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X208
Thomas Wilson, agent to Boulton & Watt, of
Chacewater
Collection
80 items (81 documents)
Manuscript
1800-1803
Letters, administration of Boulton and Watt's
patents in Cornwall.
X208/1
Letter, T Gundry to
Edwards regarding
Wheal Jewell and Treskow savings
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
3 Jan 1800
Endorsed: 3d January 1800. Thomas Gundry Jun[io]r.
Wheal Jewell Savings. Treskow D[itt]o.
Addressed to: Mr. John Edwards, Att[orne]y at Law, Truro.
''Sir/
In answer to your Letter, which I have just received;
the amount of the savings of Wheal Jewell Engine I thought to have
remitted to Mr. Wilson er'e that as the Engine is sold to Capt[ain]
Trevithick & he have since disposed of it to Mr. John Williams for
Godolphin Mine, which amount I was promised to be paid this Week;
but as I have not yet received it is the cause of the delay of
payment of Messrs Boulton & Watts Savings, being out a good deal
of Money on the Mine at this time it is not convenient to send the
amo[un]t of Savings until I receive for the Engine, which I shall
send to Mr. Williams for the beginning of next week, when an
immediate remittance shall be made for the Savings;- hope you'l
indulge the Adv[enturer]s until that time, when you may assure Mr.
Wilson it shall be paid - I am Sir Y[ou]r m[os]t obed[ien]t
Serv[an]t,
Tho[ma]s Gundry
J[u]n[io]r
Goldsithney
3[r]d Jan[ua]ry 1800}
Please to turn
over
J[oh]n Gundry will remitt for Treskow Savings next
Week}''
X208/2
Letter, M R Boulton to
Wilson
regarding refund for Consolidated Mines adventurers
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
5 Jan 1800
Endorsed: R Boulton Esq[uir]e Jan[uar]y 5th 1800.
Addressed to: Mr Thom[a]s Wilson, Truro, Cornwall.
''Soho
Jan[uar]y 5[t]h 1799 [struck through and amended to] 1800
Mr T Wilson
Dear Sir
We inclose you sundry bills value together
£1115..12 [shillings]..6 [pence] being the am[oun]t of the first
instalment of the refund to certain Adven[ture]rs in the
Consolidated Mines -
The particulars of the bills are as follows.
No 1. Am[oun]t £191..5. in favor of S[i]r W[illia]m
Lemon Bar[one]t for 1/16.
2. Am[oun]t £334.13.9 {in favor of Rev[eren]d H H
Tremayne
for 1/32 on his
own acc[oun]t 95..12.6
1/16 on behalf of
F Rodd Esq[uir]e 191.5 -
1/64 on &c of Mr
Wallis's Es[qui]r[e]s 47..16.3
3. Am[oun]t - 167.6.10 ½ {in favor of J[oh]n Vivian
Esq[ui]r[e].
for 3/128 on his
own Acc[oun]t - 71..14.4½
1/64 on behalf
of Rich[ar]d Vivian 47..16.3 -
1/64 &c &c -
Rob[er]t Walker - 47..16.3.
4. Am[oun]t - 374.10.7½ {in favor of Messrs G C G R &
T Fox
for 3/64 & 2/3
on Acc[oun]t of Fox Philips & Fox 175..6.3
3/128 on their
own Acc[oun]t - 71..14.4½
1/96 Dashwood & Latter
31..17.6
1/32 Jos[ep]h Harford
- 95..12.6
5. Am[oun]t - 47..16.3 {in favor of Silvanus
Jenkins Esq[uire]
for 1/64 on his own Acc[oun]t -
The Am[oun]t of your own Share viz 1/128 being
£23.18.1½ we have passed to your credit -
We shall thank you to advise us of the receipt of the
bills & to remit them to the respective parties -
We are
D[ea]r Sir
Your
obed[ien]t humb[le] Ser[vant]s
For Boulton &
Watt
Robinson Boulton
PS. We shall be glad to learn whether Mr Murdock is
safely returned -''
X208/3
Letter, G Watt to
Wilson regarding
receipt of letter
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
10 Jan 1800
Endorsed: Gregory Watt 10 Jan[uar]y 1800.
Addressed to: Mr. Wilson, Truro, Cornwall -
''Mr Wilson
Dear Sir
We have duely rec[eive]d your letter and
its enclosures which have been duely passed to your credit - We
should have acknowledged the receipt two days ago had we not been
compleatly occupied by other business -
We remain Dear Sir
Your very
Obed[ien]t Serv[an]ts
for
Boulton & Watt
Gregory Watt
Soho Jan[uar]y 10th
1800''
X208/4
Letter, J Gundry to
Wilson enclosing
Trescow savings
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
11 Jan 1800
Endorsed: John Gundry 11 Jan[uar]y 1800.
Addressed to: Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson, Truro.
''Goldsithney 11[t]h Jan[uar]y 1800
Sir
Inclosed you have Bills p[er]Checks for the Am[oun]t
of Five Months Savings to Messrs Boulton & Watt - charg[e]d to
Treskowe Mine end Sep[tembe]r 1799 - being £93..6 [shillings].8
[pence]
Ye Letter for acknowledge[men]t
Will greatly
Oblige
Sir
Y[ou]r H[um]ble
Serv[an]t
John Gundry''
X208/5
Letter, M R Boulton to
Wilson
regarding legal documents for William Murdock
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
17 Jan 1800
Endorsed: Robinson Boulton Jan[uar]y 17 - 1800.
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Truro, Cornwall.
''Soho Jan[uar]y 17 1800.-
Mr T Wilson
Dear Sir
We have duly recieved your two favors of
the 10th & 13th Inst[an]t the latter covering 3 bills value
together £143...6 [shillings]...8 [pence] which are at your Credit
-
You will recieve soon after the present a packet from
Messrs Westons containing some legal documents relative to Mr
Murdocks patent which it will be necessary for him to execute &
return without all possible dispatch - They are addressed to you
in order to prevent delay & we beg that upon their arrival you
will send a special messenger to Murdock to desire him to come
into Truro & execute the specification before a master in Chancery
- Messrs Westons will send you the requisite instructions as to
the formalities in the execution of them - This affair has been
postponed so long that without every possible expedition is used
in returning the specification to Messrs Westons we fear there
will not be time for the enrollment of it - We have written to
Murdock to inform him of the necessity of obeying your summons
imediately & begging your kind attentions to this business.
We remain
Dear Sir
Your obed[ien]t
humb[le] Ser[van]ts
For Boulton &
Watt
Robinson
Boulton
PS. We are now employed in preparing our
artillery against the Hornblower pirates & have not therefore
leisure to enter into the discussion respects the termination of
our Acc[oun]t - This is however a question to which we shall
revert when we have got the other business into train & in the
mean time it will be highly proper for you to collect with all
practicable dispatch the arrears to the end say 29th of Nov[embe]r
as that term does not admit of any dispute -''
X208/6
Letter,
A & J Weston to
Wilson enclosing engrossment of Murdock's scottish patent
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
18 Jan 1800
Endorsed: A & J Weston Jan[uar]y 15th 1800.
Addressed to: Mr. Thomas Wilson, Truro, Cornwall.
''Sir,
We have sent you by this Evening's
Mail, directed to you, the Ingrossment of Mr Murdock's
Specification of his Scotch Patent, which we request you will, if
possible, get executed and acknowledged by him before Mr Edwards,
or any other Master Extra[ordinar]y in Truro, and return by the
next Mail or other first Opportunity after you receive it. The
time for Inrolment expires on the 1st of February and no time must
therefore be lost lest any Accident should occur to prevent it's
getting to Edinburgh in time.
We are Sir
Your most obed[ien]t Serv[an]ts
A & J Weston
Fenchurch Street
18 January 1800}
The ingrossment
has been examined and agrees with the one inrolled here. -
Mr. Thomas Wilson
Truro''
X208/7
Letter,
A & J Weston to
Wilson regarding receipt of Murdock's specification
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
24 Jan 1800
Endorsed: A & J Weston Jan[uar]y 24th - 1800.
Addressed to: Mr. Tho[ma]s Wilson, Truro, Cornwall.
''Sir,
We received your Letter and
the Parcel containing Mr Murdock's Specification this Morning. -
We have forwarded the Specification, which is properly executed
and acknowledged, to Edinburgh by this Evening's Mail for
Inrollment
We are Sir,
Your most obed[ient] Serv[an]ts
A & J Weston
Fenchurch Street
24 January 1800
Mr. Thomas Wilson Truro Cornwall''
X208/8
Letter,
Watt junior to
Wilson regarding declarations to served upon Hornblower and others
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
31 Jan 1800
Endorsed: James Watt Jun[io]r 31st Jan[uar]y 1800.
Addressed to: Mr. Thomas Wilson, Truro, Cornwall.
''Mr. Wilson
Truro
London St[ree]t 31st January 1800
Dear Sir
I have once more taken my station here to try whether
I cannot quicken the motions of the Adv[enture]rs in Balcoath,
Wh[ea]l Rose, & Godolphin. The Declarations will be served upon
some of them this day, and upon the others early in the insuing
Week. The Trials may come on either in the sittings after this
term (middle of Feb[ruar]y) or after next Term (some time in May).
-
The Declarations against Jonathan Hornblower will also
be served today and unless they continue to delay it, will be
tried in the course of the next month. You will therefore be
holding yourself in readiness to come to town at that time, and
desire Murdock, Rogers & R. Mitchel to do the same. - I wish you
to reconsider all the transactions that have taken place with
Jonathan Hornblower, particularly what notices or threats have at
different times been given or held by you or B&W to them and to
the Adv[enture]rs who have employed them. A succinct History with
Dates would be usefull to me and to the cause.
We must have somebody to prove the times the Engines
worked at Godolphin, Wh[ea]l Rose & Balcoath - can any of our
friends do this, and if they cannot, who will be the proper
persons to subpœna. Any of the Captains or Agents might be brought
up & obliged to bring the Books of the Mine with them, which I
suppose would prove what we want. -
Murdock has made us a capital model of Horner's
Engine, which will enable us to put all their sophistry to the
route and the Century, (in spite of all disputes) will not close
until their disgrace is compleated. -
I am D[ea]r Sir
Yours truly
J Watt Jun[io]r''
X208/9
Letter, R Michell to
Wilson
regarding his requiring a subpœna
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
8 Feb 1800
Endorsed: Richard Mitchell Feb[ruar]y 8 - 1800.
Addressed to: Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson, Truro.
''8 Febr[uar]y 1800
Sir,
I am informed by Mr. E[dwar]d Rogers that I am requested by Messrs
Boulton & Watt to hold myself in readiness to go to London some
time in this Month - I have no objections - But, I think it will
be exceeding necessary that I do have a Subpœna in Order that I
may testify - I do not leave my buisiness without Just Cause at
this critical time.
I
remain Sir your Most
Obed[ien]t Servant
Rich[ar]d Michell''
X208/10
Letter, Watt junior and M R Boulton to
Wilson regarding delay in the Hornblower case
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
11 Feb 1800
Endorsed: James Watt J[unio]r & Matt[he]w R Boulton
- Feb[raur]y 11th 1800.
Addressed to: Mr Wilson, Truro, Cornwall.
''London 11 Feb[raur]y 1800
Mr. Wilson
Dear Sir
Hornblower has succeeded in
procuring a delay until the Sittings after next term, and I
presume the other actions will stand over till the same time.
Shall however expect you to send the Information requested in my
last -
I am
truly
D[ea]r
Sir
Yours
J Watt Jun[io]r''
''Dear Sir
In case a settlement has not yet taken place with the
Grundrys both for Wh[ea]l Jewel & Trescow we shall thank you to
furnish us with copies of the Acc[oun]ts delivered by you - We
shall devise some method of bringing those affairs to a conclusion
being fully tired of the chicanery of those gentlemen - I am
anxious to know whether the Box mentioned in my letter to Mrs
Wilson has ever been recieved.
When lately at Bath I went over to Bristol to make
enquiries of Mrs Barlow to whom it was addressed & found that it
had been forwarded by the Exeter Carrier with directions to Rupel
the Falmouth Carrier - Please therefore to learn of the latter
what has been the reason of the Box not being delivered in course
- I remain
D[ea]r Sir
Your obed[ient] humb[le] Ser[vant]
Robinson
Boulton''
X208/11
Letter, G Watt to
Wilson junior
regarding receipt of bills
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
3 Mar 1800
Endorsed: Mr Greg[or]y Watt March 3[r]d 1800.
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson Jun[io]r, Truro, Cornwall.
''Mr Thomas Wilson Jun[io]r
Truro
Soho March 3[r]d
1800
Dear Sir
We have duly rec[eive]d your favour
inclosing Bills to the amount of £240. -
It is requisite that these Bills should be indorsed by your father
but we shall perhaps be able to procure his endorsation by sending
them to London
We are all happy to hear of your improved health which we flatter
ourselves will continue to amend -
With best respects to your Mother and to all your family I remain
Dear Sir
Yours truly
Gregory Watt''
X208/12
Letter,
Pearson to Wilson
regarding errors in accounts
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
22 Mar 1800
Endorsed: Boulton & Watt March 22nd 1800.
Addressed to: Mr. Thomas Wilson, Truro, Cornwall. -
''Soho 22 March 1800
Mr Thomas Wilson
Sir
Annexed you have account against Poldice
Adv[enture]rs £119. 9 [shillings]. - & also an account against
United Mines Adv[enture]rs £180. 15 [shillings]. 3 [pence] with
both be pleased to do the needful. above you have account of some
little errors in Commission Account, which if found to be right
stated please carry the diff[eren]ce to account & say you have
done so. Have also sent accounts, as above, of sundry other
matters; which you have not given credit for, and which beg you
will pass to account, or give reasons for not doing it. -
Beg you will please to say what is doing with the double Engines,
as nothing respecting them hath appeared in your accounts of along
while. - We are Sir
Your
mo[st] ob[edient] Ser[van]ts
For Boulton & Watt
James Pearson.''
[Gives above errors in account of commission
regarding Pednandrea, Wheal Gorland, Consolidated Mines and Wheal
Godolphin Addit, and other accounts as specified in the letter]
X208/13
Letter, M R Boulton to
Wilson
regarding the sale of William Murdock's shares
Item
1 folio and 1 sheet
Manuscript
27 Mar 1800
Endorsed: Mr R Boulton Mar 27 1800.
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Truro, Cornwall.
''Soho March 27th 1800
Mr T Wilson
Dear Sir
The purchasers we had in view
for Mr Murdocks shares were the Birmingham Mining Co[mpany] -
Being still desirous of increasing their Mining concerns we
concieved by proper representations to Mr Simcox, they might be
induced to agree with Mr Murdock upon liberal terms - Such
negotiation would however require time as Mr Simcox is still
detained in London & by avocations which we can easily concieve
will not allow him to pay much attention to any other subject -
Our desire to see Mr Murdock relieved from the anxiety which this
vexatious concern has hitherto caused him & will we are persuaded
continue to occassion him would certainly stimulate us to use
every influence we possess with Mr Simcox to bring the business to
a speedy & satisfactory issue. We could not however flatter
ourselves with recieving a definitive answer to our proposals in
less than 3 weeks or a month, knowing how much Mr Simcox is
engaged at this time - The question of Mr J Watt originated solely
from an intention to offer our services as a mediator in case we
saw any prospect of finding a customer for the shares & by no
means from any thought of becoming ourselves the purchasers - You
know our opinion of the general system pursued in Cornish mining
concerns too well to imagine we entertain any wish of investing
our property in such speculations - For the same reason we think
them still less advisable for Mr Murdock & we own it would afford
us much pleasure to learn that he was entirely extricated from
them - We forebore also to make him any offers on our own Account
from a consciousness that the strong bias of our opinion rendered
us perhaps in some measure incompetent judges of the value of his
shares & that therefore the great disparity in our appreciation of
them might induce a misconstruction of our motives in urging the
sale of them. After the advice we have repeatedly given Mr Murdock
upon this subject we still feel considerable embarrassment from
this consideration & we see but one method of obviating the
objection satisfactorily - viz to appoint an abitrator, to whom
judgement the value of the shares in question shall be referred -
Should this suggestion prove agreeable to Mr Murdock we should
propose to nominate Capt[ai]n Rogers in whose judgement &
integrity we believe both parties have perfect confidance. We
shall agree to take the shares at his valuation & to dispose of
them to the Birm[ingha]m Co[mpany] or other purchaser at our risk
- By naming Capt[ai]n Rogers we have no intention of precluding Mr
Murdock from appointing any other person to act on his behalf
should he have the least wish to do so - We beg you will likewise
apologise to the Capt[ai]n of our imposing upon him such a
troublesome office & use your influence with him in inducing him
to undertake it - In the event also of our proposal being accepted
by Murdock we wish you to understand that it is our earnest wish
to find a customer for these & our other Mine Shares & we shall be
obliged to you to second our view in this respect & by any means
in your power -
We thank you for the intimation in the concluding paragraph of
your letter, but the high opinion we entertain of Murdock's sense
of honor will not allow us to imagine that he would listen to any
proposals of the nature you mention with[ou]t comunicating with
us, & we earnestly hope if it should ever be his lot to have any
transactions with cornish deputies he will so far bear in mind his
own & our experience of their faithful adherence to treaties &
contracts not to be deluded by promises which are not backed by a
positive & tangible security - Now to come more immediately to our
concerns we shall state to you shortly our opinion of the measures
which it will be proper to pursue in regard to our further demands
of premium - We wish you in all cases to renew the arrears which
may be offered up to November & to put in demands to a later
period -
It appears to us of little signification what inferences may be
drawn from this proceeding - If our claims can be maintained in a
court of law it will impose little what opinion may be entertained
of them in Cornwall & without they can bear such an investigation
we should not think of enforcing them - Our attention during the
ensuing term will be occupied by Hornblowers case but when that is
disposed of we shall sift the doubts of our cornish sceptics in
regard to the other question - The payments to Lander may be
continued till you hear further from us upon that subject -
We remain
Dear Sir your obed[ien]t humb[le]
Ser[van]ts
For Boulton & Watt
Robinson Boulton.
PS. Mr Dowsons Account has been closed as you
direct - I was sorry to observe among Mr Pearsons remarks to you a
query respecting the Copying Machine sent to Mr J Edwards - You
need not take any further notice of this item as Mr P has now the
necessary instructions respecting it -''
X208/14
Letter, M R Boulton to
Wilson
regarding correspondence relevant to the Hornblower case
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
2 Apr 1800
Endorsed: Mr R Boulton Ap[ri]l 2 1800.
Addressed to: Mr T Wilson, Truro, Cornwall.
''Mr T Wilson
Soho April 2nd 1800
Dear Sir
As it may be material to prove upon the
trial of Hornblower, that we have uniformly considered his Engine
an infringement upon our rights & upon all occassions maintained
this opinion both towards the parties directly as well as in our
communications with them thro' you it will be proper for you to be
prepared with the facts tending to corroborate this allegat[io]n.
With the view of refreshing your memory we send you
extracts from our mutual correspondence of such matter as we have
met with in any degree relevant to Hornblower's business - A
conversation with Murdock might also be useful in assisting both
of you to recollect more clearly the transactions which have at
different times taken place between you & the cornubians -
We shall be glad to hear from you soon in answer to our last of
the 27th Ult[im]o
& remain
D[ea]r Sir
Your obed[ien]t
humb[le] Ser[van]ts
For B&W
Robinson Boulton''
X208/15
Letter, M R Boulton to
Wilson
regarding the sale of William Murdock's shares
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
3 Apr 1800
Endorsed: Mr R Boulton Ap[ri]l 3 1800.
Addressed to: Mr T: Wilson, Truro, Cornwall.
''Soho April 3rd 1800 -
Mr T Wilson
D[ea]r Sir
Our letters appear to have crossed each
other on the road & we doubt not by this time you are in
possession of our sentiments in regard to the purchase of
Murdock's Shares.
At all events we shall be willing to accept Murdocks draft
for the amount you mention viz £256...8 [shillings]..4 a 30 day &
if the draft has been made payable at your house we shall beg you
to honor it on our acc[oun]t. We should presume the premiums due
from the Mines under J Williams' Management comprehending only the
term to the end of Nov[embe]r must be nearly sufficient to cover
the am[oun]t of the draft, the deficiency if any may we should
concieve be supplied by the reciepts from other Mines for our
unliquidated claims to the same period & as a dernier resort you
may value upon us payable at Mrs Matthews.
We are at a loss to understand the concluding paragraph of
your last letter of the 30th Ult[im]o - you say ''I have only
further to observe that if you take his shares, it will be
miserable for him in fact it would make me mad'' - Our sole view
in becoming the purchasers was to relieve Murdock's mind from
anxiety & by no means to make him miserable or you mad. If you
think either of these consequences likely to ensue we shall
abandon all thoughts of buying them -
Do mention in your next whether any thing conclusive
has been done with he Wh[ea]l Jewel Purser - T Grundy - You have
so often interceded for this delinquent that we shall soon begin
to hold you responsible for his future transgressions -
We remain
D[ea]r Sir
Your obed[ien]t
humb[le] Ser[van]t
For Boulton &
Watt
Robinson
Boulton''
X208/16
Letter, T Gundry to
Wilson regarding
Wheal Jewell savings
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
17 Apr 1800
Endorsed: Thomas Gundry April 17th - 1800.
Addressed to: Mr. Tho[ma]s Wilson, Truro.
''Goldsithney 17th April
1800
Mr. T Wilson
Sir /
Am sorry you should have occasion to
write again ab[ou]t the Savings of Wh[eal] Jewell Engine, its
owing to the delay of payment with Capt[ain] Trevithick for the
M[a]t[eria]ls of the Engine bought by him, & from him by Mr.
Williams for Godolphin Bridge, all that I have rece[ive]d is
£430.. towards nearly £1100 -
However have inclosed one Bill on Acco[un]t of the Savings value
£87..13 [shillings].10 [pence] and hope the remainder will follow
soon;- as I am again promised a further payment shortly
I am
Sir Y[ou]r mo[st] ob[edien]t Serv[an]t
Tho[mas] Gundry J[unio]r
P.S. Please to acknowledge the receipt of the
inclosed -''
X208/17
Letter, G Watt to
Wilson with
extracts of Wilson's letters concerning the Hornblower case
Item
1 large folio
Manuscript
21 Apr 1800
Endorsed: Gregory Watt April 21st 1800.
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Truro, Cornwall.
''Soho April 21
1800
Mr Wilson
Truro
Dear Sir
I have the pleasure of
annexing copies of such passages as appear important in your
correspondence in addition to those already sent to you. I hope
they may be what you wish.
I have the pleasure of announcing the safe arrival of Mr
Murdock and his two sons at Soho. Mr M. appears to be in good
health - I was very happy to hear from agreeable accounts of your
family especially of Thomas whose health I trust will be
permanently established
With kindest respects to Mrs Wilson and good wishes to all
your family believe me
Dear Sir yours
very obl[i]ged
Servant
Gregory Watt
My Father Brother & Mr R Boulton are at present
from home on an excursion so that your letter to the latter which
was delivered here by Mr Murdock remains unopened at present. I
presume there is nothing in it that demands urgent dispatch''
''Extracts from Mr. Wilsons Letters
Chacewater Feb[ruar]y 3[r]d 1787. Little said in
my hearing about the Horners. Mr. Reid says they will have one at
Baldew, Mr. Daniell has certainly stopt that at Wh[ea]l Unity. -
Yours 16 Sept[ember] 1790. I had some conversation with Mr.
Richards on the Tincroft Engine, he says he cannot believe you
will give them any disturbance, for so trifling a business; he was
very polite &c - Truro Dec[embe]r 8th 1791 I was very sensible
of the difference betwixt the performance of Tincroft & some of
your large Engines, but is it fair to compair small with large
Engines. - The business of Poldice, Un[ite]d Mines, N[orth] Downs
& Consolidated Mines, may rest without prejudice. . - Truro
Dec[embe]r 3[r]d 1791. I told him that as it was resolved to have
one of H[ornblower]s Engines, it was needless to trouble you on
the subject as I had intended; he answered that their wish was to
employ that Engineer, who would build the cheapest, that he was
determined to set the Engine, to build, & that he should expect
those that built it to take a large share in the mine, & desired I
would write you, to know for what sum you would erect an Engine
capable of going 90 Fathoms or a 100 deep to draw an 18 Inch box
at least 8 feet stroke in the pump, say 60 Inch double. - - I wish
you may have health & spirits enough to make every preparation,
necessary for properly meeting the H[ornblower]s in a court of
Justice, you may depend upon it, it must be done, & the best way
is to face the danger boldly. I am Sir &c.-......Truro Dec[embe]r
21st 1791 I have heard that the new Hallamanin Adv[enture]rs are
determined to alter that Engine, & that Hornb[lowe]r has been
already consulted, & that Sir C[hristopher] Hawkins has promised
to take the consequences upon himself, the Birmingham Co[mpany']s
Agent told me such a thing had been talked off, but not concluded
upon, I think it will be necessary for you to make some enquiries
of Sir C H about this, before you commence Adv[enture]rs. -
Truro.July 14th..1792. I went forward to Tincroft to Captain
Jos[eph] Vivian to get an acc[oun]t of the Loads that Engine
wrought under from her setting to work to the end of July, this he
refused unless I got an order from one of the Adv[enture]rs. I
went to Mr. Kevill who promised to see him this day, & to give him
leave; my motive for procuring this information is, to be able to
state what that Engine did in July last, (When H[ornblowe]rs
published their Advertisement & stated ''they had exhibited a
Machine which evidently surpasses every other of the kind in a
double proportion'') & what Wh[ea]l Jewell is now doing, a
Comparison, which cannot be objected to, as the Engines are loaded
alike in proportion to their powers, & going nearly at the same
rate though I did not get the information I wanted, I got by other
means, what is nearly equal; the Engine drew 10 fathoms on the
22nd May, when Mr. Hornb[lowe]r made his tryal; Capt Jos[eph] told
me they sunk in a month 2 Fath[om]s; add therefore 4 Fath[om]s
sunk in June & July the depth will then be 14, but for fear of
being under say 15 the performance of TinCroft in that Month, (of
their boasting Advertisement) will be 15 fath[om]s of 8 Inch, 4
strokes p[er] minute, with 11 bushels of coal p[er] day. I was at
Wh[eal] Jewel again on Wednesday, to put on a counter, & found
them draw their House water 8 fath[om]s 6 I[nch] which is more
than I before knew of. Wh[ea]l Jewell is now drawing them 20..4 of
9 Inch, and 10..4 of 6 Inch, 4½ strokes p[er] minute, & burns 10
bushels p[er] day. this perfomance without taking into acc[oun]t
100 Fath[om]s of flat rods & 90 perpendicular in both shafts as
W[heal] Jewell or 4 buckets against their 2, will be much superior
to theirs at the time of their boast of excelling & I think it
will be proper the world should know. In my way back I called at
TinCroft Engine, but was refused admittance, she is now loaded to
13.3lb [pound] p[er] Inch, works as heavy as one of yours full
loaded, the man could not put her more than 9 strokes p[er]
minute, but asserted she would go 12 with strong steam. I got him
to confess she only made 4 strokes p[er] minute, till they cut the
Load, which a Captain there owned it was in Nov[embe]r or
Dec[embe]r. Capt Jos[eph] told me he had at their Acc[oun]t on
Tuesday, mentioned the proposal, of putting the Engine 1/3 deeper
with one Cyl[inde]r & at the same expence of Coal, under a
penalty, the Adv[enture]rs said they would consider of it, but Mr.
Kevill told me he understood Mr. Richards would do all in his
power to prevent it. My intention at present is, to write a letter
adressed to the Lords & Adv[enture]rs, (as soon as I can come at a
few more facts, which I hope to do by the End of this Month,) in
my own name; before publishing I would submit it to both young &
old Mr. Edwards for amendment of Language &c, I think this would
be better than from you, because I can say more for you with
propriety than would become you for yourselves, I would begin with
shewing the savings you have made by comparing the consumption of
the old Engines with yours at Consol[olida]t[ed], Wh[ea]l Chance,
Chacewater & Godolphin & from the savings at Consols what has been
saved at Poldice, United Mines & N[orth] Downs, & then state the
effects of yours & Hornblowers under similar loads & rates of
Going to show the real merits of the Engines, & conclude with
proposing to those who build H[ornblower]'s, to do one third more
than they can with the same Coals, & one Cyl[inde]r this may open
the Eyes of all people as to the Merits, & as I would not at all
touch on their right of using your principles can do no harm, I
had formed an intention of doing this without your Knowledge, but
upon second thoughts I have given it up, & shall be glad soon to
know what you think of it....You may be assured the country has a
Notion that your Patent is not tenable & they are determined to
drive you to a Tryal in any case I wish I could learn from you,
that you are as much determined no proof of the superiority of
your Engines will prevent it - Am I right in making the proposal
to Tincroft Adv[enture]r under a Penalty for the performance. I am
&c -
Truro 15th June 1792. I come now to your Interests as
Engineers, Murdock informed me, that the H[ornblower]s were
wonderfully elated & Impertinent; this not from their success in
their late efforts, but in having the whole county on their side.
it is true that they have given 2 different printed papers, to
particular persons since their return, but they have been so few,
that I have been able to get a sight of one, & almost every person
I have enquired of as likely to have them, had not heard of them,
all that I can learn is, that they are challenges for you to meet
them in a Court of Law. - Truro July 20th 1792 Not having heard
from Mr. Kevill or Jos[eph] Vivian I went again yesterday to the
Mine, but with the same success. Mr. K had advised Joseph to ask
Mr. Richards' consent to communicate what I wanted & he promised
to see him Tomorrow, but he doubted success. the Engine was
working lighter than when I saw her last week, Capt Jo[seph] said
that was owing to their giving more injection. - I also told him
that in case the Adv[enture]rs acceded to the proposal made, that
I understood the alteration would be more expensive than I first
thought, as I understood from Murdock it would be necessary to
have Nozles &c & perhaps a new condenser, that it would be right
the Adv[enture]rs should be informed of this, as time would be
wanted to get castings he asked why I did not make the proposal in
Writing, but this I declined till I had your consent; now if you
think it right you will be so good as to send me your proposal -
Truro 26th July 1792 - E Rogers saw Jos[eph] Vivian on
Sunday, the day after he had been with Richards; & he hinted if I
would call on him, he would give me the information I wanted, but
would not put it down in writing. he also said the Adv[enture]rs
would be glad to receive a proposition in writing, for enabling
them to go deeper with their present large Cyl[inde]r. you are to
observe that their present depth is 28 fath[om]s, Box 9 3/8,
Stroke outside 6 feet, Inside 8 f[ee]t 8 In[ches] which is 8
Inches more Leverage than I knew of before yesterday. Cyl[inde]r
27 Inches you will be so good as to enable me to give them an
answer. I intend tomorrow to see Capt[ai]n Jo[seph]. - Truro 20th
Octo[ber] 1792. I have met with another business, which I think
has vexed me, as much as any I have met with this long time. I
wrote Mr. Watt that the Adv[enture]rs of the Wherry were to meet
on Tuesday last, & that owing to a cold with which I was then
confined, I had wrote them what I thought necessary, & did not
mean to attend. On thursday I rec[eive]d a letter from Capt[ain]
Gundry, that the Adv[enture]rs had determined to build a 21 Inch
Cyl[inde]r of Hornblowers Construction that both Jethro & Jonathan
was there, & that the Adv[enture]rs were unanimous for them. this
is the most mortifying circumstance, to have them build on a place
where we are so largely concerned; & where the rotative Engine is
so well Calculated for, & to have ones property, sported with
which I look upon to be the case merely to Gratify the Caprice,
hatred, or Malevolence, of a set of people who really know nothing
of the merits, it is almost too much to bear, at least -
&c.......I have wrote Carne that the Adv[enture]rs ought in
Justice, to indemnify us for all damages or loss that may arise,
in consequence of their proceedings. & that it is very probable we
shall call upon them so to do. -
Truro Ap[ri]l 9th 1794 - Hornblower was extremely Scurrilous,
declared his Brother ready to Indemnify the Adv[enture]rs Against
you, & despised your Threats. I hope there will a time come to
talk with him. -''
X208/18
Letter, M R Boulton to
Wilson
regarding Captain Rogers' valuation of William Murdock's shares
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
14 May 1800
Endorsed: Robinson Boulton May 14th 1800.
Addressed to: Mr T Wilson, Truro, Cornwall.
''Soho May 14th 1800 -
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