16th Feb[ruar]y 1798
Addressed to: Mr. Wilson, Truro, Cornwall
''Mr.
Wilson
Soho 16
Feb[ruar]y 1798
Dear Sir
Please tell Mr. Lawson, if still with you that Mr. Weston has
nothing to add to the Instructions of which he is already in possession. -
The inclosed you will have the goodness to read & forward to
Gregory.
We by no means approve of your reasons for lessening the sum for
Double Working at Trescaw. It stands to reason that in every case where a double
power is at the disposal of the Adv[enture]'rs, they should pay double, and you
will in future take this mistake entirely upon your own shoulders, as we do not
in any shape approve of it.
I remain Dear Sir
Yours &c
J Watt
Jun[io]r''
AD1583/10/18 Letter, Watt to Wilson regarding Thomas
Wilson junior's illness, and other matters
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
17 Feb 1798
Endorsed: Boulton & Watt 17th Feb[ruar]y 1798
Addressed to: Mr. Tho[ma]s Wilson, Truro, Cornwall
''Heathfield Feb[ruar]y 17th 1798
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
In answer to yours of the 6th, I think your letter to Mr Townend an
exceedingly proper one, only you need not have mentioned your tears, T.
is not a man to be moved by them he is more firm, I expected to have heard from
him but there has been no letter & I think we shall not write to him, till the
time of payment approaches, if it shall be at all thought necessary.
I think you should send B[oulton]&W[att] your bond for the ballance
either payable by installments, or general as may suit you this will make
matters clear & prevent future uneasiness to both parties. I do not admire the
comp[an]ys generosity, but much was not to be expected from them, they probably
argued that they had been of use to you as well as you had been to them, & every
body is most convinced by the arguments on their own side of the question.
Had you reposed confidence in us sooner, the disagreable altercation
between you & us would have been totaly avoided, for we certainly were & are
your friends as much as any body could be, but we thought you used us ill &
could not help blaming your conduct in that affair. However the affair is over &
I am not disposed to open it again. I hope the whole will be for your good in
the end, & nothing is more pleasant than the getting quit of embarrassments
however disagreable the means may be & I expect & pray you may soon have that
satisfaction.
I am sorry you were so unfortunate with your summer drinks, but the
demand which caused the accident ought to afford you satisfaction & I hope will
repay you soon, a good cellar & I believe large casks are absolutely necessary
in that business.
I feel myself much obliged to you for your kind attentions to
Gregory, which I hope you will continue & give him as much business as he can
do, while he stays with you, he seems to take pleasure in attending the mines
which is well. I say no more to you on his accident but hope that whatever may
happen to him in future you will write to me immediately.
I am much concerned to see your accounts of Tom. In addition to the
trial of a sea voyage which I recommended the only other thing I can think of is
breathingoxygene air, provided he has no inflammatory symptoms. He should begin
with a dose of one pint of oxygene mixed with 20 or 30 pints of common air taken
twice a day, if this quantity produces no bad symptoms, the dose may be
encreased to a quart of oxygene & 20 quarts common air twice a day, & if that
produces no sensible effect he may take 3 of these doses daily.
As his disease seems to lie principaly in his bowels it has occurred
to me, that injections of oxygene air may be of use by stimulating them to
action, the air should be retained some time in the bowels that it may have time
to take effect. I believe no other air has been given in this way except fixed
air, which is said to have had very good effects in fever, I should however not
be afraid of any bad effects from oxygene provided there exists no inflammation
of any of the viscera & if there is any suspicion of such a cause of his
complaint I would try Hydrocarbonate air as an injection, which might probably
remove it. I should not have proposed the injections of these airs, had any of
the remedies he has taken seemed to reach the cause of his complaint, but as
that is not the case, any thing should be tried which has a chance of
succeeding.
With best wishes to Mrs Wilson & family in which Mrs W.
joins I remain
Dear Sir
Your's sincerely
James Watt
P.S. We
have received your favour of the 15th Inst[an]t and one from Mr. Tremayne of
the same date, announcing the Proposal of Poldice Adventurers to which we of
course accede, and you may settle the Account with the Purser at the stipulated
rate of 50 Guineas per Month. When this is done we shall transmit our
Instructions concerning Wh[ea]l Unity, of which, at present, you may say you
are uninformed. My father has received yours of the 16th Instant -''
[the
handwriting of the postscript is that of James Watt junior]
AD1583/10/19 Letter,
Watt junior to Wilson regarding Pednandrea, Maberley's Writ of Error, and other
matters
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
22 Feb 1798
Endorsed: Boulton & Watt 22nd Feb[ruar]y 1798
Addressed to: Mr. Wilson, Truro, Cornwall
''Mr.
Wilson
Truro
Soho 22 Feb[ruar]y 1798
Dear Sir
We have yours of the 18th to which have nothing to reply,
Pednandrea affair being now in a course of working. Lawson writes from Exeter on
the 20th Ins[tan]t whence, we infer he has reached town ere this. -
Please to say what are the points we have left unanswered, to which
you allude; upon a re-inspection of your late correspondence, I find nothing
that has been neglected.
&nbs
