Volume 3
AD1583/3
Boulton & Watt, Volume 3
Series
108 items (117 documents)
Manuscript
1788-1789
AD1583/3/1
Letter, Southern to
Wilson
acknowledging receipt of Wilson's letter
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
4 Jan 1788
Endorsed: Mr Southern 4 Jan[uar]y
1787
1788
Addressed to: Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson, Chace Water, Truro, Cornwall
''Birmingham 4th Jan[uar]y 88
Mr Wilson
Sir Your letter of 31st Ult[im]o I received
which I have transmitted to Mr Boulton, Mr Watt being still from
home - and I have this moment received a note in which it is said
''Mr B will answer your letter'' so that I only have to acknowledge
the receipt of yours. - For Messrs Boulton & Watt - I am, Sir
Your most
Obed[ien]t Serv[an]t
John Southern''
AD1583/3/2
Letter,
Pearson to
Wilson acknowledging receipt of bills
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
12 Jan 1788
Endorsed: James Pearson 12th Jan[uar]y 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chasewater, near Truro, Cornwall.
''Soho near Birmingham
12 January 1788
Mr. Thomas Wilson
Sir
This afternoon or tomorrow morning Mr.
Boulton sets out for London. He hath directed me to advise you, that
the two last remittance you made; vizt £600. - . - and £311. 11
[shillings]. 8 [pence] are at your credit in the Books of Messrs
Boulton & Watt, for whom I am
Sir
Your
very Obed[ien]t Servant
James Pearson''
AD1583/3/3
Letter, Boulton to
Wilson regarding
the copper trade
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
17 Jan 1788
Endorsed: Mr Boulton Jan[uar]y 17 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chasewater, Truro, Cornwall.
''London 17th Jan[uar]y 1788
Dear Sir
It was not in my power to conform to the request of the
Lords of Council on the 8th, I was therefore obliged to write to
them & send a Letter of Dr Witherings to w[hi]ch they returnd a
polite answer & postpond the business untill the 15th when I
attended in better health, clearer head, & better spirits, than I
had enjoyd for some time before or since: for I am no much
indisposed haveing caught Cold.
Although I have had 3 Hours conversation w[i]th these L[or]ds, I
cannot even guess what will be ye ultimate result. They have taken
ye opineon of some dealers in Copper, Merch[an]ts & and some Brazen
ignorant Londoners who have told them that from the great
improv[e]m[en]ts now makeing in the art of Smelting & from the great
quantities of Copper that are now bringing from South America they
are of opineon it will be as low or lower than 65. -
On the other hand Mr W[illia]ms thinks it a favourable opport[uni]ty
to raise the price of Copper & though I think he is right yet there
is a medium in all things w[hi]ch ought to be observd & I have some
fears from the Parties runing into opposite extreams that the
business of Coinage will not come to a speedy conclusion However I
am very glad to find that their opineon accords w[i]th mine in the
principal points, except that of fine Rolling & makeing a fine Coin
& consequently more difficult to be counterfeited. I believe I shall
have ye execution of it whether fine or coarse because I will do it
cheaper. It is intended that no fees or emoluments shall be p[ai]d
out of it to any of the Mint officers, They are desireous of buying
the Copper & Workmanship as cheap as possible & putting a
halfpenyworth into every ½ peny & therefore, say they, if copper
should sink 20£ a Ton lower than the price we pay Then such a profit
& temptation will remain as to induce the Counterfeiters to set to
work again. Pray write me p[e]rreturn of post the opineon of the
Cornish Gent[leme]n respecting 1st the price of Cake Copper & 2[n]d
the price of Rolling or Sheet for ye Coinage. The danger is that if
Cornwall & Mr W[illia]ms ask what they think too much, they will
either put it off for the present or Coin only a small quantity -
perhaps 500 Ton & that quantity they can buy from other hands. I
have given them some very strong & well grounded reasons why they
should Coin 3000 Ton but they say they will make a begining w[i]th
1500 Ton & as soon as that quantity is Coind they will have them put
into circulation & the old ones suppressd & then they will go on
coining more 'till the publick are satisfied.
I should have continued my last letter to you but was prevented by
illness & an accumulation of letters & other business w[hi]ch
overpowerd me & which was agrivated by Mr Watts abscence; (he is yet
in Scotland) - I beg you will make some appology for me to the
Gent[leme]n of United Mines for not answering their letter which I
was prevented doing partly by illness, by Mr Watts abscence & by the
unsettled state of the Cornish Mines & Adventurers - I think if you
took upon you to allow them every 3[r]d month untill Mr Watt & I can
talk together I hope they will be satisfyd but I must beg youl make
my Compl[imen]ts & excuses to them.
I want a few very good workmen at Soho such as good Smiths & good
Turners of heavy Iron work that is turnd by my Mill pray consult Mr
Murdock & find me some steady men - There was a good Young Smith
that forged all the Iron Work for Poldice little Engine - I forget
his name. - If Dick Thomas would come to Soho & settle for Life I
should be desireous of agreeing w[i]th him - don't let these
enquiries sleep for I shall be put into a great hurry w[i]th this
Coinage haveing a great & New apparatus to provide & very little
time allowd to do it in - We also want a Smith & boiler maker at
Albion Mill.
Some friends in France write to me for Wolfram & other fossells pray
where are those Mr Lawson bought for me & w[hi]ch you charge in your
Acc[oun]t nothing should be delayd 'till tomorrow that can possibly
be done to day. Mr Lawson hath not returnd to me agreeable to my
direction the Extra Lamps from Truro or wrote a line since my
return.
The L[or]ds see & feel W[illiam]ss power in the Copper Trade & call
it a Monopoly. - I have my doubts & fears about Cornwall & Anglesey
going to Parliam[en]t it is difficult to say what turn it will take
in the House.
I shall remain in Town till the Coinage is settled one way or
another & will no & then send you a line. my best respects to Mrs
Wilson & all yours, adieu
I
am D[ea]r S[i]r your faithfull & Obed[ien]t Serv[an]t
M: Boulton
Mess[rs] Williams & Vivian are both in Town & Wilkinson will in a
few days}''
AD1583/3/4
Letter, Boulton to
Wilson regarding
plans to drive the Chasewater Adit into North Downs
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
26 Jan 1788
Endorsed: Mr Boulton Jan[uar]y 26 1788
Addressed to: Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall.
''London Jan[uar]y 26 – 1788
Dear Sir
I rec[ei]vd yours of ye 18th & 20th.
Mr Wilkinson is now at my elbow & urges me to write to you that he
has just heard you have given leave to the North Downs advent[ure]rs
to drive the Chase water Additt into N[orth] Downs which being
already overchargd with water will endanger the ruin of that Mine We
have no objection to lighting our neighbours Candle when it doth not
endanger the extinguishing of our own but in the present case it is
the opineon of the Wise that the risk is too great to consent to it
& I presume you will not do it without ye concurance of the
principal interested parties.
Mr Wilkinson wishes to hear from you whilest he is here.
I rec[ei]vd a letter yesterday from Mr Watt announcing his & Familys
arival at Birmingham.
My Ideas of ye price of Copper rises higher than yours. I could
contract I think for 2000 Ton at a better price but I do not rise so
high as Mr W[illia]ms.
my best Compl[imen]ts to Mrs Wilson & remain
D[ea]r S[i]r
Yours most Sincerely
M Boulton.
pray send to the
Albion Mill a good Smith that is a very honest fellow & when I
return home I will send you a larger order for such men''
AD1583/3/5
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
rumours spread in Cornwall, and Chacewater Adit
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
5 Feb 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt 5 Feb[ruar]y 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall.
''Birm[ingha]m Feb[ruar]y 5th 1788.
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
I came home with Mrs Watt & family all
well about a fortnight ago, of which I sh[oul]d have advised you
sooner, but had nothing particular to say, & a good deal to do.
I understand from Mr B[oulton]. that reports had been
spread in Cornwall that he would not let me make abatements to the
mines which I was disposed to do. The whole of which is a vile
falsehood. Neither of us can think of making abatements merely to
enable the Mines to ruin one another, which seems to be their plan.
I have a letter from Messrs Fox complaining of some of
C[hace] water adv[enture]rs opposing an agreement which was made
between them about completing the addit to N[orth]:D[owns]. what is
the truth of that affair. I cannot see how it can hurt C. water, &
if N.D means to stop until it is brought up I think they should have
some encouragement instead of obstacles.
I shall be glad to hear from you, with any news you
have & am with Comp[limen]ts to Mrs Wilson Mr Murdoch & other
friends
Dear Sir
Your's sincerely
James Watt''
AD1583/3/6
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
the Chacewater Adit
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
7 Feb 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt Feb[ruar]y 7 1788.
Addressed to: Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, via
Bristol.
''Birmingham February 7th 1788.
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
I wrote to you the other day, mentioning
that I had received a letter from Mr G. Fox concerning the driving
C[hace].water addit forward to N[orth].D[owns]. At that time I had
not considered the state of the general Addit nor all the
inconveniences which might accrue to Cwater & the other mines from
the introduction of so much more water. But by letter from Mr
Boulton yesterday I am informed that the Captains who viewed the
addit were of opinion that it would be dangerous for all the Mines
to send more water down it. In this view unless the Addit were first
sufficiently enlarged it appears to me that all the mines have a
right to oppose it & chacewater in particular as being first in
danger. I am not however prejudiced on any side & shall willingly
hear what has offered on the other side. In the mean time I beg that
I have said in my former letter may stand for nothing & I am sorry
you have in any ways pledged yourself without consulting all
concerned. I have nothing new since I wrote & remain Dear Sir
Your's sincerely
James
Watt
I beg my best Comp[limen]ts to Mrs Wilson}''
AD1583/3/7
Letter, Watt to
Wilson
requesting particulars of Mr Gullet's mine
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
11 Feb 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt Feb[ruar]y 11 1788
Addressed to: Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, Via
Bristol
''Birm[ingha]m Feb[ruar]y 11th 1788.
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
I am favoured with yours of 6th covering 4
bills value £429. 3 [shillings]. 8 [pence] at your credit. I am much
obliged to you for your information, but am not able to answer you
to day being much indisposed with a cold.
Shall be obliged to you to inform me what you can learn
of the probable monthly profits & other particulars of Mr Gullets
mine; for a friend who is some how concerned.
Shall take care of Mr Morris affair, neglected through
my absence.
With Comp[limen]ts to Mrs Wilson
Dear Sir
Your's Sincerely
James Watt''
AD1583/3/8
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
compensations proposed for mines stopping production
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
12 Feb 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt 12 Feb[ruar]y 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, Via
Bristol.
''Birm[ingha]m Feb[ruar]y 12th 1788.
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
I wrote to you yesterday and immediately
after received your letter of ye 9th. I am obliged to you for the
General state of the Mines, which however will not come up to the
flagrant accounts which have been given to ministry of 30 000 people
employed & perhaps may be improper to be produced. I am not
qualified to enter into the consideration of the affair of
N[orth].D[owns]. addit at present, but you know my sentiments are
favourable to such undertakings where the damage they may occasion
to others can be guarded against. I do not however think the
agreement properly drawn up & shall consider it with Mr Boulton when
he comes home. If you had informed him of the matters in time he
would not perhaps have had the same opinion which he has formed from
an adverse state of the case.
In relation to the tin in my own opinion Mr Foxs offer
should be closed with, as far as B[oulton]&W[att] are concerned and
I think I can answer for Dr Withering. There is not time to consult
Mr B[oulton]. & indeed I am scarcely fit to write being still
indisposed with the cold. In relation to selling the Tin Bills I can
say nothing till I see Mr B.
If Mr B. is anyhow a partner with W[ilso?]n & W[illia]ms I know
nothing about it & we never were at variance, but Mr W[illia]ms & Mr
B. were very lately until it was made up by Mr Wn. The Devil of Lies
is certainly very busy in Cornwall.
I do not rightly understand the proposition for a
compensation to the stopping mines, Do you mean that they are to
have 10/ [shillings] off every ton of fine copper produced for every
1000 tons they used to produce & that N[orth]:D[owns] wants £1500 a
year for stopping & Dolcoath in proportion or more, & do you mean
that Mr Beauchamp is to consent to the stopping of any mines of his
or to the paying of others - As Dolcoath is as much under a
necessity of stopping as N:D I think they should receive no greater
a compensation in proportion to their common produce, Pray did they
ever apply the condenser to the Common Engine at Dolcoath & what did
it do?
I can say nothing about the abatements until I meet Mr
B. but approve of your conduct in respect of United Mines, whose
conduct has never deserved favour from us.
Mr M[urdock?].s improvement is a great one if he
substitutes nothing else as expensive or troublesome in place of
what he takes away.
I remain
D[ea]r Sir
Your's Sincerely
James Watt''
AD1583/3/9
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
tin required by a man from abroad
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
13 Feb 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt Feb[ruar]y 13 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, Via
Bristol
''Mr Wilson.
Birm[ingha]m Feb[ruar]y 13th 1788.
Dear Sir
Since I wrote you yesterday a friend called
upon me said a correspondent of his abroad; who deals largely in Tin
wanted to be served on the best terms & wanted to know the price of
Tin in blocks & in barrs delivered at Bristol or at london as shall
be cheapest, or both, The opportunities you have of sending how
often, & when they occur. You will please send me a note of this
p[e]r return, and also he wants by way of trial a 3 Cwt
[hundredweight] (say a bl[oc]k) of Tin in barrs to be sent to
London, to be there before the 22[n]d inst[ant] if possible if not
so to be there on or before the 22[n]d march. To be delivered to Mr
Tho[ma]s Cockshut at Brewers quay on acc[oun]t of Russels & Smith.
The tin must be charged at wholesale price in expectation of larger
orders.
My cold gets rather better & I remain
Dear Sir
Your's Sincerely
James Watt''
AD1583/3/10
Letter, Boulton to
Wilson regarding
various matters
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
18 Feb 1788
Endorsed: Mr Boulton 18 Feb[ruar]y 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chase Water, Truro, Cornwall
''London 18 Feb[ruar]y 1788.
Dear Sir
Your fav[o]rs of ye 10th & 13th are before me & I believe
there is one more w[hi]ch is not answ[er]d. I should have wrote to
you oftner but writing much is death to me & I have very much to
write.
It is true I had only heard one side of the question
when I wrote to Mr Watt about the additt & even now I have my doubts
about the Consequences of holeing N[orth]D[owns]: into
C[hase]W[ate]r. I can only say that if a Jury of Candid sensible
Capt[ai]ns give it their decided opineon that such a communciation
cannot endanger the Mine I shall not say a word against it nor
should I be in any degree tenacious if I did not consider my self as
a trustee & guardian of the property of such of my friends as have
from their good opineon of me taken shares in that undertakeing:
moreover as I said before I wish to talk over the matter w[i]th Mr
Watt.
As to a bond of 1000£ I do not think it adequate to the
importance of the risk & had rather that no sum was specifyd but
that if any agreem[en]t is made that the parties shall covenant to
put the Addit into a proper state so as to prevent all damages
arising therefrom both to Chase water & the Consols, Poldice &c for
I know not but it may be possible to terminate the working of those
mines & consequently our annuities arising therefrom.
You say you think the Law will give them a right to
proceed upon driving I know not what Cornish Laws may allow but I am
sure the Laws of the Realm will not suffer any set of advent[ure]rs
to invade or inpire the property of another However as to that
matter I shall prove my self the better Quaker in for if I am smote
on the right Cheeck I shall turn the Left also. But it is
unnecessary to dwell upon the subject as you say that Messrs J: & N:
&c have given notice to take out their ores with intent to sell them
in opposition to the C[ornish]:M[etal]:Co[mpany] Nothing could be
more dishonourable or fatal to the interest of Cornwall. If those
Gent[leme]n persevere I am determind (so far as my interest & power
goes) to Stop the Mine for 'tis better to amputate one Limb than to
suffer the whole body to perish. If the Cornish Gent[leme]n would
keep their agreem[en]ts sacrid & restrain to moderate quantities
their get of Ore the Copper Trade would soon get into a flowerishing
state & the standard would rise in proportion as the dead stock
toward Gov[ernmen]t will certainly take 1500 but they offer only 75
whereas if it had not been for Londoneers I think we might have got
80 & I dont despair of it yet.
I suspect the Coinage will fall to my Lot because I have offerd to
do it cheaper than I can afford but the Tryal of Hastings deranges
all publick business.
Your Cornish Smithwork is done cheap enough but your Smiths
overvalue themselves, The com[mo]n wages in London for good Smiths
is 1 guinea p[e]r Week.
I presume Mr Wyatt wrote to you upon the subject of Flower & Smiths
- The price of Flower in London continues the same & will be put on
board at ye foll[owin]g prices
Firsts 37/6,
2[n]d 34/6,
3 31/6} When Capt[ai]n Hicks arives we will
put on board 100 Sacks of each on Eq[uitab]l[e?] acc[oun]t.
If you have any worthy honest men that are very good Workmen who can
forge, File, turn & fit work mathematicaly true send them to me upon
the lowest terms you can agree for 3 years & if they deserve more
they shall not complain of me.
I had rather have Blocks of Tin than Tin Bills in future.
The post man waits adieu.
- My best resp[ec]ts to Mrs. Wilson
I am D[ea[r S[i]r
Yours sinc[er]ely
M Boulton''
AD1583/3/11
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
various matters
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
22 Feb 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt 22 Feb[ruar]y 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, Via
Bristol
''Birm[ingha]m
Feb[ruar]y 22[n]d 1788.
Mr Wilson
Dear Sir
I have yours of 15th 16th & 18th. The only
thing more wanted concerning the Tin is the credit, say the credit
we give to the Messrs Foxes, & the credit they give to customers say
merchants at Coinage price. If the Tin is not sent off need not be
sent as I have advised my friend to get that small parcel at London.
I am glad Mr Gullet is so well pleased but shall be
obliged to you if you can learn what are likely to be the monthly
profits at his mine in a reasonable way of working, what produce in
Ores & their value for Lead Copper & Silver!
I cannot send you observations on the accounts as my
health still continues very bad.
We have no employment here at present for the men you
mention, but probably shall soon I know nothing of young Ms
abilities, can he put a rotative Engine to gether well & is he to be
depended upon, what wages has he, & is he under agreement for time,
other wise I know the consequence.
As Mr Morris has at last accepted of our terms his
drawings go off to day & his castings immediately. One of the Men
will probably be wanted there. as that engine should be extremely
well done to tempt some body else.
I expect Mr Boulton home soon now & shall with him
discuss all your late letters & send you answers to such points as I
could not decide upon.
I remain with comp[limen]ts to Mrs Wilson, Dear Sir
Your's sincerely
James Watt''
AD1583/3/12
Letter,
Walker to Wilson
regarding monies owed for guns by Captain Paul
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
4 Mar 1788
Endorsed: Mr Walker 4 Mar[ch] 1788
Addressed to: To Mr. Thomas Wilson, at Chasewater, near Truro,
Cornwall. Post paid /-6d
''Birmingham 4th March 1788 ~
Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson
Dear Sir
I use the freedom of troubling you in behalf
of my friends - Messrs Rob[er]t Wheeler & Son, Gunmakers at this
place, who have a claim upon Cap[tai]n Paul of your neighbourhood,
that they cannot get settled. When Cap[tai]n Paul was at Birmingham,
He ordered Messrs Rob[er]t Wheeler & Son to send him a Gun, half
Stocked, Brass Mounted, which They forwarded (as He instructed Them)
by the Coach from hence Via Bristol &c directed to Him to be left in
the Red Lion in Truro, Cornwall, this was done the 15th June 1784,
and regular advice sent Cap[tai]n Paul p[e]r Post, a little while
afterwards Cap[tai]n Paul answered Messrs R[ober]t Wheeler & Son
that he had not rec[eive]d the Gun; & desired them to send him
another, with Tutenague Mounting; on receipt of this L[ett]ré Messrs
Wheeler & Son examined at the Coach Office & found the first Gun
regularly forwarded, and were assured at the Coach Office that it
must be delivered properly. However They concluded to send Cap[tai]n
Paul a second Gun, which was done, in like manner as the former, on
the 21st October 1784, And advised him thereof by the Post; but
since that date Messrs Wheeler & Son could never hear one Syllable
from Cap[tai]n Paul, not withstanding they have wrote to him a great
many times on the subject.
The sum that Cap[tai]n Paul owes to Messrs Rob[er]t
Wheeler & Son is £5. 19 [shillings]. 6 [pence] as p[er] Particulars
at foot hereof; And if not agreeable, I wish You to speak to
Cap[tai]n Paul on the Subject, and learn whether or not He intends
to pay Messrs Rob[er]t Wheeler & Son, or what his intentions are in
this matter; as They are tired of waiting for their Money, and tired
of writing Him without receiving any reply: Please to favour me with
Your reply, and flattering myself You will excuse this trouble, I
shall gladly retaliate in the manner of any power of
Sir Your
very Obed[ien]t & h’[um]ble Serv[an]t
Zac[cheu]s
Walker.
at Matt[he]w Boulton’s
in Birmingham.
1784 /
June 15th: one Gun half Stocked, Brass Mounting £2. 12. 6
Packing
case - . 12. -
October 21st, one Gun, d[itt]o Tutenague Mounting £3. 3. -
Packing
Case - . 2. -
[total] £5. 19. 6''
AD1583/3/13
Letter, Boulton to
Wilson regarding
coinage, and other matters
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
10 Mar 1788
Endorsed: Mr Boulton Mar[ch] 10th
1789
1788
Addressed to: Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson, Chase Water, near Truro,
Cornwall, by Bristol
''Soho
March 10th 1788
Dear Sir
I am indebted to you an acknowledgement of your fav[o]r
of Feb[ruary] 8th.
I have again resumed my spirits & my operations respecting the
Coinage & hope nothing now will interupt the Carrying it into
Execution.
Mr Droz is to go next week to Model the K[in]g from the life & if
there is any Coinage at all its not possible that any body can rival
me in execution or in expedition.
M:Boulton & Metal Co[mpany] have lent the Anglesey & Cornish
Co[mpanie]s 10,000£ & have got upwards of 200 Ton of Copper & Brass
as a security & I have B[ough]t all Williams presses & all his
Coining apparatus which is not worth to me more than so much old
Iron but I thought it prudent to Clip his Wings & to disarm him.
The object of this letter is to tell you that Boulton &
Watt propose to divide the money they have in Matthews's hands about
the begining of next Month & Mr Pierson hath just told me that you
can remit us about 1500£ Now as we shall make another Dividend of a
Year and as it would be conv[enien]t to me to make this as large a
dividend as possible I wish you would take ye most effectual &
expeditious means in your power to remit B[oulton]&W[att] as much of
their Arrears as you can.
As to W[hea]l Virgin we will not be fettord with any
promises but you may continue so long as the mine is loosing to
forgive them every third month provided they pay the arrears
directly & likewise pay the other 2 Mo[nths] in the course of ever
Q[uarte]r.
I hear there is a great change for the better in Chase
Water Mine but if you are not clearly of opineon that it can be
worked without loss it seems the opineon of our friends that it
should be abandond untill the price of Copper Ore & Tin, mend.
I think you were to have sent me some drawings &
directions respecting the Casting of Bar Tin but they are not yet
come.
When the Coinage is over I will come & pay my respects
to Cornwall but I should now injure Cornwall if I were to desert the
Coinage.
My love to Mrs. Wilson & best wishes attend all your Family.
I am with great regard
Dear Sir
Your faithfull
friend
M:
Boulton
When ever you
think ye Dep[ut]y Gov[eno]r is in good plight, do give me hint; for
I wish not to call untill he can answer''
AD1583/3/14
Letter,
Pearson to
Wilson acknowledging receipt of bills
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
12 Mar 1788
Endorsed: Mr Pearson 12 Mar[ch] 1788
Addressed to: Mr. Thomas Wilson, Chasewater near Truro, Cornwall
''Soho
near Birmingham
12
March 1788
Mr. Thomas Wilson
Sir
By desire of Mr. Watt have to acknowledge
receipt of your favor of 8th instant, enclosing two Notes value
together £160. - say one Hundred and Sixty Pounds, being for one
half years Interest of Stock in Cornish Metal Co[mpany]. Mr. Watt
would have wrote you himself but is not able. -
Beg you will do the needful with the small account at foot, and
remain Sir
Your very Obed[ien]t Servants
For Boulton & Watt
James Pearson.
Wheal Virgin
Adventurers D[ebto]r to Boulton & Watt
For Freight from Workington to Liverpool & Charges
at Liverpool of Piston rod in
1787} £ - . 14 [shillings]. 4
[pence]''
AD1583/3/15
Letter,
Wyatt to Wilson
regarding flour from Albion Mill sent to Cornwall
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
29 Mar 1788
Endorsed: Sam[ue]l Wyatt Mar[ch] 29. 1788
''Mr Wilson /
I received your favor, and am very glad that our
inferior flours are so well liked in your neighboorhood. We have now
great plenty of 2nds 3rds & fourths - which we can send you - and
will mark them in the way you proposed, we shall be much obliged to
you for your Intrest at Swansey -
I think we should not exceed 24s[hillings] p[e]r Week
for a very first rate Smith, and I should let him the making of a
New Boiler, and I should wish to have one that could make one of
Copper how many Hours p[e]r Day will he work for his 4s[hillings]? -
I am for A[lbion] Mill C[ompany]
Sir
your
most hum[ble] Serv[an]t
Sam Wyatt
Albion Mill -
Mar[ch] - 29th 1788''
AD1583/3/16
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
Doctor Withering's selling his tin bills
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
30 Mar 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt Mar[ch] 30 1788
Addressed to: Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall
''Mr Wilson
Harpers hill March 30 1788
Dear Sir
Doctor Withering received your letter of the 24, has
ever since been out of town, he returned yesterday & intended to
have wrote you to day, but is call'd out of town again, He sent me
the following note & desired me to write to you.
''I would sell the tin in bills [this previous word being
underlined twice] at present, & reserve a further determination to a
future time, thus keeping clear of any proposition from Messrs
Foxes. The Donneur to the Captains shall be thought of when I have
realized the £500 (first cost) and its Intrest which Polgooth is
indebted to me, except £190 which I have received; please to add,
that I wish Mr Wilson would send me Separate accounts of
Polgooth & Chacewater -''
You will please to observe that the D[octo]rs meaning is
to sell his tin for tin Bills at present but not to come to under
any obligation to do so in future. If you cannot Dispose of it on
these terms, you will please coin it with the rest. You will also
cause my share of Tin to be Coined with Mr Boultons & Mr Wilkinsons.
as I have no doubt we will be able to find a market if refused in
Cornwall. Mr Boulton will write you a general answer to all your
letters in a few days. I am glad to hear that William Murdock is so
much better, & as soon as I hear from him if able will write to him
concerning his Engine -
It gave me pleasure to hear that the new Engine at Wheal Maid
performs so well. Tho I am much better I still am not able to write,
having a pain in my breast & at present a blister upon it, I hope
the fine weather which seems to be set in will soon reestablish me.
Mrs Watt, who I at present employ, Joins in best wishes
to you & Mrs Wilson, & we hope to hear that she has entirely
recovered all her complaints, & that all the children are in good
health, I remain Dear Sir
Your Sincerely
James Watt''
[the handwriting
is that of Ann Watt]
AD1583/3/17
Letter, Boulton to
Wilson regarding
cessation of production at North Downs mine etc
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
8 Apr 1788
Endorsed: Mr Boulton April 8 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thom[a]s Wilson, Chase Water, Truro, Cornwall,
via Bristol
''Birm[in]g[ha]m 8 April 1788
Dear Sir
I will first acknowledge the reception of your last
letter of ye 5th In[stan]t with two Bills Value 693£. 4 [shillings].
2 [pence] I am glad to hear that you are likely to be at peace &
that N[orth]:D[owns]: hath concluded to stop w[hi]ch is what it
ought to have done long ago as great sums have been expended in the
County to destroy each other. We are sincerely sorry for the
distresses of the Working Mines but time & patience will lessen the
Met[a]l Co[mpany']s Debt & mend the Standard. We know of no
particular cause at this In[stan]t for raising the price of Copper
but I must own I can see no objection to ye raising of it in
England, as there is not ye least probability of any quantity being
imported, & who is there in England that can furnish 300 Ton at less
than 80 none, no, not one, then why should it not be raisd to a
price our Manufacturers can afford to pay.
As to the Foreign Market that's quite another thing our
price in those markets must be regulated by foreign Mines & sundry
circumstances.
Our ministers say they are so wedged in with various
business that they cannot find time at present to consider or
determine about ye coinage & therefore we must have patience for a
couple of Months.
In relation N[orth]:D[owns]: saveings. You will I have
no doubt recollect what I said at the N:D: meeting & what hath been
uniformly our opineons viz: That we ought not to encourage the
continuence of a Mine that so ruinous to the County &
disadvantageous to the adventurers & that we should reserve our
giveings for the better purposes of setting that mine to work again
at such times & under such circumstances as may appear to us more
for the interest of the County. Therefore you may be assured we are
not disposed to comply with their requisitions, Moreover you know we
have never taken any thing for W[hea]l Chance Engine, & that 'though
they deducted for Wh[eal] Hawke when stoped, yet nothing was ever
P[ai]d for Wh[ea]l Chance w[hi]ch ought to have been, at least in
that case.
As to the several Men you mention to be nearly out of
employ, I have answer that we think it our duty & our interest to
find employment for such men as david Watson, who hath behaved well
& in whom we can place sufficient confidence both in his discression
as well as his integrity & When ever David & his Wife are disposed
to come into this Country I think we can settle them to their
satisfaction at Soho.
But as to Pierson We know not what use to make of a Man that is idle
& Drunken, he would only bring disgrace upon us if we were to send
him out to erect Engines & therefore I recommend that he get a place
in London or Cornwall. In respect to James Murdock We are willing to
agree with him for 5 years, if you think he is sober & industrious
Man, provided we can agree upon terms & in that case we shall
endeavour to make him as usefull to himself & us as possible.
I think you made an Agreem[en]t with Knuckey & therefore
beg youl send him with the first who come but if there is no
Agreem[en]t executed it will be proper we send one for him to
execute before he sets out - I wrote to you from London for a Smith
that can also make Boilers for Albion Mill but the wages you
mentiond w[oul]d not do. If you know of anyone that can be well
recommended & who will come for 18s[hillings] p[e]r Week or if a
very good hand say one Guinea p[e]r Week he may be sent to Mr Wyatt
at Alb[io]n Mill.
We acquiessed in the proposition of relinquishing every
third Month at W[hea]l Virgin untill the times mended & we beg youl
settle with that Mine upon that ground which we cannot alter.
I shall see Mr Wilkinson I expect on Thursday & will learn if he is
the Culprit that hath reduced the price of Tin & let you know - The
Smelters ought not to Smelt Tin for any man who sells under price &
hope they will adhere to that resolution. -
Its near 3 Weeks since I returnd from London have had my
House full of Comp[an]y. Mr Watt hath been incapable of transacting
any business but he is now getting better -, I am prepareing
Buildings & tools for the Coinage, I will look over your letters &
write again soon & in the intrem I remain with best wishes for you
Mrs Wilson & Family D[ea]r S[i]r Yours most
Sincerely
Matt[he]w Boulton.
[marginal] Pray
tell us if our indulgence to poldice is not expired & the acc[oun]t
now in such a State as to assert our Claim''
AD1583/3/18
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
the miner's uprising
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
17 Apr 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt Ap[ril] 17. 1788
Addressed to: Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, Via
Bristol
''Birm[ingha]m Ap[ri]l 17th
1788
Dear Sir
I am just now fav[oure]d with y[ou]rs of 14th and am
very much alarmed at this fresh rising of the Miners, who certainly
are instigated by some enemy to the County & to you. I hope you will
avoid going in their way again & to prevent surprizes that you will
pack up your books & papers & send them to Truro, or at least have
them in a Chest ready to put on a horses back. Indeed I wish you
would remove yourself & family there until matters are quieted.
I hope no improper concessions will be made to them &
that some body of Authority will interpose in time, soldiers should
be quartered at Truro & at Redruth.
My Health Grows daily better but I cannot go much out
yet, partly on acc[oun]t on the Coldness of the weather.
Wishing you health & safety I am with Comp[liment]s to Mrs
Wilson
Dear Sir
Yours
sincerely
James Watt''
AD1583/3/19
Letter, Boulton & Watt to
Wilson regarding
miner's riots, and the lucrativeness of lead mines
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
18 Apr 1788
Endorsed: Boulton & Watt April 18 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, Via
Bristol
''Birmingham 18 April 1788
Dear Sir
Our Mr Watt acknowledged yesterday the rec[eip]t of your
letter of the 14th In[stan]t the Contents of which gives us great
concern & the writer of this enters most sensibly into all your &
Mrs. Wilsons feelings on the late appearance of Riot.
We have not the least idea of the cause of the Tinners being
violently prejudiced against you & in your next pray tell us the
grounds of it. We are certain of one thing which is that they do not
distinguish between those who are their real friends & those who are
not.
As to our selves, if we could avert or mitigate the Miseries with
which they are threatend We would do it with all hearts & Souls & we
conceive the most effectual means is to extend & promote the
consumption & Sales of Copper, to raise the price, & to lessen the
dead Stock all which we are silently doing to the best of our power.
As the quantity of Copper & Tin lately raisd in Cornwall is much too
great for all the markets to take off, it is proper the Miners & the
Adventurers should turn their Eyes to Lead as the price of that
Metal is almost double what it was some Years ago it being now from
21 to 23£ a Ton and We have no doubt from what we have heard that
there are Lead Mines in several parts of Cornwall that will at this
time pay much better than most of the Copper & Tin mines now
working.
The Mine at Combmartin [Combe Martin, Devon] & some others in
devonshire have always been talked of as rational undertakings and
as a principal part of their Riches arises from the Silver extracted
from ye Lead, there is no danger of overstocking the Country with
that Commodity - pray learn all you can about the Mines at Penrose
near Hellston [Helston] as well as those at Wade Bridge [Wadebridge].
Seting aside the Lead Mines in Cornwall & devonshire it is certain
that all the Lead Mines now working in England & Scotland are
desireous of putting into their Mines all the Miners they can get &
consequently most of your young Men may find employment in them if
they are disposed to be active - There is also a want of miners in
Shropshire & Staffordshire Collieries - It appears to us that it
would be much better to provide for the Miners in either of the ways
aforesaid than to open new tin or Copper mines & thereby endanger
the total ruin of the County by overloading the Markets.
Mr Murdock is arrived safe & well & we remain
Dear Sir Your
Obed[ien]t Serv[an]ts
Boulton
& Watt''
[the handwriting
is that of Matthew Boulton, with the exception of the last sentence
and signature, which is in the hand of James Watt]
AD1583/3/20
Letter,
Wyatt to Wilson
regarding prices for Albion Mill flour
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
28 Apr 1788
Endorsed: Sam Wyatt April 28. 1788
Addressed to: Mr. Wilson, Truro.
Mr. Wilson
Sir /
I have but just time to say that our prices
here are firsts holds 37s[hillings] 2nds 34s 3rds 31s & 4th 28s
p[e]r Sack - I wish to send you a quantity of the 2nds 3rds & 4ths
if you can dispose of them - Your answ[e]r will oblige
S[i]r
your
very hum[ble] Serv[an]t
Sam Wyatt
Albion Mill Apr[il] 28th
1788 -''
AD1583/3/21
Letter,
Pearson to
Wilson regarding receipt of bills
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
30 Apr 1788
Endorsed: Mr Pearson April. 30. 1788
Addressed to: Mr. Thomas Wilson, Chasewater near Truro, Cornwall
''Soho near Birmingham
30th April 1788
Mr. Thomas Wilson
Sir
We have received your favor of 25th instant
enclosing sundry Bills amounting in all to your credit £1000. 14
[shillings]. 11 [pence]
In settling lately with Robert Muir he allowed in Account the £2. 4
[shillings]. - due to Mrs. Worrall which is placed to your credit.
Please to pay her said £2. 4. -
Have not yet had any settlement with John Holt. - We
are Sir
Your most Ob[edien]t Servants
For Boulton & Watt
James Pearson
PS B[oulton]&W[att]
say they will write you themselves next post. -''
AD1583/3/22
Letters, Boulton to
Wilson regrding
various matters
Item
2 folios
Manuscript
4 May 1788
AD1583/3/22/1
Letter, Boulton to
Wilson regarding
various debtors, and other matters
Piece
1 folio
Manuscript
4 May 1788
Endorsed: Mr Boulton May. 4. 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, of Chase Water near Truro in,
Cornwall, via Bristol
Dear Sir
I have wrote you inclosed some account of the
Misfortunes of some of my Friends & the great inconveniences I am
likely to experience my Self all which I confirm. - And now let me
ask your advice & opineon respecting a Gent[lema]n who would think I
used him ill if he knew that I communicated a certain transaction to
any Man living, & therefore I must beg of you, both for his sake &
mine to be totaly Silent respecting it.
I believe I did intimate to you when I last saw you that I had lent
the D[e]p[u]ty Gov[eno]r 500£ which he offerd, when he asked for it,
to secure by a Mortgage on Freehold property, but when I paid the
Money for him in London he sent me his note of hand payable on
demand saying as he should not want it more than 12 Months he wished
to avoid the expence of writings & hoped that w[oul]d be
satisfactory to me - It is now about 13 Months since I lent him the
Money and as I am now in great want of it I am desireous he should
repay it but I must own I have my doubts & fears about him, & beg
you will favour me with your Confidential opineon of his ability &
your advice how I should act & depend upon my honour & prudence.
If you think it not improper you may speak of these
Manchester & London Convulsions & tell him you find it will
inconvenience me more than Fordyces Stoping did & you may even shew
him the inclosed letter to you, & observe his remarks.
I have wrote to him by this post & told him that I wish
him to provide me a Bill for it in the course of 2 Months as My
Necessities will require all the aid of my friends. -
If he had agreeable to his first proposal given me a Mortgage I
could have lodged that with a freind for the Money - but a note of
hand hath no solidity in it nor can I make any use of it.
My present alarms have induced me to write to Mr Fenton
to day (he being in arrears) & others.
I think you have one of the little Engines remaining Pray tell me
the size & the lowest price of it (at Bristol) without pumps or
boiler for I don't think ye boiler w[oul]d pay Car[ria]g[e] & I will
endeavour to find a Chap for it provided any saveing could be made
to a purchaser.
There was a large piece of Tin ore at Poldice that was
to have been sent to me, Lawson says it was sent but Murdock says
not. I wish you would enquire after it & send it.
The Irish mountain of Copper that you perhaps may have
seen mentiond lately in the News papers hath brought forth - a
Mouse: but I hear there is a new & great discovery of Copper in
Sweden however I have some reason to hope that it is a rumour only
void of truth & raised only by some disapointed Copper dealers.
If I should in ye end be disapointed in the Coinage it
will be a great Loss to me as Droz hath had already 500£ of me & I
have encounterd with new buildings & new apparatus that will cost me
near 3000£ more.
Adieu
I am ever Yours sincerely
Matthew Boulton
Soho 4 May 88''
AD1583/3/22/2
Letter, Boulton to
Wilson regarding
writ sued on him by the Romelli Company, and other matters
Piece
1 folio
Manuscript
4 May 1788
Endorsed: M Boulton May. 5 1788
''Soho
May 4th – 1788
Dear Sir
Your letter of ye 25th covering 3 Bills was acknowledged
by Pierson & I have waited some days to find an interval of health &
spirits in Mr Watt in order to consult & resolve upon what we think
is best to be done in respect to the Continuation of Chasewater
Mine; but no such opportunity hath yet occur'd & it must be delayed
a few days longer for I dont think it would be right to finaly
determine in a low spirited mood - From the little talk I had with
Mr Watt he seemd to be more inclined to stop than to go on, & said
he thought if we did go on for the benefit of the Country & to the
evident loss of our selves, that we ought to pay to Dr Withering, Mr
Hurd, Mr Hunt & Mr Richards what ever loss may arise from such going
on - As North downs seems to be so unwilling to stop I will vote for
their going on & Stoping Chase Water provided the Committee would be
half as kind to us as they offer to North Downs & I am sure it would
be advantageous to the Tin mines particularly as Huish [Hewas?] is
going to be worked. -
As to our making (to Chasewater) the allowance you mention (out of
our Saveings) I presume we shall make no difficulty about it,
provided the Merchants also give up a part of their profits but I
fear all will not be sufficient to prevent Loss. I am not insensible
to the distresses & inconveniences that will arise to many poor
people who are dependant on that Mine & would go great lengths to
mitigate their distress but I have not the devine power of feeding a
great multitude with five Barley loaves & a few Fishes besides you
may readily guess what all the out adventurers will say when it is
proposed to continue ye Mine at a certain Loss: however you shall
hear again from us on this subject. -
The principal purport of this Letter is to intimate to
you that we are not without our Miseries, distresses, & alarms in
this neighbourhood; but I dare not mention particulars at this
moment more than to say that the very greatest manufacturers of
Manchester have ----- that in consequence thereof some Bankers in
that neighbourhood are ----- & in consequence of such stopages some
great Houses in London are in a very wretched condition, & I fear
many failures will follow amongst the middle Class of Manufacturers
& traders an instance of which happend this morning at
Birm[in]g[ha]m.
The Commercial world now seems to be in as great aggitation as it
was in the year 1772 & I fear the effects will be more Violent. I
dont at present perceive that I am likely to loose any great Sum but
I shall be very greatly inconvenienced without I can raise 6 or 7
Thousand pounds in the Cource of one & two Months & even a part of
it in a fortnight. There are a number of Collateral circumstances
which aggravate the inconveniences that will fall upon me at this
time - Mr Watt hath lately remitted All his money to Scotland, & I
have lately purchased a considerable quantity of Copper at the
request of Mr Williams, in order to Clip the wings of a certain
person & prevent any offers being made to Govern[men]t at a low
price & thereby injure the Coinage Contract. Besides which I have
more than 45 Tons of Copper by me 20 of which was bought of the
Cornish M[eta]l. Co[mpany]. & 20 of the dukes at 70 & not an ounce
of either yet used - In short I shall be in a very few Weeks in
great want of Money & it is now impossible to borrow in London or
this neighbourhood as all confidence is fled, I must therefore apply
to every person I have Claim upon & collect all I can, for all will
be too little. I must therefore urge you to remit us all in your
power. I have been looking over our Books to see where I can ask for
any, but cannot see how we stand with the individual Mines in
Cornwall. It appears from your statement that you have upwards of
700£ of B[oulton]&W[att] money in your hands & though it would give
me great pain to urge or inconvenience you yet necessity knows no
bounds & I must beg youl do all you can for me.
A few days ago I was servd with a Copy of a writ (for the first time
in my Life) at the Suit of a long list of Counts, Marquises,
Chevaliers &c: commonly known by the name of the Romelli Comp[an]y
for a breach of Contract made between the Cornish Metal Co[mpany] on
ye one part & Mr ----- the Nephew of La Camus on the other. As I
presume some other Gent[leme]n in Cornwall have been servd with
similar processes, I beg you will acquaint the Committee & request
the fav[o]r of them to direct their Attorney to throw it into the
Common Mass & defend it. I advise them to be particularly cautious
how they put it in any ones power to furnish the pimps of our
adversaries with any list of the Names of the Members of the
Co[mpany] & I think it w[oul]d not be amiss to make a few transfers.
The Continuence of Chase water will in some degree
depend on the Activity, Skill & Attention of the Captains, & I hope
Neddy Rogers will do all in his power to make discoveries & conduct
the Mine with as much economy & as little Loss as possible.
Wishing you & Mrs. Wilson Health & Spirits & that you
may live to see more prosperous & happier times in Cornwall.
I remain
Dear Sir
Yours most sincerely
Matt[he]w Boulton''
AD1583/3/23
Letter, Boulton to
Wilson regarding
the gloomy commercial horizon
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
18 May 1788
Endorsed: Mr Boulton May 18 1788
Addressed to: Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson, Chase Water,Truro, Cornwall, Via
Bristol.
''Mr T: Wilson
Soho 18 May 1788
Dear Sir
I thank you for your fav[o]r of the 7th In[stan]t. I am
sorry to say the Commercial horizon looks darker & darker every day
what I feard in London will certainly come to pass & what I did not
expect at Birm[in]g[ha]m is come to pass - a considerable House in
Birm[in]g[ha]m is stoped & I at the request of the Partners & their
Cred[ito]rs have taken out a Commission of Bank[rupt]cy but I fear
the effects will not reach 5/s[hillings] in the pound however that
will depend on a Cred[ito]r in London who hath illegally possessed
himself of effects to the amount of many Thousands which will make
work for the Lawyers. At the same time these things deprive one of
money they bring on many demands that would otherwise have layn
dormant for a time I therefore feel myself under the necessity of
requesting you loose no opportunity of Collecting what money you can
& remitting all you can that I may be guarded against the worst.
I propose to set out to London on Wednesday morning & to
get there on Thursday evening for I am too much of an invalid to
travil all night I think it high time for Governm[en]t to make their
minds about the Copper Coinage. I think so in particular as I am
expending a great deal of money in preparations & may in the end be
disapointed.
I hope you & Neddy will keep a watchfull eye upon Chase
water that we may not fall into great errors with our Eyes shut &
thereby loose our Money & our reputation with our friends.
Please to write to me at Mr Matthews's untill I direct
otherwise.
My whole time for a fortnight past hath been taken up with calling &
attending meetings of ye Cred[ito]rs of L:G & Co[mpany] which is
unpleasant & unprofitable.
I hope this will find you & Mrs. Wilson in the full
enjoyment of peace & health under your own tranquil roof & the
Miners turnd their hands to other employ & reconciled to their fate.
Wishing you a long continuance of every blessing
I remain
Dear Sir
Yours most sincerely
Matt[he]w Boulton
pray be cautious
what you say to V: or about him least you get me into a scrape
thereby - I rec[ei]vd a letter from him dated ye 7th In[stan]t in
which he says ''every exertion of mine shall be used to furnish me
with the 500£ & hopes to succeed''
AD1583/3/24
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
North Downs, Chacewater and Wheal Maid mines
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
21 May 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt 21 May 1788
Addressed to: Mr Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, Via Bristol
''Birm[ingha]m May 21st 1788
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
Yours of 17th Covering 2 Bills value £690. -
. - came safe to hand. I am sorry to find so many hindrances to the
stopping of N[orth]. Downs, which is much to be wished for - am glad
to hear favourable accounts of Chacewater which I by no means wish
to stop unless Losing. Mr Wilkinson will be here this week & I will
talk to him about it. I dare say he has no other motives than the
fear of Loss. It is a pity it will be so long before they get into
Wheal Maid but I hope the ores will come to a better market - J.
Murdock came here on Saturday & is set to work at 14/ [shillings]
the 1st year & 1/ [shilling] p[e]r week advance in each year after
for 5 years - with 2/ [shillings] a week extra if sent to London. Mr
B[oulton]. goes to London on Saturday, his son is arrived in good
health, & setts out soon for Germany.
Mrs W[att]. joins in Comp[limen]ts to you & Mrs Wilson &
I remain
Dear Sir
Yours
Sincerely
James Watt''
AD1583/3/25
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
high prices for metals given at the ticketing
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
8 Jun 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt June 8 1788
Addressed to: Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall
''Birm[ingha]m June 8th 1788
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
Yesterday I rec[eive]d yours of the 4th
covering 3 Bills value £612. 19sh[illings]. 1d [penny] which shall
be placed to your credit. I am exceedingly sorry to hear of this ex
ticketing & it was lucky as you say that N[orth].D[owns]. was
previously Stopt. I think you should have some other opinions to
back Mr Mansfields, as for my own part I entirely agree with him.
Can the people in Cornwall be weak enough to see that these enormous
prices given at the ticketing cannot be given by any body that
expects to gain by the purchase, or that the moment the trade was
laid open the Metal Co[mpany] & Angelsea must & would sell at such
prices as would effectually knock up the mines or put it out of the
power of any but Malicious Madmen to buy the ores.
I shall attend to what you say about Knuckey with whom
you should have wrote however.
If you mean by what Morris was to pay for the Engine the
price of the materials, that I always understood rested with
yourself & I hope you will settle it when in wales, In regard to
premium the Engine was to be charged at the same price as others of
the power in places were coals are cheap, that is £5 for each horses
power and it is of the power of 11 horses as we reckon (or rather
more than 12 in reality) consequently will come to £55 a year. Mr
B[oulton]. wanted to beg of the £5 to which I have not yet consented
having suffered so much from needless abatements being made
precedents of. David Watson & his wife arrived yesterday - On
Tuesday morning I set out to meet Mr B[oulton]. on some business in
Cambridgeshire & shall be away about 10 days, I mention this for
your Government in coming here.
With Comp[limen]ts to Mrs Wilson I remain
Dear Sir
Your's sincerely
James Watt''
AD1583/3/26
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
Dr Withering's unwillingness to sell his share in Polgooth
Item
1 sheet
Manuscript
25 Jun 1788
''Birm[ingha]m June 25th 1788
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir,
I send inclosed our letter to Mr Daniel which please
read & deliver & try to procure payment of the ballance due us.
Doctor Withering will not sell his share in Polgooth, but will
willingly sell out of the Copper Company if you can find a
purchaser.
With Comp[limen]ts to Mrs Wilson I
remain Dear Sir
Your's sincerely
James
Watt''
AD1583/3/27
Letter,
Pearson to
Wilson regarding account for freight
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
10 Jul 1788
Endorsed: Mr Ja[me]s Pearson July 10 1788
Addressed to: Mr. Thomas Wilson
''Wheal Virgin
Adven[ture]rs To Boulton & Watt
For Freight from S[tour]Port to Bristol of Goods in June & September
1787} £3. - . 10 [pence]
Soho 10th July
1788
Mr. Thomas Wilson
Sir
Please to do the needful with the small
Account as above. - John Holt with much difficulty allowed his
Account to be debit with the 7/-[shillings]6 [pence] you advised
being due by him to Mrs. Worrall, have place same to your credit,
please therefore to pay her said 7/-6 which will oblige
Sir Your most Ob[edient] Servants
For Boulton & Watt
James Pearson''
AD1583/3/28
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
blocks of tin sold to France
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
18 Jul 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt 21 July 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, via
Bristol
Birm[ingha]m July 18th 1788
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
Hopeing your safe arrival &c I send you a
Copy of sales of 16 Blocks Tin in France in Mar[ch] 1788
52.1.19 in Falmouth & Rouen
lb [pound] 5118 Vicounty weight at £117. 10s[hillings] p[e]r 100
p[e]r 5/6 months Credit £6013. 13 [shillings]
Freight from Falmouth
£70.
1s[hilling]. 6d [pence]
Charges in Havre le Grace [Le Havre,
France]
[£]17. 2. -
freight from Havre to
Rouen
[£]13. 18. 3
Unloading
5 [shillings]. 8 [pence]
Entry duty on lb 5425 weight of mure at 75/ [shillings] p[e]r
100lb [£]203. 19. -
Octroy duty on ds [pennies?] at 15/9 p[e]r
100lb
[£]41. 3. -
Porterage &
weighing
[£]13. 10. -
Viconty duty on lb 5118 at
4s/6d
[£]11. 10. -
Warehouse at
40s[hillings]
[£]16. - . -
Brokerage at 1[shilling]/4[pence] p[e]r Cent & postages
[£]22. 10. -
Discount 3 p[e]r Cent for
Cash
[£]180. 8. -
Commission & delcredere 4 p[e]r C[en]t
[£]240. 10. 9
[subtotal] [£]836. 0. 6
[total]
£5177. 12. 6
at 29¼ = £210. 6s[hillings]. 0d [pence] Sterling for Cwt
[hundredweight] 52. 1 [quarter]. 19 [pounds] or above 80/
[shillings] p[e]r Cwt, a good market if we could sell as well now.
The insurance should however be added. In my opinion we should risk
the sales there, as there seems little chance at home, no mention
should be made of our intentions & our Correspondents particularly
request that Messrs Fox & Daubuz may remain Ignorant of the
transaction which may be done by making the Bills of Lading to our
orders Mr B[oulton]. is absent but will be home to morrow
night when hope to write you positively to Ship the Tin. They write
in their last that Joseph Banfield will Join in freighting a vessel
if need be, Query if we should send our whole quantity or only
risque part.
With Comp[limen]ts to Mrs Wilson & friends I
remain
Dear Sir
Your's sincerely
James Watt
Tin by last
advice from 115 to 116lb livres''
AD1583/3/29
Letter, Jones to
Wilson regarding
shipments of copper
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
26 Jul 1788
Endorsed: Mr W[illia]m Jones 26 July 1788
Addressed to: Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson, Chase Water, Truro, Cornwall
''Swansea 26th July 1788
Dear Sir /
I have this day rec[eive]d a Letter from
London saying that you have omitted to Credit 10 Tons. 1 C
[hundredweight]. 1 Q[uarte]r. 13 lb [pound] of Copper delivered to
you in Bristol - If so the Quantity now Shipped the 20th by the
Catherine, John James is so much more than your due, and you'll
write to London concerning the same, as I have not the materials
here to know the right thereof - I have Shipped as you requested the
34 Ton. 5 Cwt [hundredweight]. 0 Q[uarte]rs. 27 lb [pound] which you
make to be the Balance by the Acco[un]t left with me; be this as it
may it will be set right in London and we are the right side of the
Acco[un]t so much (or just right by your Acco[un]t) - In either Case
you'll be pleased to remit the Smelting Charges to Balance that
Acco[un]t, now fully delivered the Copper - and as the business ends
here & the Company's Books close now, I will thank you to remit
Bills to Snow Hill for the same of the Date they should be paid at,
I mean to become due at the time they should, one two or more
Months, date. this will fully settle the Acco[un]ts while I am in
Town, where I mean to be in Ten days - Capt[ai]n James only waits
for a fair Wind - your Copper on board &c all
well I am D[ea]r Sir
your
most obed[ien]t Serv[an]t
W Jones''
AD1583/3/30
Letter, Boulton & Watt to
Wilson regarding
riots at the weighings, and other matters
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
24 Jul 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt July 24 1788
Addressed to: Mr. Wilson, Truro, Cornwall
''Birm[ingha]m
July 24 1788
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
We have y[ou]rs of the 20th and impower you
to declare that we will not abide any longer by the association in
regard to the price of Tin as it appears to us to be a mere farce &
of no use, as even while it subsisted it was broke through by so
many to the loss of those who adhered to it. We have wrote this day
to our correspondent in Rouen to sell for us any quantity of Tin
form 50 to 100 blocks at a price we set, & to advise as soon as
possible (on this head please to observe the utmost secrecy) we will
wait his answer before we ship the tin, unless an opportunity offers
of shipping 50 bl[oc]ks which we will send upon chance. The rest to
lye till further orders, We shall ask Dr W[ithering]. tomorrow &
write you whether he will sell out of Polgooth. We understand the
offer to be £900 for 1/16 the seller reserving all tin & tin stuff
now got & at gross, if otherwise advise,
These riots at the weighings should be withstood by
superior force & let the rioters take the consequence we suppose the
Magistrates may order the military on that service, but if after all
the ores should be taken away from the C[ornish].M[etal].Co[mpany]
an action at law should immediately be brought by them against the
mine that permits it.
We approve in general of what you propose in regard to Hallamanin
but cannot read the share you proposed us to take (because you had
put the wafer on it as you often do) however lett it be as little as
possible so as answer the purpose as we cannot think of loading
ourselves with dead mines.
Your merchants are wrong in what they say respecting
Holland, as they are great manufacturers of pewter there and cannot
do it without much English Tin, the Malacca alone will not answer
them.
Please to say to the Tin associaters that so long as
they unanimous we should stand by them but if others break out we
must follow them.
We shall write again soon, meanwhile remain
Your Obed[ien]t Serv[an]ts
Boulton & Watt
In regard to
Cons[olidate]d Mines we must adhere to what we told you, to wit, the
third month to be deducted & the rest paid & desire you will give in
the account accordingly if not already done, shall write in a few
days concerning our Goods''
[the handwriting
is that of James Watt]
AD1583/3/31
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
blocks of tin to be sent to Birmingham
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
29 Jul 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt July 29 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, Via
Bristol
''Birm[ingha]m July 29th 1788
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir /
We rec[eive]d yours covering 3 bills value
£422. 16s[hillings]. 9d [pence] - which are at your credit we wrote
you lately what we had done in respect to sending tin to Rouen vizt
50 bl[oc]ks certain, or more if they could sell it & I think we
should wait their answer before we send off in the mean time, we
think you may send 30 bl[oc]ks here p[e]r soonest, If we were
certain of not sending more than 50 bl[oc]ks to R[oue]n we should
order 40 bl[oc]ks here & the rest to London to be shipt for some
forreign market Dr Withering sells his Tin with ours & runs part
risque Mr Hunt desires his 9 blocks may be sent here & will write to
Mr Riccard, Mr Hurd is not at home, It will be too late to write
about Coals & wait answer as it takes 14 days to receive one.
I hope you will have a favourable issue at Poldice, & as
you have the Judges opinions in your favour I hope you will by no
means give it up, otherwise all we have been doing is of no avail.
I remain D[ea]r Sir
Your's
Sincerely
James Watt''
AD1583/3/32
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
possible cessation of production at Chacewater mine
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
30 Jul 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt July 30 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, via
Bristol
''Birming[ha]m July 30th 1788
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
I have your's of 27th, I approve of your
letter to A M. Am sorry your sales turned out so unprofitable.
In relation to the consignment of the tin, we must
certainly sell at the market price what we send on specultaion but
we wrote to see if they could sell a greater quantity at the price
mentioned, otherwise we send only 50 bl[oc]ks, which you will please
dispatch immediately, by such conveyance as you can. Our friends are
Messrs Achard, freres & Comp[a]nie but if sent from Cornwall, still
think it would be best to make the bill of Lading deliverable to our
order, that it may not be known to whom we consign if this cannot be
done make it to their order. If any vessel goes straight to Rouen it
will save something but if not must be sent to Havre - I wrote
yesterday to send 30 bl[oc]ks here & the remainder of our & Dr
W[ithering]s tin must be sent to london for exportation to some
other forreign market, but this I cannot order at present Mr
B[oulton]. not being with me.
I suppose we must stop Chacewater at end of next quarter
without some thing very promising appears in the mine, as there will
be no struggling with a poor mine & a stagnated sale of Tin. please
say in your next at what price Tin is like to rule, for our
government. I believe we need scarcely ask Mr Wilkinsons consent to
the Stopping the Mine, that being already obtained however I wish
you would advise him, what at present occurs to us. I long to know
the result of your Thursdays meeting & hope they will bring an
action of damages against J.B. - We shall agree to the 1/8 in
Hallamanin provided you can get a majority of it, otherwise not as I
would not be concerned in working the mine.
I remain
Dear Sir
Your's sincerely
James
Watt''
AD1583/3/33
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
blocks of tin dispatched, and those in reserve
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
31 Jul 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt July 31 1788
Addressed to: Mr. Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, near Truro, Cornwall
''Mr Wilson
Birm[ingha]m July 31st 1788
Dear Sir
As I think there is no chance of the Messrs Achard
having sold so much tin at the price sent them I write them to day
that we send 50 bl[oc]ks positively & have otherwise disposed of the
rest, you will therefore take the proper measures for shipping them
by Swansea or direct as you can.
I think we may venture 10 bl[oc]ks to Glasgow which if
can be sent to liverpool will be most advantageous & if not cannot
should not send them at all. At liverpool Consign to Thomas Becket
with advice to us.
Our whole tin & Dr W[ithering]s is by your account 132 bl[oc]ks, of
which 50 to Rouen 30 here & 10 to Glasgow remains 42 which may be
sent to London p[e]r soonest & if no opportunity to Liverpool send
40 here - At London consign to Mr Matthews to whom we will give
directions where to ship it, no time sh[oul]d be lost in sending
that off otherwise we shall lose the opportunities of exporting it,
this season.
Please advise at what price you think we should sell
here as we are quite at a loss.
I remain
Dear Sir
Your's
sincerely
James Watt''
AD1583/3/34
Letter, Ann Watt to Wilson regarding valuation of goods to be
sold to Wilson
Item
1 large sheet
Manuscript
7 Aug 1788
Endorsed: Mrs Watt 7 Aug[u]st 1788
Addressed to: Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall
''A Valuation of
Household Goods, Furniture &c
Taken this 7th of July 1786 of Messrs Boulton and Watt's who has
agreed to sell the same to Thomas Wilson - as follows -
[here is given a
list of goods in the Western Parlour, the East Chamber, the Middle
Chamber, the West Chamber, the Eastern Parlour, the Kitchen, the
Back Kitchen, the Kitchen Chamber]
Birmingham Aug[u]st 7 1788
Your
favour inclosing the monthly accounts I received as Mr Watt had set
out The day before on a Journey. I sent them to Mr Boulton I am
extremely concerned to hear such dismal accounts of Cornwall but as
matters are so bad let us hope they will mend Mr W[att] markt with a
cross such things as he thought shoud be sent home Mr B[oulton]s new
bedsteads and the feather bed that belongs to it he wishes to be
sent 2 of the Best of the other featherbed with their bolsters &
Pillows the rugs & old blankets will do for packing all the Linen
and whatever els are in the drawers are to come home with the 3
manchester counterpanes if the best chest of drawers could be
carefully packed so as not to be destroyed it woud be a good a way
to send the linen in them I had a chest of drawers sent from holland
in that way every thing came safe the blue & white check curtains
that belongs to the four posted Deal Bed please to send home and
what ever else is X in The List they had Come by sea I should think
all the Blankets are also to be sent - inclosed I have sent you a
copy of the goods taken when I was in Cornwall in 82 what things Mr
B has added to it I dont know being in great haste I must only offer
my Best Comp[limen]ts & Wishes to you & Mrs W[ilson] Mr & Mrs
Murdock I am to set out to Meet Mr Watt at Buxton [Derbyshire] in a
few hours I forgot Mr B says he does not know the keys that belongs
to the drawer you therefore will cause them to be picked and get new
Keys made for them if you direct for Mr Watt at Buxton he will
receive it we will be there a fortnight or 3 weeks
I am
Dear Sir Sincerely
Yours
A Watt''
AD1583/3/35
Letter,
Roberts to
Wilson regarding payments to be made from ''Old Knuckey'' to his
wife
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
8 Aug 1788
Endorsed: Mr Roberts 8 Aug[u]st 1788
Addressed to: Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson, Chasewater, near Truro, Cornwall
''Soho.
Birmingham 8 Aug[us]t 1788
Mr Tho[ma]s
Wilson
Sir
Old Knuckey is at Work here at present, he
requests you will pay Nine Shillings p[e]r Week to his Wife. which I
will stop from him whilst he works for Messrs Boulton & Watt. I am
Sir very respectfully
Your Obed[ient] h[um]ble Serv[an]t
Jno [John] Roberts''
AD1583/3/36
Letter, Boulton & Watt to
Wilson regarding
tin and coal for Messrs Achard &c, Rouen, France
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
19 Aug 1788
Endorsed: Boulton & Watt 19 Aug[u]st 1788
''Mr. Thomas
Wilson, Chacewater
Sir
We are favoured with your Letter of the 14th Instant, inclosing Bill
of Lading of 53 Blocks of Tin, shipp'd for our Account & Risk on the
Margaret, C Hicks for Swansea to Mr. Will[ia]m Jones; which We have
duly noted and given Mr. Jones our directions, for the expediting
this Tin to Rouen.
We observe your Intentions of shipping of
the remaining 70 from C[hace]:water - 40 to Bristol, & 30 to London
which we shall be glad to learn soon, you have effected.
Messrs Achard Brothers & Co[mpany] of Rouen, having
transmitted us Proforma Account of Sale in Roüen of a Cargo of Coal
we send you annexed a Transcript thereof as also of the remarks
which they make on the Subject - for your Speculation & Government
in Case you think proper to undertake any thing in the
matter. And we are
Sir
Your most Obed[ien]t h[um]ble Serv[an]ts
Boulton & Watt
Soho -
Birmingh[a]m
19th Aug[ust]: 1788
[here is given a
''Proforma Account of Sale and N[et]t P[roduc]t in Rouen of a Cargo
of Coal'']
The Ship must
be filled entirely with Coal, because the Entry Duty is paid on the
Gage of the Ship and the Custom house has no regard to the remainder
of the Cargo. thus a ship of 100 Tons will pay £900 - -
but you can order the Tin to be separate from the Coal & thus
Coal will pay only the room it keeps in the Ship -
The charges being extremely high on Coal, the Nett Produce is
always extreamly trifling, & does not deserve your Attention, unless
you should have Coalmines of your own, & peculiar reasons, in order
to encrease your Consumption, but in this Case it is absolutely
necessary, of loading a full Ship, without any other kind of Goods.
Our proforma Account is not extreamly exact, because We have never
sold any english Coal, but a little Trial being of no Consequence,
will furnish to you once more every necessary detail: the Sale of it
is very troublesome''
AD1583/3/37
Letter, Boulton to
Wilson enclosing
letter to R A Daniel
Item
2 folios
Manuscript
21 Aug 1788
AD1583/3/37/1
Letter, Boulton to
Wilson regarding
letter to R A Daniel, and other matters
Piece
1 folio
Manuscript
21 Aug 1788
Endorsed: Mr Boulton 21 Aug[u]st 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chasewater, near Truro, Cornwall
''Soho Aug[us]t 21 – 1788
Dear Sir
I have y[ou]rs of 2[n]d - 3[r]d & 16 In[stan]t but am
too much indisposed & too much fateagued w[i]th Company & business
to enter into many particulars.
I have lately wrote very fully to Mr Pitt & I was just going to seal
it when your picture of the Cornish distresses arived & as it
accorded with what I had said in my letter I inclosed & sent it, but
have not heard one tittle in answer or anything more respecting the
Coinage. If it's, after all, to be done in the Tower you may depend
on it they will not coin 300 Ton between ye present & the year 1790
whereas I would engage to do them 1200 Ton before the end of next
year if I was now possessed of the order and in order to have it in
my power to make such an Offer I have put my self to the expence of
between 2 & 3 Thous[an]d pounds in the erection of Buildings, 3 Fire
Engines, & 14 presses for the purpose besides a heavy expence that
will fall upon me in consequence of bringing over Mon[sieu]r Droz &
after all I now begin to fear I shall be left in the lurch.
I have herewith wrote to Mr Daniel (a press Copy of
w[hi]ch] I send you for your governm[en]t) Mr. Watt & my Self are
resolved to abide by the first proposal for this Year & not make any
aditional abatement but if we grant them any other indulgence let it
be in allowing them a little time for paying the Money if you think
it necessary.
I have not heard from either of the Mr Morriss such
persons ought only to be agreed with in Slump sums without going
into particulars. I will write to them as soon as its in my power
but I am quite broke down in health & Spirits haveing too much
business upon my mind & not having it in my power to go to Buxton or
any where else for health or relaxation.
I expect Mr Watt home next week hopeing he will be mended by Buxton.
Pray when may we expect to receive some of our Tin here. I could
have sold some had it been here, but I fear others will now be at
Market before us.
I now perceive the Cornish Gent[leme]n will sell the whole of their
Tin for less money than they might have sold a part of it for, had
they acted wisely & unaminously & are in a fair way of ruining the
county by their own oppositions.
I hope Mr Rashley [Rashleigh] will remove every Law Case from the
County Court to that of Kings bench.
Pray what have you done about ye 1/8 of Hallamaning.
We leave the standing or falling of Chase water [Chacewater mine] to
you in a great degree but endeavour to guard us against great
losses.
Every good wish attends you Mrs. Wilson & Family
remaining ever
D[ea]r S[i]r
Yours sincerely
Matt[he]w Boulton''
AD1583/3/37/2
Letter press copy of letter, Boulton to
Daniel regarding
abatement for Consolidated Mines
Piece
2 large sheets
Manuscript
21 Aug 1788
AD1583/3/38
Letter,
Roberts to
Wilson regarding payments to be made to Stephen Knuckey's wife
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
23 Aug 1788
Endorsed: Jno [John] Roberts 23 Aug[u]st 1788
Addressed to: Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson, Chasewater, near Truro,
Cornwall
''Soho.
Birmingham 23 Aug[us]t 1788.
Mr Wilson.
Sir
I intended to express by my last
Letter to you that you were to pay Stephen Knuckey's wife 9/
[shillings] p[e]r Week. to commence the Week I wrote, I have stop'd
him for three Weeks to day - he is a slow hand - & I am Sir
Your Obed[ien]t h[um]ble Serv[an]t
Jno Roberts
When he leaves Soho, I shall
inform you - I do not
think he will stay long''
AD1583/3/39
Letters,
Roberts to
Wilson and copies of letters regarding abatement for Consolidated
Mines
Item
5 folios
Manuscript
Aug-Sep 1788
AD1583/3/39/1
Letter,
Roberts to
Wilson enclosing copies of letters regarding requested abatement for
Consols
Piece
1 folio
Manuscript
1 Sep 1788
Endorsed: Jno [John] Roberst Sep[tembe]r 1 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chasewater, near Truro, Cornwall
''Soho,
Birmingham 1st Sept[embe]r 1788
Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson
Sir
Mr Boulton being particularly engaged,
desires me to inform you, that he sends herewith a Copy of Mr R. A.
Daniels last Letter to him. With Mr B[oulton]'s Answer thereto, &
Extracts from different Letters relating to the same Subject to
which he refers you, as well as to the Originals in your possession.
I am also desired to say that after due & deliberate consideration
Messrs Boulton & Watt cannot agree upon any other terms than those
fixed in the last Letter to Mr R. A. Daniel & they beg you will make
their determination known to the Adv[enture]rs & settle it agreable
thereto, in a friendly a Manner as possible - I am Sir
Your most Obed[ien]t h[um]ble Serv[an]t
Jno Roberts''
AD1583/3/39/2
Copy of
Daniels to
Boulton regarding abatement for Consolidated Mines, Gwennap
Piece
1 folio
Manuscript
26 Aug 1788
Endorsed: Letters & Copies to & from R. A Daniell, on
Wh[ea]l Virgin Abatement in Aug[u]st & Sep[tembe]r 1788
Copy
of Mr R. A. Daniel's Letter to Mr Boulton
Dear Sir
I am duly favored by your Letter of 21st
Aug[us]t by which I am extremely sorry to observe the Unwillingness
you evince to grant the request respecting our Abatements at the
Consolidated Mines, which I confess I have thought so reasonable.
Had my Opinion been otherwise I assure you I would not
have given you one moment of trouble on the occasion & I flatter
myself you will excuse the liberty I take in again addressing you.
As to the giving up of the whole of your savings to the
Poldice Adv[enture]rs I never can look on I as a donation to the
Consols; At the time it was done, I will venture to assert that it
was not esteemed such nor ever look'd upon in that light by us, &
untill I received your Letter of the 21st Ins[tan]t I never
conceived it possible that it could have been a condition on your
giving up the Poldice Savings, that the Wheal Virgin Adventurers
should not apply to you for any Abatement, At least I think from
delicacy the Wh[ea]l Virgin Adv[enture]rs should have been consulted
on the Occasion, & they should have understood such to have been the
Case at the time. - they would not have relyed so much on the
expectation of your favor as they now have done -
At the time the Consolidated Mines were sate to work,
Copper Mining was at a very low Ebb in Cornwall, with a spirit at
that time unknown here, The Adv[enture]rs engaged to lay out nearly
£35000 in the undertaking - Your Engines were at that time new in
this County & the Success which for a while attended the concern was
an inducement to other Mines being sate to Work, & consequently more
fire Engines employed, till from an increasing quantity of Copper
Ores being brought to Market the Standard was affected & has
consequently reduced this County to its present unhappy situation.
Under the present Circumstances of a very low Standard &
a poor Mine it is impossible for the Adventurers in the Consolidated
Mines to lay out considerable Sums in seeking new discoveries, &
without such Measures are pursued you are well acquainted with the
Event. - The Merchants a considerable time since came forward &
readily agreed to a reduction of 5 p[e]r C[en]t on all Goods
supplied by them - An Application to you Sir, we thought most likely
in the present situation of things to be attended with the desired
Effect, & when you consider the Sums of Money lately expended by us,
the enormous debt still due from us to Mr Wilkinson & the
Coalbrookdale Co[mpany] taking in the same view the present state of
the Mines. & when I assure you upon my Honor, I never one Moment
thought that you meant to claim the Money now uncharged, I flatter
myself you will no longer refuse to grant the favor desired -
I admit the new Engine now built at Wheal Maid to be the
most powerful perhaps in the World, but you will please consider the
Expences attending the building of it were at least £10000 & had we
foreseen the Misfortunes that have attended the Copper Trade it
never would have been undertaken - The loss sustained by building so
large a Boiler for the Engine with the consequent Charges you most
recollect was very considerable & we understood your premiums for
the 2 first Months were given up as a Compensation on that Acc[oun]t
- I beg my best respects to Mr Watt.
I am Dear Sir
Your Obliged &
Obed[ien]t h[um]ble
Serv[an]t
Signed -
R. A. Daniel
Truro 26th Aug[us]t 1788''
AD1583/3/39/3
Letter press copy of extract from letter, Boulton to
Daniel
Piece
1 folio
Manuscript
2 Sep 1788
[Extract from
Boulton to R A Daniel of regarding savings given up to the Poldice
Adventurers]
AD1583/3/39/4
Letter press copy of extracts from correspondence
Piece
1 folio
Manuscript
c1786
[Extracts from:
Boulton & Watt? to Wilson of July 25th 1786 concerning Wheal Virgin,
Poldice and Consolidated Mines, with large fragments of text
illegible; Wilson to R A Daniel of August 2nd 1786; Wilson to
Boulton & Watt? of 9th August 1786. Letters regarding abatement for
Consolidated Mines and water at Wheal Virgin]
AD1583/3/39/5
Letter press copy of extracts from correspondence
Piece
1 folio
Manuscript
c1786
[Extracts from:
Wilson to Boulton & Watt? of July 13th 1786?, with large fragments
of text illegible; Boulton & Watt to Wilson of July 22nd 1786;
Wilson? to John Vivian of 1st August 1786?; Boulton & Watt to Wilson
of 1st August 1786?, with large fragments of text illegible. Letters
regarding concession made to Poldice in order to save Wheal Virgin
from Poldice water]
AD1583/3/39/6
Letter press copy of extract from letter, Boulton to
Daniel
Piece
1 folio
Manuscript
c1788
[Extract from
Matthew Boulton to R A Daniel? regarding the latter's request for an
abatement for Consolidated Mines]
AD1583/3/40
Letter,
Roberts to
Wilson regarding ''Old Knuckey'' leaving Boulton & Watt
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
6 Sep 1788
Endorsed: Jno [John] Roberts Sep[tembe]r 6 1788
Addressed to: Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson, Chasewater, near Truro, Cornwall
''Soho. Birmingham 6
Sept[embe]r 1788
Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson
Sir
Old Knuckey is to leave Messrs
Boulton & Watt this day Week - & as he may want a few shillings to
Carry him on - I do not intend to Stop Any Money next Week -
therefore you will please pay his Wife no more after this Day -
Saturday 6th Sept[embe]r - I am Sir
Your Most Obed[ien]t Serv[an]t
Jno Roberts''
AD1583/3/41
Letter,
Hodges and
Lawson to Wilson regarding goods ordered by Mr Wilson
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
9-10 Sep 1788
Endorsed: Jno [John] Hodges 9 Sep[tembe]r 1788
Addressed to: Mr. Thomas Wilson, Chace Water, near Truro, Cornwall
''Mr. Tho[ma]s
Wilson
Sir
I have at length forwarded the Goods p[e]r
Waggon which you was pleased to make choice of when here. I am sorry
they have been so long in getting ready but assure you the delay
could not be avoided and that thro' the trouble and difficulty of
getting the Box mounted &c - this and ye Bracelet I am fearful will
exceed your expectations in charge but it is no more than what I
have paid the workman and he reckons the Box (in particular) a bad
Job in regard to his charging so low. However as things are well
mounted hope you will be satisfied therewith -
I am very
Respectfully
Your
obed[ient] h[um]ble Servant
P[er] M Boulton.
John Hodges.
Soho 9 Sept[ember] 1788
PS. Mr Lawson
will inform about the Tea Pot sent by his order''
[here gives
table of goods bought of Matthew Boulton by Thomas Wilson]
''Soho 10th Sept[embe]r 1788
Dear Sir
At last the things are sent off for in fact I had begun
to despair of ever getting them done, I find Mr Hodges has charged
you with the snuffers & pan which are for Miss Bevan, as I order'd
them them at the same time as I did your Sugar Bason, which I hope,
will please, I was at Birming[ha]m when they were sent otherways I
should have sent two or three trifling things among which was a
Knife for Mrs Plummer, but I hope I shall find an opportunity of
sending them sometime soo, Miss Bevan will I hope excuse m not
sending her things sooner - as I dare say both you & her thought I
had forgot my old friends - but I shall write to her in a few days
to excuse myself - Miss B[evan] will please to settle with you for
the things, which you can either plase to my account or settle as
your own with Mr Boulton - no further news ab[ou]t the Coinage but
still going on as usual) with best Comp[limen]ts to all friends &
Love to my second Mother & all the Family - I remain - Dear
Sir
yours Sincerely
James Lawson''
AD1583/3/42
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
Poldice abatement, and other matters
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
17 Sep 1788
Endorsed:
Mr Watt Sep[tembe]r 17 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, via
Bristol
''Birmingham September 17th 1788
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
We are favoured with your several letters
covering the monthly acc[oun]t & invoices of Tin, we have also
rec[eive]d from Mr Jones, Bills of Lading for the tin shipped for
Rouen. We find by the invoices that we have 224 Cwt [hundredweight].
1 [quarter]. 8 lb [pound] of Tin, besides the 53 bl[oc]ks sent to
Rouen, which you say came wholly from Polgooth, so thus the rest
must be from Chacewater, yet in your account for that mine you
charge only 218 Cwt. 1. 4 lb. The best way of clearing up this will
be to send a general acc[oun]t of Tin D[ebto]r & C[redito]r
specifying the mines from which it was received & where sent - I
hear of Tin from Polgooth for Dr Withering, how was it disposed of?
In future Dr W[ithering]s tin is to go with ours in one acc[oun]t
only distinguishing Dr Ws share & advising him as usual how much we
receive on his account. We find that at some price we could sell all
our tin at Birmingham but could not do so without Clashing with our
friends Foxes interest, and our own as our respective agents might
attempt to under sell each other, we wish therefore to place
confidence in the Messrs F[oxe]s & to fix the price between us
rather than leave it to agents, but as they Mess[rs] F[oxes] are not
on this Spot it might be proper for them to give their Agents
directions to sell with us for the best the market can yield,
Opposition cannot fail to be injurious to both parties. We wish to
know the annual amount of the Goods or Materials put into
C[hace]water by the merchants on which it was proposed they sh[oul]d
allow 5 p[e]r Cent.
We shall send you power of Attorney in a few days.
You shall have no doubt heard of the India sales, we hear 1700 tons
price 74/ [shillings] for cake. Query why copper was offerd lower to
E[ast]I[ndia].Co[mpany]. than to Government, We have no doubts but
Mr W[illia]ms had good reasons for refusing the B[oulton &] W[att]
Co[mpany']s offer as we can see very bad consequences which would
have ensued.
We have rec[eive]d another letter from Mr A Daniel still denying
that he ever heard that Poldice abatement was on acc[oun]t of wheal
Virgin & repeating other arguments, & that you never delivered
either to him or his Father any such message that he remembers This
we must insist upon your clearing up at the account, and informing
them that we will not make any other abatement than what we have
done, as we now see plainly that such abatement must be desired so
earnestly for some other purpose than the ostensible one, and
because we think we have already gone too far, considering that we
never should have consented to the abatement on Poldice except on
the acc[oun]t of the Consols, indeed it must be plain to every one
Who thinks we have common sense that we could have no other motive,
You will therefore please make a peremptory demand of the arrears
with the abatement of every third month now past in terms of your
conversation with Mr. A. Daniel. The demurs and arguments Which have
passed on this affair, & the turning our well intended concession to
Poldice to our disadvantage have had the effect of makeing us
resolve never in future to grant abatements to any mine whatever may
be the consequence, lest you should not have kept Copies of your
letters we shall send your letter wherein you say that you had
informed Messrs Daniels.
I have had my health better since my return from Buxton
than I had in the preceding part of the Summer though not much to
bragg of, for which I give no credit to Buxton water, but to air
exercise & good weather.
With Comp[limen]ts to Mrs Wilson & other friends in
w[hi]ch Mr Boulton and Mrs W[att] joins I remain
Dear Sir
Yours sincerely
James Watt''
AD1583/3/43
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
the giving up of savings and dues
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
20 Sep 1788
Endorsed:
Mr Watt Sep[tembe]r 20 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, Via
Bristol
''Birm[ingha]m Sep[tembe]r 20th 1788
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
I have yours of the 17th by what
accident you have not rec[eive]d advice of the Bills £545. 9
[shillings]. 1 [penny] coming safe to hand, I cannot tell, either Mr
Pearson or Mr B[oulton] having written to you, I shall examine into
it lest a letter has miscarried; I think you are well quit of the
Grumblers. In relation to our giving up 1/3 savings I shall consult
with Mr B. about it, but think nothing can be done until you have
settled finally with Mr Daniel. I also doubt much if L[or]d Falmouth
will give up the whole dues, or the bounders theirs these things
sh[oul]d be established first; but at any rate while the losses are
so small I think there is little claim for abatement, and I dont
know that we have granted any but where the losses were much
greater. I have barely time to overtake the Post & remain in
haste Dear Sir
Your's
sincerely
James Watt''
AD1583/3/44
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
engine at Wheal Elvan, and other matters
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
25 Sep 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt Sep[tembe]r 25 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall
''Birm[ingha]m
Sep[tembe]r 25th 1788
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
I have y[ou]rs of the 20th & 22[n]d, I
advised you in my last that the bills amissing were duely received
but by some mistake between Mr Bolton & Mr Pearson, you were not
advised though Mr B[oulton] told me you were. - We can say nor do
nothing in regard to Chacewater abatement not even consider of the
propriety untill Consols affair is settled.
In respect to the house we give you full power to do as
you see best. The Tin business we shall talk over with Mr Wilkinson
& advise, you ask us to advance for you & put the Wafer upon the sum
or part.
I write in haste to overtake the post, I am going to
Manchester for a few days & probably you may not hear from me again.
before my return.
In regard to Wheal Elvan, I cannot well decide for want
of knowing circumstances, but unless they have smaller working
barrels by then, it appears that it would be best to alter the
leverage, otherwise not. However I would implicitly do what
W[illiam]M[urdock] advises as he is on the spot & perfectly capable
of deciding.
Yours Sincerely
James
Watt''
AD1583/3/45
Letter, Boulton to
Wilson and copy
of Boulton to Daniel, abatement for Consols
Item
3 folios and 1 sheet
Manuscript
1 Oct 1788
AD1583/3/45/1
Letter, Boulton to
Wilson regarding
abatement requested by Daniel, and other matters
Piece
1 large sheet
Manuscript
1 Oct 1788
''Soho near Birmingham
1st October 1788
Mr. Thomas Wilson
Sir
We have received your favor of 26 Ult[im]o
enclosing two Bills value together £155. - . - being for half a
years dividend due from the Cornish Metal Company at the 1st
Ult[im]o at 7¾ p[e]r Cent.
In Monthly Account for August you enter £104. 12 [shillings]. 8
[pence] the 4 August w[hi]ch you call Savings from Wheal Gons
Adv[enture]rs to the end June, but which is only up to the end of
May. -
[this part from hereon being written in a more hurried hand and
presumably at a later point]
I am sorry to tell you I am much indisposed & that Dr
Withering is certain their are more concretions formd in my left
Kidney however I must grin & abide it.
I know not what to say to Mr Wilkinsons plan of establishing a
smelting House for Tin I suspect it is not very profitable & I must
own I wish to live in peace & harmony with all my friends &
Connections in Cornwall which I fear such a plan would be
distructive of: however I should like to see calculations & all the
necessary data to form an opinion upon.
The indulgence to Messrs G C Fox & sons we agree to with
pleasure. I beg youl lay the whole that hath passed between us & Mr
Daniel before the adventurers with the origenal letters & for the
sake of distinctness draw red ink lines under those sentances we
have quoted - I am of Mr Vivians opineon respecting Lord Falm[out]hs
abatement in loosing quarters only & I think something should be
done by us but as Mr Watt is now at Manchester I shall wave the
subject till he returns.
I conceive Poldice Shares are evidently not worth more than the
property upon the surface, valued at a low rate, as I know not where
purchasers can be found for the Engines.
Q[ue]r[y] will the Earl Family, if they give up their Shares, also
give up their dues to such adventurers as would run the risk of
Carrying on the Mine for the good of the Country. If they will I
think it should be carried on until experience shews it cannot go on
without Loss.
I am glad to hear that you are to have Mr Phillips's place as I
always shall to hear of every good that befalls you.
I herewith send you a Copy of Mr Daniels last letter & a
Copy of my answer wrote this day in order that you may know of every
circumstance & sentiment that hath passed.
I also send you a Copy of Capt[ai]n G. Simmons letter & beg youl
give us your opineon by return of post whether they have been
lately, & at present, continualy loosing in those Mines.
We wish to hear of all the News & sentiments circulated in Cornwall
as often as conv[enien]t to you.
I beg youl pack up my Telescope with a set of large
Mahogany 3 legs that belongd to the Circumferator & likewise send me
my Book of drawings with the additional ones of North Downs - You
may either send them to London or direct to Birm[in]g[ha]m by the
most expeditous Wagon.
I believe Mr Watt wrote you to agree w[i]th Capt[ai]n Malcome about
the House.
I know I have something more to write to you but I cant recollect my
self at this time.
My best respects to Your better half & believe me
I am
Dear Sir
Yours most sincerely
Matt[he]w Boulton
I hear nothing
about ye Coinage from the Ministers I have therefore some
inclination to strike Ten Thousand halfpence, Gild the Surface to
prevent Tarnishing & put each into a round lined Box & sell them for
one Shilling each with a printed note by which the Country will
become more Clamorous for such a Coinage & if the Ministers should
never employ me it will be a record of what was offerd them''
AD1583/3/45/2
Copy of letter,
Daniel to
Boulton regarding abatement requested for Consolidated Mines
Piece
1 folio
Manuscript
12 Sep 1788
''Copy of Letter
from R A. Daniel Esq[ui]r[e] to Mr. B[oulton] -
Truro 12 Sept[embe]r 1788
Matthew Boulton Esq[ui]r[e]
Dear Sir
It gives me extreme
pain again to address you on the old subject of a trifling Abatement
to the Consolidated Mines which your Letter of the 2nd Ins[tan]t
obliges me to -
The Extracts from Letters which you have
inclosed, I never before saw or heard of except that to me which I
believe was subsequent to the stopping of Poldice & you may be
assured that neither my Father or myself have the least recollection
of having ever received such Message from Mr Wilson as the one
quoted in his Letter to you bearing date 9th Aug[us]t 1786 - And I
again declare that such Conditions as you speak of respecting
Poldice Mine are altogether new to me. I cannot therefore conceive
those quotations to be in the least assisting to your Arguments
against the abatement required -
To draw off your Attention from Matters of
much greater Moment I am sure must be extremely irksome to you. I
feel that it is so & therefore I am sorry for it, but considering
the slightness of the requisition which is now made to you & knowing
your general Character so well as I flatter myself I do, I cease to
doubt the possibility of your refusing it - But the Idea thrown out
by your last Letter surprises me exceedingly that the setting the
Consolidated Mines to work has reduced the County to its present
unhappy Situation -
This is an Argument that I cannot admit for
it is a fact generally understood that there Mines were set to Work
at a time when the County required it - The Standard given for Ores
years afterwards justifies my Assertion -
I cannot conclude without again repeating
that from my Conversation both with yourself & Mr Wilson, I was
fully satisfied in my own Mind that you were contented with what was
done respecting the payment of the Premium at the Consols - had it
not been so it should not have been as it now is - Your Acquiescence
will afford singular pleasure -
Permit me once more to urge to you how very
small the Pitition which is now made amounts to & that your
Acquiescence will afford sigular Pleasure & to assure you that if
you accede to the request it Will be heartily acknowledged by
Dear Sir
Your Most Obliged & Obed[ient] Serv[an]t
Signed R A. Daniel''
AD1583/3/45/3
Letter press copy, Boulton to
Daniel regarding
abatement for Consolidated Mines
Piece
1 folio and 1 sheet
Manuscript
1 Oct 1788
[Matthew Boulton
to R A Daniel of 1st Oct 1788 regarding the latter's request for an
abatement for Consolidated Mines]
AD1583/3/46
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
abatement for Consolidated Mines, and other matters
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
9 Oct 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt Oct[obe]r 9 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, via
Bristol
''Bir[mingha]m Oct[obe]r 9th 1788
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
We have yours of the 3[r]d & 4th with the
accounts. In regard to the tin smelting, it w[oul]d be wrong in us
to attempt it, as we must thereby disoblige our best friends and for
my own part I find I have cares enough without engaging in new ones,
Mr Wilkinson seems quite off it now he finds he cannot have some man
of weight in Cornwall to back him, however if spoke of you may make
a merit of our declining it. - I have this day wrote an answer to Mr
D[aniel']s last letter to Mr B[oulton]. in which I have entered into
no arguments but simply said we will go no farther than the giving
up every 3[r]d month for the year 1788 to the Consols.
We have not yet received the C[ornish]M[etal]Co[mpany] accounts from
Mr Vivian - J.W seems to have made a bad affair of this Wheal
Peever. I shall speak to Dr Withering as you desire, Morris has
wrote & shall be wrote to, We cannot think of taking any more in
Poldice without more appear to support it, say Wh[eal] V[irgin]
adv[enture]rs in general.
We shall write to U[nited] Mines some what as you
advise. I know nothing about the Wh[eal] Crenver affair shall
consult Mr B. - Mr B will do nothing in coining until he has had a
final answer from Ministry, we shall write again soon
meanwhile I remain
Dear Sir
Your's sincerely
James Watt''
AD1583/3/47
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
various mines
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
13 Oct 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt Oct[obe]r 13 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, via
Bristol
''Birm[ingha]m Oc[tobe]r 13th 1788
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
We have received the acc[oun]ts of
C[ornish]M[etal] C[ompany] & are glad to see that affairs are
mending, which we hope will continue, though we see little prospect
yet of being able to raise the price of ores & without which we fear
the mines must mostly perish. In respect to Hallamanin neither Mr
Wilkinson nor Mr Williams will take more than a small share & it
would be folly in us under these circumstances to Engage in it.
These Gentlemens objection lies as to management & the furnishing
materials which they urge ought to be from those who will serve
cheapest & Mr V[ivian]s Co[mpany] will not engage in it without they
supply the materials.
I could not write you in time you about Mr Harris as Mr
B[oulton] was absent when I wrote last & I have been much indisposed
by headaches. Mr B[oulton]. says that he is sure that he made no
other promise than the General one, that such mines as would stop
till the stock of the Company was within due bounds & the produce of
Cornwall brought under the 3000 tons, should not pay for the
forking, Now Crenver adv[enture]rs have paid no regard to either of
these, but very soon after the Comp[anie]s & the miners, have paid a
large sum to N[orth]. Downs & Dolcoath for stopping have set their
mine agoing again, & not content with the mischief which the
encrease of produce occasions, sell their ores or great part of them
to the ex comp[an]ys & thereby undo as far as is in their power, all
that we & other friends to the County have been doing for its
benefit, such things we cannot countenance nor favour without
betraying those mines who act fairly & also hurting our own interest
therefore we must insist on being paid our full dues, both for the
time of forking & working & in general any mines, who sell any part
of their ores to the ex Companies need hope for no favour from us.
This may also serve for an answer to the united mines to whom
however we shall write. I expect the issue of the Law suits will
settle N[orth]. Downs schemes of selling to Ex Co[mpanie]s & in
regard to the Addit I think they should be looked after.
I understand Tin has been offered to purch[ase]rs here at 72/
[shillings] delivered at Bristol & there is every reason to expect
that next coinage it will be sold at 60 in Cornwall, they had better
have brought it to that at once.
Mr B[oulton]. is rather better of his complaint, & Mr
Wilkinson will continue in this neighbourhood for a week.
With Comp[limen]ts to Mrs Wilson I remain
Dear Sir
Yours Sincerely
James Watt''
AD1583/3/48
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
boiler at Wheal Crenver
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
31 Oct 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt 31 Oct[obe]r 1788.
Addressed to: Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall,
Via Bristol.
''Birm[ingha]m Octo[be]r 31st 1788.
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
We have your's of the 26th, and must say
that the Letter of Wheal Crenver adv[enture]rs is a curious one as
you term it, As to the affair of the Boiler we are entirely ignorant
of every Circumstance concerning it, but there is no doubt, that if
our plans & directions had been implicitly followed it would have
answered as well as others, but if the adv[enture]rs or their
Captains take upon them to make alterations, or to persuade our
people, or even ourselves, to do so they must abide by the
consequences. At any rate we never took upon us to guarantee the
performance either of the boiler or Engine. And at any rate their
long aquiescence cuts off all remedy from us even if we had been
bound before. We certainly shall not submit to any deduction on that
acc[oun]t nor on any other while they continue to act so as to
distress the rest of the mines. It will be proper however that you
endeavour by fair arguments to set the matter to rights, & recall
their memory that they have had abatements when the state of the
mine did not Authorize it. I cannot give you an answer about the tin
this post as we have just rec[eive]d the last & have not sold a
single bl[oc]k yet, nor do we know what to sell at, but must sell in
single Bl[oc]ks as the factors will not fix any price, therefore we
will have nothing to do with them, shall write you on this subject
on Sunday or Monday - Trade in this town is exceedingly dull, never
was more so. Tin will certainly fall below 60/ [shillings] unless
something is done to prevent it - and nothing will do except a Tin
comp[an]y & keeping back the over plus quantity - You may send 10
bl[oc]ks to Liverpool to be forwarded to Glasgow, if any vessel
occur for Liverpool with you.
I am exceedingly sorry to hear of your illness but hope
it will do you good in the end.
With comp[limen]ts to Mrs Wilson, I remain
D[ea]r
Sir
Your's sincerely
James Watt''
AD1583/3/49
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
prices for tin
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
2 Nov 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt Nov[embe]r 2 1788.
Addressed to: Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, via
Bristol.
''Birm[ingha]m
Nov[embe]r 2[n]d 1788
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
We have tried the market with our tin here &
find the retail price is 76/ [shillings] with 6 mo[nth]s Credit from
which deduct 5 p[e]r Cent for ye Credit & 5 per Cent for Merch[an]ts
profits leaves about 70/ & 7/[shillings]3d [pence] or say 7/6
expence of bringing tin here leaves 62/6 in Cornwall or rather about
61/ ready money allowing for loss of time in coming. We have offered
our tin here at 71/ to a merch[an]t & if he does not accept shall
sell at that price or lower in retail for sell we will over their
backs.
As to the tin with you we have not been able to think of
any destination yet, Sales are small here & London much over stockt,
but if you can sell at 63/ with you or even at 60/ on short credit
please do it as the last will be a better sale than we can make as
in all probability it would be at 55/ before it could come here were
there sale, Mr Wilkinson would have sold his here at 58/ if
we had not dissuaded him & after all it may be the best way to bring
matters to a crisis, to lower the price very much & cure your
Cornish blocks of seeking this market.
I shall write again to morrow or next day.
Your's sincerely
J. Watt''
AD1583/3/50
Letter, Boulton to
Wilson regarding
abatement for Chacewater mine, and other matters
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
7 Nov 1788
Endorsed: Mr Boulton Nov[embe]r 7 1788
Addressed to: Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson, Chase Water, Truro, Cornwall, by
Bristol
''Birmingham Nov[embe]r 7 – 1788
Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson
of Chasewater.
Dear Sir
In regard to the affair of Mr Harris's
Boiler we are totaly at a loss to conceive how or upon what ground
we have any thing to do with it. We should therefore be glad to have
the matter further explaind as we gave no new directions to try any
new projects nor do we know of any variation from the constructions
in cur[ren]t use in Cornwall.
In respect to W[hea]l Unity we cannot consent for any
Engine on our Construction being erected there or any where else,
without paying us our usual premium & its needless to say more on
this subject.
I perceive Mr Daubuz hath fallen into a mistake about
L[or]d Hawksbury, the fact is I have no orders at present to go to
London or to begin the Coinage although I hourly expect it.
We understood from your former letters that it was
proposed for Lord Falmouth & all the Bounders to give up all their
Dues in Chase water Mines for one year, & likewise the Merch[an]ts
to deduct 5 p[e]r Cent from their accustomed prises and upon these
terms we will consent to allow or abate one third of our premium for
the like term of one Year. But it will be unnecessary that you
mention this to the adventurers untill you have obtaind the consent
of all the other parties.
Please to remember that it is a settled point between us & dr
Withering that our tin always goes together & may be considered as
ours.
From our delecacy to our Friends in Cornwall as well as of this
place we have lost 4s or 5/s[hillings] p[e]r C [hundredweight] by
not selling it to our first offerers; & what to do with that in
Cornwall we know not. You may at all events send one half of it here
p[e]r first Conveyance & if you can find a vessel going to Liverpool
you may send ten Blocks there to be forwarded to Glasgow.
If there is any Vessell going from Cornwall to Holland please to
advise us, as we have thoughts of sending the remainder to Amsterdam
or Roterdam, & if non is expected to go soon it may be sent to
London to Matthews.
But if you can sell the whole or any part in Cornwall at the prises
mentiond in our last pray do.
With every good wish for your self Mrs Wilson & Family I
remain for B[oulton]&W[att]
Dear Sir
Yours sincerely
M.
Boulton''
AD1583/3/51
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
Watt's proposal for the establishment of a tin cartel
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
8 Nov 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt Nov[embe]r 8 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, via
Bristol
''Birm[ingha]m Nov[embe]r 8th 1788
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
Since Mr B[oulton]. wrote you yesterday I
have rec[eive]d letter from Mr Matthews advising that tin cannot be
sold in London & desiring us not to send any more there. If
therefore you cannot ship the half of our Tin to Holland as desired
let that half lie with you till further orders, & forward whatever
is to come to Birmingham as fast as you can - without method is
taken to remedy this evil it is folly to work poor tin mines such as
chacewater & Poldice, for it seems the Tin must lie as useless
lumber when got - My prop[ositio]n to Mr Daubuz was to establish a
Tin Comp[an]y consisting of all the principal dealers & even the
small ones, down to those who have 20 bl[oc]ks annually. No man to
put in money only Tin, as much or as little as he has, but all he
has; to enter into bond for that purpose, Price of Tin to be fixed
by a committee, Every member to sell what he can, more or Less than
his own tin & to have 1/ [shilling] p[e]r Cwt [hundredweight]
Commission, Accounts of sales to be settled every coinage & every
member to draw his proportions of the sales according to what he put
in, suppose 1000 blocks put in & 800 sold then the man who put in
100 w[oul]d receive the price of 80 & if he personally sold more
w[oul]d receive his Commission upon it. The over plus which could
not be sold would remain at the joint credit of the whole & not be
forced into the market to the prejudice of this whole at present.
This differs from the Metal Comp[an]y in this that here no man puts
in money, only Tin, that he cannot be bound for the debts of the
Comp[an]y because it can have none except the mere expense of a few
clerks & a counting house, that there cannot be the same ruinsome
competition that subsisted with Anglesea & the Ex Companies In short
nothing is wanting except a little concord in Cornwall. You may
mention this if you please the mention can do no harm. In the
present case attempting the keep up the price is needless we shall
take the best price we can get, but we will sell our tin.
I am so tired and disheartened with the out of the way
behaviour of our cornish Engine customers, that I am more than half
resolved to sell my part of the Engine concern in that County & if
the man I have in my eye will purchase the frogs will have occasion
to lament their abuse of King Loey [Louis]. Those whom no
concessions will satisfy may perhaps be made satisfied without any &
be thankful if matters are made no worse.
With Comp[limen]ts to Mrs Wilson, I remain Dear
Sir
Your's
sincerely
James Watt''
AD1583/3/52
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
Mr Fox's offer for purchasing tin
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
12 Nov 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt Nov[embe]r 12 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, via
Bristol
''Birm[ingha]m Nov[embe]r 12 1788
Mr Wilson
Dear Sir
Yours of the 7th rec[eive]d only
yest[erda]y. In answer to Mr Fox's offer if he will give 60/
[shillings] and bill at 3 months on receipt of the tin, we will
accept his offer; other wise we will take our chance, & and you will
please immediately to forward one half of our & Dr W[ithering']s tin
here as soon as you can, please sell the house at the price you
mention.
I remain Dear Sir
Your's sincerely
James
Watt''
AD1583/3/53
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
abatement for Chacewater mine, and other matters
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
14 Nov 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt Nov[embe]r 14 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, via
Bristol
''Birm[ingha]m Nov[embe]r 14th 1788
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
We have yours of the 10th & in relation to
the tin we refer you to our last. Mr F[ox']s declining to make an
offer & asking one from us is like the rest of the merch[an]ts Way
of screwing. If they have made such offers as you have thought
proper to accept, good & well, otherwise send us the half of the tin
immediately & we hope soon to hear of some more favourable market,
for the rest.
As to Chacewater, we by no means intended by any thing
in ours of the 7th to cause the mine to stop though what you urge is
certainly true in respect to our friends & the sale of Tin. We
understood from your former letters that it was proposed that the
lords & Bounders should give up all their dues & the Merch[an]ts 5
p[e]r Cent on condition we gave up 1/3 of our premium, to which
proposition we consent for 1 year whether the mine is better or
worse.
If we have not understood your proposition please explain it & if we
agree to what is proposed let the fault lie on those who refuse &
not upon us. As to the continuance of the working the mine it must
after all depend on the state of it & the prospect of profits.
I remain Dear Sir
Your's sincerely
James Watt''
AD1583/3/54
Letter, Boulton & Watt to
Wilson regarding
high fuel usage of Poldice and Wheal Virgin engines
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
17 Nov 1788
Endorsed: Boulton & Watt Nov[embe]r 17 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, via
Bristol
''Birm[in]g[ha]m 17 Nov[ember] – 1788
Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson
D[ea]r Sir
We have to acknowledge the recept[io]n of your two
letters of ye 12th & 14th In[stan]t. In regard to Mr Fox's offer of
58/ [shillings] with 9 Mo[nths] Cred[i]t for our Xmas & Lady day Tin
we must beg leave to decline the acceptance of it: & in regard to
the Tin we now have in Cornwall we can only refer you to our last
letter in which we offer it at 60 w[i]th 3 Mo[nths] & this we were
induced to by way of preventing Clashing, because we know how to
sell it to more advantage. as to allowing 2 or 3 Mo[nths] more in
the paym[en]t it is probable we should have conformd to it had their
offer not extended to a longer term. - You say Messrs Foxes are in
possession of the market. That argument will only serve for the
Latitude of penzance & that neighbourhood but doth not at all apply
to us, because we are resident & have a mercantile interest in this
Market, & have direct connections with old established
Correspondents in every other Market in Europe. Haveing premised
thus much we leave the disposal of the Tin now in Cornwall to your
self but will not make bargens for future Quarters at lower prises:
In case you cannot dispose of it pray send it to us as before
directed.
We observe by the last monthly acc[oun]t as well by
former Months that the Engines at W[hea]l Virgin & Poldice are
burning more than they ought to burn (except the new D[ou]bl[e]
Engine at W[hea]l Maid which in all the late acc[oun]ts appears to
be 5 times better than the old Engines or Standard Table) We
therefore beg you will tell us who hath the Care of the Engines at
Poldice & W[hea]l Virgin.
The Elvan & East
W[hea]l Virgin have burnt last Mo[nth] 21½ Wey too much = 46£
Poldice
East 500
West 1000
little 284} 1780 Bush[e]l or 28 Wey 60/106
Hence you see
the advent[ure]rs are gapeing at Gnats & swallowing of Camels.
The not charging our dues at W[hea]l Virgin astonishes us & will, as
you observe, not tend to heal disputes but we will wave the subject
in this letter as from what you say we shall expect to see Mr Daniel
soon.
B[oulton]&W[att] are certainly not so well calculated to assert
their rights to the utmost farthing in Cornwall as two other
W[ilkinson?]s & if they should ever stand in our shoes it will make
a difference.
The Kings illness hath prevented (for the present) the
Privy Council from bringing the Coinage to a Cricis but nevertheless
it must be done soon however unless S[i]r W[illiam] Lemon or
somebody urges the argument of Cornwall haveing 2/3 this Year & only
½ the next of ye Contract: it will not take place before the next as
this is almost at an end.
With best wishes for your health & Mrs Wilsons
We remain
Dear Sir
Yours sincerely
Boulton and Watt''
[the handwriting
is that of Matthew Boulton]
AD1583/3/55
Letter, Watt to
Wilson
acknowledging receipt of draft
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
19 Nov 1788
Endorsed:
Mr Watt Nov[embe]r 19 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, Via
Bristol
''Birm[ingha]m Nov[embe]r 19th 1788
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
Yesterday received yours covering Draft for
£100. - . - The other parts of your letter are ans[were]d by ours of
the 17th. At present I have nothing more to add but remain with best
wishes to Mrs Wilson & family
Dear
Sir
Your's sincerely
James
Watt''
AD1583/3/56
Letter, Watt to
Wilson accepting
Mr Fox's offer for purchasing tin
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
25 Nov 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt Nov[embe]r 25 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, via
Bristol
''Birm[ingha]m Nov[embe]r 25th 1788
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
We have just received your long letter of
the 22[n]d. In relation to the Tin we advised you in ours of the
17th, that we would accept Mr F[ox']s offer for this q[uarte]r but
did not chuse to enter into Engagements for future ones because, we
had reason to think tin would sell better. One reason is that the
Dutch I[ndia]. Tin sold this y[ea]r is not a great quantity & has
fetched a tolerable price. However as we by no means like the
trouble, of pushing markets abroad, nor adding to the confusion by
interferences we will accept Mr F[ox']s offer for the Tin now with
you & for the Christmas quarter, and if they will not have it
otherwise you may add the Lady day Quarter; but we would rather not
come under any engagements at that distance of time. I shall write
more fully in my next not having time by this post. I must also
refer the subject of W[illiam].M[urdock]. which gives me much
concern, all I can say just now is to request he w[oul]d bear as
well as he can till we can think on what is proper to be done.
I remain Dear Sir
Yours
sincerely
James Watt''
AD1583/3/57
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
William Murdock's situation, and other matters
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
26 Nov 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt Nov[embe]r 26 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, via
Bristol
''Birm[ingha]m Nov[embe]r 26th 1788
Mr Wilson
Dear Sir
I wrote to you yesterday to accept Mr
F[ox']s offer for the present tin, and for the Christmas quarters
tin, but that unless they would not accept it on other terms
to reserve the Lady tin As we hope it will rise in price, a little.
Our reason for wishing to come under no ties, is that we think there
is the same kind of monopolizing spirit in the tin trade that
reigned among the, now, ex Copper Companies, and that this late
operation is a sample of it & very probably was not a matter of
necessity, at least surely not to the extent it has been carried.
Nothing but some similar scheme to what I proposed can prevent such
foolish doings & I cannot see how it could hurt any man in his
trade, on the Contrary it would throw the whole commissions into the
hands of a few members of the Comp[an]y Were I young & active I see
how a good stroke would be struck now £20,000 well laid out would
make a scarcity of Tin & one might have their own price However as I
am I shall meddle with no speculations. We expected to have seen Mr
D[aniel?]. here before now & to have convinced him of the propriety
of our claim on the mine being satisfied but as that has not
happened you will remember to renew it by a copy of their account
with us at next account day & if not then charged please advise that
we may settle what measures are to be pursued.
Every step ought to be taken that you can to keep Mr
Murdock in place at Wheal Virgin & Poldice, and he should be advised
to bear with their folly & villainy as much as possible Bull should
also be informed that it was by our desire he was employed at Wheel
Virgin & that by the agreement we can displace him whenever we find
it necessary. We could certainly employ Mr M[urdock]. elsewhere to
our advantage but no where else so much to his own. And though we
should certainly employ him as our agent to look after the Engines,
yet it is better that he be also paid by the mines as that is all
gain, and even in the case of his being our agent their opposition
to him would not be the Less but perhaps more.
We shall consider on the subject & advise any thing else which
occurs & hope some way may be found of making up matters.
I remain Dear
Sir
Your's
sincerely
James Watt''
AD1583/3/58
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
the King's illness with respect to coinage
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
3 Dec 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt Dec[embe]r 3 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, via
Bristol
''Birm[ingha]m Dec[embe]r 3[r]d 1788
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
I rec[eive]d yours covering bill value £133.
6 [shillings]. 8 [pence].
I have not seen Mr Boulton since but shall see him to day and write
you to morrow if any thing occurs - I fear from the weather we have
had and are likely to have you are not much better waterslead since.
I fear the K[ing]s illness & the change of M----y [Monarchy] which
is feared will overset the Coinage; but copper seems to be more in
request from other quarters, there confounded old stocks seem to be
worn out - with comp[limen]ts to all friends
Your's sincerely
James Watt''
AD1583/3/59
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
Wheal Virgin abatement, and sale of tin to the Messrs Fox
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
4 Dec 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt Dec[embe]r 4 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, via
Bristol
''Birm[ingha]m Dec[embe]r 4th 1788
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
I saw Mr B[oulton]. last night & he wrote
the following on the end of your letter ''You & Mr Daniels have
talked so much about what months should be charged & what not, that
it seems a labyrinth. We therefore think it proper to observe that
we shall not depart from our former resolutions of debiting the
Adventurers of Wheal Virgin £2500 for one years savings as p[e]r
agreement & Crediting them for our present, or abatement of
£833. 6s[hillings]. 8d [pence] together with the money they have
paid this year, and the ballance in our favour being charged will
settle the account for 1788. And the following year must begin a new
score on a different footing[''?].
I agree with you that the tin is best sold for the 3
q[uarte]rs if it should rise it is reasonable that the Messrs
F[ox']s should have some advantage to state against the late fall of
price & in that time we may be better informed about the business.
Wishing Mrs Wilson & family health and happiness
I remain
Dear Sir
Your's
sincerely
James Watt''
AD1583/3/60
Letter,
Pearson to
Wilson regarding account of balance for September
Item
1 large folio
Manuscript
5 Dec 1788
Endorsed: James Pearson 5 Dec[embe]r 1788
Addressed to: Mr. Thomas Wilson, Chasewater near Truro, Cornwall
''Soho near Birmingham
5th Decem[be]r 1788
Mr. Thomas Wilson
Sir
When you sent account for Septem[be]r an
account of balances was transmitted, some of which do not agree, but
what ought not to dissagree is your own Account; you call the
bala[nce] £418. 10 [shillings]. 5½ pence at 30 Sep[tembe]r which
seems to us ought to be £421. 1. 8½ as p[e]r annexed statement which
if right beg you will make your Account to agree therewith, but if
wrong please tell us where. -
In Sep[tembe]r Account you enter Chasewater Mine C[redito]r for the
Tin which you yourself hath credit for in the annexed account, but
which have not entered into the Books seeing it to be a mistake.
We remain
Sir
Your most Obed[ien]t Servants
For
Boulton & Watt
James Pearson''
[Gives table
showing Thomas Wilson in account with Boulton & Watt for November
1787 to September 1788, covering a total sum of £8888. 18. 6½]
AD1583/3/61
Letter, Watt to
Wilson
acknowledging bill from Messrs Fox, and Wheal Virgin abatement
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
7 Dec 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt Dec[embe]r 7 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, via
Bristol
''Birm[ingha]m Dec[embe]r 1788
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
I rec[eive]d yours inclosing Messrs Fox's
Bill £700 & odd pounds but Mr B[oulton]. not having returnd the
letter cannot speak exactly - nor answer the rest of your letter
till I see him, We always bounded our abatement to Wheal Virgin to 1
year & I think they do not deserve any prolongation, Shall Converse
with Mr B & write you
Mean while I remain Your's &c
James Watt''
AD1583/3/62
Letter,
Pearson to
Wilson acknowledging receipt of bills
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
11 Dec 1788
Endorsed: James Pearson 11 Dec[embe]r 1788
Addressed to: Mr. Thomas Wilson, Chasewater, near Truro, Cornwall
Soho near Birmingham
11th Dec[embe]r 1788
Mr. Thomas Wilson
Sir
Your favor of 5th instant is received,
enclosing Bills to the amount of £247. 9 [shillings]. - Say Two
Hundred and forty seven Pounds and nine Shillings, which shall be
placed to your credit; And remain
Sir
Your
very Ob[edien]t Servants
For Boulton & Watt
James Pearson''
AD1583/3/63
Letter,
Pearson to
Wilson regarding discrepancies within Wilson's monthly account
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
12 Dec 1788
Endorsed: James Pearson 12 Dec[embe]r 1787
Addressed to: Mr. Thomas Wilson, Chasewater near Truro, Cornwall,
Via Bristol
''Soho near Birmingham 12 Dec[embe]r 1787
Mr. Thomas Wilson
Sir
I rec[eive]d your favor of 7th Ult[im]o. The
balance of your Acco[un]t with B[oulton]&W[att] you call £975. 10
[shillings]. 9¾ [pence] at 7 Ult[im]o but by their Books it is £983.
19. 3 and which last mentioned sum is the exact & real balance, not
one farthing more or less, if so be your Monthly Accounts be right;
but should you or Clerk have made any mistakes in writing out the
debit & credit of your Cash transactions into the Monthly Accounts
it is not in my power to find out such mistakes. The Accounts sent
are always wrote into the Books without the least alteration. Have
sent a state of the Account from 25th Jan[uar]y at which time you
call'd the bal[an]ce £664. 8. 4¾ but B&W make it at that date £664.
15. 10½ and their Books are agreeable to your Monthly Accounts, not
one farthing different. Hope from the Statement here sent you will
make your Account to agree therewith, or be able to point out the
difference. R[ober]t Moor & Jno [John] Holt hath both been out
erecting Engines for some time, as they are both much in debt to B&W
there is no prospect of any thing being done for Mrs Worral. Holt
hath not yet done any thing to lessen the debt he owed B&W
when he left Cornwall. His debt is now larger by Cash he hath drawn
on Account since &c &c And how it may stand when he hath been setled
with for work & expences since he went out time only can declare. -
As under is a small account against Consol[idated] Mines
Adven[ture]rs with which please to do the needful. - I am
Sir
Your very Obed[ien]t Servant
James Pearson
Consolidated
Mines Adventurers To Boulton & Watt
To Freight to Stourport of Goods 1 June & 13 Aug[us]t 1787
£3. 1. 5
Enterd''
[Gives table of
Thomas Wilson in account with Boulton & Watt from January to
November 1787]
AD1583/3/64
Letter,
Pearson to
Wilson regarding discrepancies within Wilson's account for September
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
20 Dec 1788
Endorsed: James Pearson 20 Dec[embe]r 1788
Addressed to: Mr. Thomas Wilson, Chasewater near Truro, Cornwall
''Soho near Birmingham
20 Dec[embe]r 1788
Mr. Thomas Wilson
Sir
I rec[eive]d your favor of 13 ins[tan]t
respecting your acco[un]t. you now call the bala[nce] £418. 9
[shillings]. 5½ [pence] at 30 Sep[tembe]r last, but I call it as
before £421. 1. 8½ difference £2. 12. 3 which arises from your
Com[missio]n on Wheal Crenver Savings. In Sep[tembe]r Acco[un]t you
charge Com[missio]n on £203. 2. 4 but in your Letter of 13 ins[tan]t
you charge Com[missio]n on £307. 10. - They have indeed paid £307.
10. - £104. 7. 8 of which seems to have been for Goods & Charges,
the remainder £203. 2. 4 only for Savings, upon which last sum you
only charged Com[missio]n in Sep[tembe]r Account. If it be as I
suppose request you will correct the Commission on said Savings,
w[hi]ch will make the balance £421. 1. 8½ at 30 Sep[tembe]r as p[e]r
account sent you the 5th ins[tan]t but if all the £307. 10. - was
for Savings, and that W[hea]l Crenver Adv[enture]rs still owe the
Goods & Charges beg you to say so that your account here may be
corrected accordingly. - George Taylor is from home, when he returns
will let him see the account and what you say respecting him. -
For Boulton & Watt, I remain
Sir
Your most Obed[ien]t Servant
James Pearson''
AD1583/3/65
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
Wheal Virgin dispute, Chacewater abatement, etc
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
26 Dec 1788
Endorsed:
Mr Watt Dec[embe]r 26 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, via
Bristol
''Birm[ingha]m Dec[embe]r 26 1788
Mr Wilson
Dear Sir
We are favoured with yours of the 13th &
22nd - My being much indisposed with a cold has prevented me from
writing, I am now some what better but have got my old asthma back
again.
I have not seen Mr B[oulton]. since your last but think
we shall grant an abatement of 1/3 to C[hace].water, but perhaps it
may be as well that you do it for us in some way we shall think
upon. In relation to W[heal]. Virgin the matter must be followed up
as we cannot be fobbed off by the talk of a dispute for which there
is no grounds nor is it reasonable that we should pay more of the
loss than all the adventurers put together. You were right in what
you averred in my name concerning Murdock. The questions about
Poldice new Engine I shall answer once I learn W[illiam]M[urdock]s
proposal.
Every means should be used to push the lawsuit against the sellers
to the ex companies. Mr Hunt showed me a correspondence he had with
Mr Richards, who seems very angry his tin was not sold, though he
had given no orders, but the whole seemed to arise from
misunderstand the subject Mr Hunt was to put it to rights & to give
you orders to sell I remain D[ea]r Sir
Your's sincerely
James Watt
w[oul]d write
more but am so weary with my disease that I cannot''
AD1583/3/66
Letter, Watt to Wilson regarding the Cornish Metal Company's ore
at grass
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
31 Dec 1788
Endorsed: Mr Watt Dec[embe]r 31 1788
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, via
Bristol
''Birm[ingha]m Dec[embe]r 31st 1788
Mr Wilson
Dear Sir
I received yours of 27th with Bill value
£298. 16 [shillings]. at your Credit. I sent the letter out to Mr
B[oulton]. who I fear has done nothing with Morris yet, and if my
advice had been followed nothing w[oul]d ever have been done with
him, his indetermination gave me a bad opinion of him. I suppose he
will now try immediately to settle the matter. I am almost sorry
when I hear of the discovery of ore in mines which are not working.
I am afraid of that mass of ore which lies on the
C[ornish].M[etal].Co[mpany']s hands, I hope care is taken to keep it
from the weather & from thieves that article seems to be the rotten
part of the Constitution at present. I have no news here except very
bad frost and to day a considerable fall of snow, very dull trade &
small sales of copper & tin. This frost makes well for the Albion
Mill, both Engines are now going & grinding near 2000 Quarters per
week, we sold much flour to the french who are in Great want & could
have sold any quantity but would not disappoint our customers in
London.
If I hear any thing from Mr B. before I close shall add
it on the other side I remain wishing you & your family many
happy new years, D[ea]r Sir
Your's
sincerely
James Watt''
AD1583/3/67
Letter,
Roberts to
Wilson regarding payment of Jack Knuckey's club money at Redruth
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
4 Jan 1789
Endorsed: Jno [John] Roberts Jan[uar]y 4 1789
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, near Truro, Cornwall
''Soho -
Birmingham 4 Jan[uar]y 1789
Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson
Sir
Jack Knuckey begs me to request you will
pay to a Person who will call upon you, 10/[shillings]6 [pence] -
for his Club Money at Redruth - I will stop it of him in Messrs
Boulton & Watts Books - I am Sir
Your Most Obed[ien]t Serv[an]t
Jno Roberts''
AD1583/3/68
Letter, Boulton to
Wilson regarding
abatement for United Mines, and several other matters
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
27 Jan 1789
Endorsed: Mr Boulton Jan[uar]y 27 1789
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chasewater near, Truro, Cornwall
''London Jan[uar]y 27 – 1789
Dear Sir
I thank you for your very acceptable letter of ye 17th
In[stan]t which I rec[ei]vd at this place. I often wish to write to
you but the fact is I have more letters to write & less able to work
hard than ever I was in my Life.
I rec[ei]vd lately a very friendly letter from Lord
Hawksbury in which he says
''I am much concernd to think that among the many Evils that will
necessarely arise from the derangement of our beloved Sovereigns
health it is likely that you will be exposed to your share of Loss &
inconvenience in consequence of your Zeal for the publick Service &c
&c &c''
In consequence of his Lordship's Advice I am come to
Town & have seen him very often but all is hurry scurry & Confusion
& I now fear that I shall not receive any fav[o]r or recompence for
all my pains to perfect ye Coinage in which I have expended &
incurred Debts & Contracts that I must answer to the amount of
5000£. However I must have patience untill the present commotions of
the State are a little settled. The only chance I stand is that
nobody can do it so well or so Cheap, or in so little time, but ye
danger is that ye new Ministers may not think of doing it at all.
I beg your pardon & Mr Morris for not settleing the Acc[oun]t of the
Engine before now but I have many other things of Consequence lying
in ye same unsettled state. However as soon as I return home I am
determind to clear away all the things that lye heavy on my
conscience for my Mind & Body are now Thawd but hath been severely
froze up for many Weeks past.
I rejoyce in every good that befalls you, & sincerely congratulate
you upon the prosperous state of your Lead Mine, & only regret that
you have not a larger share of her.
Lawson hath a Copy of that part of your Letter which relates to him.
My Son is in a very Cold part of upper Saxony & I fear hath sufferd
from the severity of ye Winter but was well when I last heard of
him, & I have great hopes he will become an agreeable & an Honest
Man. I am anxious to see him Settled & to take ye Regency of Soho
out of my hands.
I have never sent G: Simmons an Answer respecting an abatement at
the United Mines but I did intend saying that whilest we were
abateing one third at W[hea]l Virgin we could not afford to do the
same at other Mines but as our abatement at W[hea]l Virgin is now
expired & discontinued We are willing to give them (the united
Mines) encouragement to go on & that so long as the Mine continues
in a loosing State (say not exceeding 1 Y[ea]r) we are willing to
allow them one third. i:e: for every 2 Months they pay us we will
abate them the 3[r]d Mo[nth]. I mentioned this to Mr Watt & obtaind
his Consent but I must leave the management of it to your
discression. For 'tis only meant to encourage them to go on &
consequently for our own interest.
If the Gov[ernmen]t had taken 1500 Ton for ye Coinage as they
proposed last Year it would have set Cornwall & the Metal Co[mpany]
firm upon their Legs & Copper would have been above 80.
I believe the Birm[in]g[ha]m Sales of Copper will fall to my Lot
haveing partly agreed with Williams for that purpose & to advance
him 2/3 of the Value of the Stock as often as he may require it - I
have long heard of Polgooth being Rich but I find the last is a
loosing Q[uarte]r. - As I shall be a Copper Seller so I believe I
shall open a general Metal Warehouse & consequently a Seller of Tin
- do send me a Sketch of the furnice, Moulds, Ladles &c for makeing
Bar tin which I shall be obliged to make but do not mention it to
any body.
My Love to Mrs Wilson wishing you & all that are dear to you health
& every other good - Y[ou]rs sincely
M:Boulton''
AD1583/3/69
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
tin sales and production
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
2 Feb 1789
Endorsed: Mr Watt Feb[ruar]y 2 1789
Addressed to: Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson, Chace Water, Truro, Cornwall -
''Birm[ingha]m Feb[ruar]y 2[n]d 1789
Mr Wilson
Dear Sir
Having been out 3 days latter end of Last
week I rec[eive]d both yours together, say of the 26th & 27th & have
written to Pritchard & Barlow in consequence. I write now that you
are to dispose of Messrs Hunts & Richards Tin as well as you can
both now & in future & it is to be brought into account with our
last Sale to Messrs Foxs that is we must stand to the top by
difference of price. Mr Hunt as well as me thinks the Mine must be
stoppt unless some other Considerable ones stop. It is in vain to
raise tin now!
I shall write more fully once Mr B[oulton]. returns which I expect
will be on Wednesday or Thursday.
I am rather better in my health but much tormented with
the asthma.
Yours &c
James
Watt''
AD1583/3/70
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
form of abatements made to the mines, and other matters
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
12 Feb 1789
Endorsed: Mr Watt Feb[ruar]y 12 1789
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, via
Bristol
''Birm[ingha]m Feb[ruar]y 12th 1789
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
I have your's of the 26th & 7th. Capt[ain]
Morcum repeated Mr D[aniel]s arguments as to W[heal]. Virgin & which
I have comm[unicate]d to Mr B[oulton]. but as long as the arrears
remain unpaid we cannot think on the subject. It appears to us that
we have paid a proportion of the loss of last year much greater than
we had any title to do. In future whenever we make abatements to any
body they must be arbitrary & only from month to month no abatement
to be made for the future but for the past month & that not until it
is charged. It behoves us now to consider well how far any
abatements are prudent that is to say how far they may contribute to
our profits by prolonging the working of a mine, Neither our
fortunes nor our present Incomes will permit us to give with so
liberal a hand as we have done. And therefore we shall expect from
you very particular Information in every Case where abatements may
be asked -
Polgooths not producing this last quarter, would be of no
consequence provided we were sure the tin were reserved for a better
market, but we fear that is by no means the Case, as I see nothing
but greater and greater downfalls unless new consumptions arise or
mines stop getting. As a last effort I wish you would talk over my
plan again with some of the leading men & let them state their
objections.
In respect to C[hace].water we will have not had a meeting yet but I
can predict the result will be the stopping the mine, Price of Tin
in Holland only 67/ [shillings] neat of freight & dutch charges,
this for your own government, I have no doubt will fall at least 2/
[shillings] in consequence of the late coinage. We have never
rec[eive]d the papers from L[or]d F[almouth]. you may sign for us to
commence with the others. We received the beds & chest of Drawers &c
Safe I have never seen nor heard of the other things, nor do I know
what they were nor when sent. - Anglesey mine has more ore at Grass
than will last out the present Agreement, so there is not the
smallest hope from any quarter except standing firm to the agreement
with W[illia]ms & prosecuting the Rebels - You say Cornwall sinks
under the weight of her enemies, Who are they? I know of none out of
the county.
I am sorry to observe by last months account that the
Engines in General are so very bad, what are the causes. More might
be saved by attention to keeping the Engines in order than can be
possibly scrubbed off B[oulton]&W[att]. but so be they get it off us
they care not how they spend it otherwise! - I am very glad that
Messrs F[ox's]. have taken to Messrs Hunts & Richards Tin, as though
I wish to obige them I do not like to lose by it.
I have not yet looked into the small Engine accounts,
but when I do if perceive any thing wants explanations shall write.
My Asthma is much better since the late violent Storms &
I am much better on the whole though I have a good deal of
Headaches, Mr B[oulton] came home last week & is well.
With Comp[limen]ts to Mrs Wilson I remain
Dear Sir
Your's
sincerely
James Watt''
AD1583/3/71
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
the tin market
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
13 Feb 1789
Endorsed: Mr Watt 13 Feb[ruar]y 1789
Addressed to: Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, via
Bristol
''Birm[ingha]m Feb[ruar]y 13th 1789
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
After I wrote to you yesterday I received yours of the
9th & approve much of the publishing something on the subject; but
think your Statement proves that the increase of Coinage is chiefly
nay almost wholly owing to the 3 great Mines & Godolphin w[hi]ch you
do not bring in though produces 12 or £1500 per month as I
understood Captain Travethick [Trevithick?] And the present great
fall owing to the great importation by the Dutch Company in 1787,
which could not immediately take effect. In short I think the whole
sh[oul]d be new modelled & shall be obliged to you for some more
facts, for or against let us have them. The great thing necessary to
be known is the quantities of tin in foreign markets & at home for
there is much in London & here at Liverpool &c I think it will end
in the Condemnation of poor Chacewater, but if we could get the rest
to pay us for stopping it w[oul]d be well & I w[oul]d in that case
stop without gutting. If a comp[an]y were established it might be
best to stop back ¼ at the smelting houses in black Tin.
Your's
&c
J Watt''
AD1583/3/72
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
the stopping of Chacewater mine
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
2 Mar 1789
Endorsed: Mr Watt Mar[ch] 2 1789
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall
''Birm[ingha]m Mar[ch] 2[n]d 1789
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
I have not written you of a long having been
both much indisposed & hurried.
The only thing which lies much on my mind to write you is about
C[hace].water. I have not only the Consent but the absolute desire
of every body here (except Mr Hunt whom I have not seen but whose
mind I know) to stop it as soon as you can the sooner the better,
and without you hear to the contrary before the meeting we desire
you to vote for us all accordingly. Mr B[oulton] & self think it
would be both wrong & unprofitable to ravage the mine & put it out
of course, and as now appears to us the Engines &c should be left in
good order for a time in hopes of better days, though that hope is
small; but fancy we must see you here before any final resolution is
taken on that head. in regard to stopping we are determinate.
Mr B[oulton]. is not here at present, but shall desire him to write
more fully, for I cannot my head does not serve me as I wish.
With Comp[limen]ts to Mrs Wilson
I remain
Dear Sir
Your's sincerely
James
Watt''
AD1583/3/73
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
the stopping of Chacewater mine
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
7 Mar 1789
Endorsed: Mr Watt Mar[ch] 7 1789
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, via
Bristol
''Birm[ingha]m March 7th 1789.
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
Yesterday received your's covering 4 bills
£340. 12 [shillings]. - In relation to Chacewater without the
discoveries turn out very great indeed I am clear for stopping. Tin
is worth nothing copper continues to be stockt & in consequence must
suffer a fall without a miracle. Mr Wilkinson will soon be here when
we shall write you the general sentiments as to going on, in the
mean time if you should not hear before the meeting the mine may go
on for a week & a fresh meeting be called or the meeting be
adjourned from week to week, Then heavy charges on the adv[enture]rs
& no sales of the produce must discourage every body. even ourselves
independant of our anxiety for our friends, are not willing to go on
with the share we have, if the mine turns out promising try to get
another set of Adventurers at least for some of the shares.
With Comp[limen]ts to Mrs Wilson, I remain in haste
Dear Sir Your's &c
James Watt''
AD1583/3/74
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
the tin market
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
11 Mar 1789
Endorsed: Mr Watt Mar[ch] 11 1789
Addressed to: Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, via
Bristol
''Birm[ingha]m Mar[ch] 11th 1789
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
I have your's of 7th covering C[ornish]
M[etal] Co[mpany']s Drafts value £145. - . - You may depend upon it
we are clear for stoping C[hace].water, so let it be done, would we
had stopt 3 Mo[nth]s ago. - Please sell Mr Hunts & Richards tin as
you can, as the loss falls upon us, I hope I shall be wise enough
never to have any concern in selling shares in mines to any body
here we get both Loss & reflection. As to Messrs F[oxe?]s they are
like to abide by their bargain if tin had risen as was expected they
would have given us no share of gain.
As you observe the state of tin mines is very vexatious
but is no more than I have long foreseen, if Copper were produced as
usual the C M C must go to ruin &, if not the mines, however we must
endure what we can't cure - My health is much better for these few
days past & I thank you for your kind attention.
With best Comp[limen]ts to Mrs Wilson
Dear Sir
Yours sincerely
James
Watt''
AD1583/3/75
Letter, Boulton to
Wilson regarding
the precarious state of the tin and copper markets
Item
1 large folio
Manuscript
23 Mar 1789
Endorsed: Mr Boulton 23 Mar[ch] 1789
Addressed to: Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson, Chasewater, Truro, Cornwall, by
Bristol
''Soho 23 March 1789
Dear Sir
Just as I was sitting down to answer your fav[ou]r of ye
14th In[stan]t, I rec[ei]vd yours also of ye 19th - I was from home
a few days when ye 1st arivd & since Mr Watt went to London on
Saturday last I have not had one minute to my self.
Mr Matthews hath quarrelld with our Albion Mill partners insomuch
that Mr W[at]t was obliged to go to Town & the consequences of that
difference will be attended with inconveniences to our selves
however I will now wave entering into particulars which I will
reserve untill both you & I are in better spirits. In respect to the
subject of your first letter I can only answer in general terms that
we are friendly disposed to grant you every indulgence & do every
thing in our power to serve you but I cannot even offer you my
advice without knowing the particulars & present state of your case
however it seems to me self evident that Cornish affairs are in a
very precarious situation & that 'tis absolutely necessary that both
you & us should be upon our guard & prepare against the worst that
can happen.
I presume you will be obliged very soon to come to Swansey, & then I
beg you will have as clear a state of Chase water mine as
circumstances will admitt of, & I also beg that you will then come
to Birmingham & talk over many things that may be imprudent for you
or me to committ to paper, & as I hope that will be soon & that all
causes for your late alarms will subside I will say no more on that
head in this letter.
In respect to the other Subject I think you have acted
perfectly right but I think we should act perfectly wrong if we were
to continue to work the mine with our Eyes open. It would be highly
dishonest & dishonorable to our Friends who have been induced to
take shares in that mine from their favourable opineons of our Moral
Characters but who already begin to complain & one refuses
acceptance to your dr[af]t in our favour. I am therefore thinking &
Querying if we were to make the following proposition that it might
remove the odium of stoping the Mine both from you & from us.
We are realy & sincerely concernd for the situation of
the Working Miners & it is with great pain & reluctance to our
selves that we are obliged to consent to stop the Mine but what can
we say to our friends whom we have drawn into the Concern & who are
now become disagreeably Clamerous. I do not believe that Mr Watt
would withold his consent to give up the whole of our Engine profits
for the next Quarter or say 3 Mo[nths] upon the Express condition
that the rest of the Adventurers would guarantee us & our friends
from loss in the regular & fair working of the Mine; but to
give up all our profits, to give money out of our pocket, & what is
still worse, to give away the Money of our Friends, who have
confided in our judgement & our honour is a thing we cannot be
expected to do by any reasonable persons. But N:B: we will not
consent to this upon any other conditions than that of the
Gent[leme]n in Cornwall takeing all our Share of Loss upon
themselves, & if they think the mine not worth continuing upon those
terms I am sure it is a decided Proof that we should abandon it.
My real opineon is that the Mine cannot be continued
without loss to all the Adventurers, even if the Merch[an]ts give up
all their profits & we ours. For when I consider that we have 250
Ton of Copper in my Warehouse & that I cannot sell a single Ton
after applying to all the Consumers in Birm[in]g[ha]m they being
served with 300 Ton & more p[e]r Y[ea]r from the Duke of
devensh[ire]s mine which is esteemd better Copper.
When I consider how great a stock of Copper Cornwall &
Anglesey have on hand, & when I calculate the immense quantity of
Ore upon the Banks in Anglesey, Lancishire Wales & Cornwall & that
the Manufactures of this Country which consumed the greatest
quantity of Copper have much faild. I say when I consider these
things I am satisfyd that it must be attended with loss to the
Advent[ure]rs to work C[hace]W[ate]r Mine & much injury to the rest
of the Mines in the County to continue to encrease the produce of
Copper & Tin & is giving away to foreigners the natural riches of
this Country.
I would have you mention such part of the foregoing as
you may think proper & see what effect it will have amongst the
Miners for I wish to remove all odium from You in particular & beg
you will write to me as often as you have any thing to say. I
continue my great Expences in preparing for the Coinage although I
hear nothing more about it.
With every good wish I remain
Dear Sir
Yours most sincerely
M Boulton''
AD1583/3/76
Letter,
Pearson to
Wilson regarding abatement for Consolidated Mines adventurers
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
25 Mar 1789
Endorsed: Mr Pearson 25 March 1789
Addressed to: Mr. Thomas Wilson, Chasewater
''Soho near Birmingham
25 March 1789
Mr. Thomas Wilson
Sir
I am desired by Mr. Boulton to acquaint you
that Boulton & Watt agree to abate Consolidated Mines Adventurers
£833. 6 [shillings]. 8 [pence] out of their annuity of £2500. - . -
for the year 1788, and they promise to continue to abate 1/3 untill
the Mine shall become more profitable than at present.
- I am Sir
Your Most Obed[ien]t Servant
James
Pearson''
AD1583/3/77
Letter, Boulton to
Wilson regarding
Chacewater mine, the tin market, and other matters
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
14 Apr 1789
Endorsed: Mr Boulton April 14 1789
Addressed to: Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson, Chase Water, Truro, Cornwall,
Via Bristol
''Soho April 14 – 1789
Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson
Dear Sir
Your fav[ou]rs of ye 30 March & 9th
In[stant] I rec[ei]vd & rejoice much that the alarms of your
Neighbourhood have subsided sincerely hopeing for the sake of all
parties they will never be revived.
Pray what was ye price the E[ast] Ind[ia] Co[mpany] bought ye Tin
at?
An agent of Mr Wilkinson hath sold Tin here at 64/ [shillings] a
shamefull price, & I presume he will endeavour to Convince Cornwall
of its folly in selling so low, by selling lower. I am told Mr Welch
& Slartins house sell a Block at 64/[shillings]6 [pence] for Fox's.
I yesterday wrote a long & decided Letter to L[or]d Hawksbury in
which I have fairly represented the true situation of Cornwall & I
have no doubt but I shall receive an explicit answer in a few days.
The Dukes mine is as good as usual.
It is well that Chasewater is stoped as our friends were becoming
Clamerous particularly Rickards.
I think there is little probability of my wanting ye Stones for
casting Bar tin untill ye Tin trade is better however I should on
some future occasion want to Cast Bar tin.
I have rec[ei]vd a letter from Mr A: Daniel dated ye 1st In[stan]t
in which he submits to us the following proposition viz: That the
paym[en]ts to us shall always be made Monthly at the rate of 1200£ a
Year.
I have not yet had an opportunity of consulting Mr Watt upon the
subject & till then I can't answer.
I am sorry to find Mr Harris so backward in paym[en]t as to allowing
the Months forking we will not object to but as to any bungling in
setting the boiler is was not done after our drawings or directions
& we possitivly will have nothing to do with it or submitt to any
abatement whatever on that Acc[oun]t.
I hope it will not be inconvenient either to Mr Daubus [Daubuz] or
to Messrs Foxs to pay us for the Tin when due which I believe is on
ye 25th In[stan]t which will be extreamly conven[ien]t to me to
receive for I have layed out in preparing for ye Coinage above -
5000[£], also in building & rebuilding 2 New Mills - 3000[£], also
in building my warehous - 2000[£], I have lockd up in Albion M[il]l
B[oulton] 6 & W[att]3 M[onths?] - 6000[£], & I have lately had some
considerable Losses.
I therefore request your exertion for some relief.
I hope to see you in May at Birm[in]g[ha]m or Soho & remain with
every good wish to Mrs. Wilson, Your family & yourself
Dear Sir
Your sincere
fr[ien]d & Serv[an]t
M
Boulton''
AD1583/3/78
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
matters at various Cornish mines
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
19 Apr 1789
Endorsed: Mr Watt April 19 1789
Addressed to: Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, via
Bristol
''Birm[ingha]m Ap[ri]l 19th 1789
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
We have y[ou]rs of ye 4th & 14th. We must
have you to manage Harris as well as you can, perhaps it will be
better to give up the forking than litigate but I know not Mr
B[oulton].s mind on that subject.
As to Hallamanin take what you can get in the mean time
- In respect to Mr Kevil we agree to give up the 1st Mo[nth] for
forking at Wheal Gons & to accept of the £55 p[e]r Mo[nth] as he has
always behaved honourably but he should not mention it. As to the
Clacks I can say nothing but that I wish them success, we had one of
them at Soho long ago, I forget circumstances but it did not please
though I think it was tight enough.
In respect to the Alteration proposed at Elvan. In a
trial we made at Soho it did not answer our expectations, though no
doubt it will do some thing but as the Trumpeters [Hornblowers] have
claimed it we will have nothing to do with it, but shall not hinder
the adv[enture]rs.
I cannot think it can be done for £100 or any thing like it, nor
would I try it in my own case though the T[rumpete]rs made no claim,
if power is necessary I would put the Cyl[inde]r you mention with
its beam & apparatus by the side of the other & give it a steam pipe
to the boiler to make sure work & it is probable that by lessening
the load to ye present Engine, both Engines if in good order might
use less steam than ye one now does, but a new boiler might do more
good than any other alteration. You will please to observe that we
by no means acknowledge any right in the T[rumpete]rs to hinder the
ad[venture]rs nor give up our claim to the invention much preceeding
our knowledge of them, for nothing As to Mr Daniel I do
not see that we can or ought on any principle to agree to give up
more than we have done if the mine cannot go on without that it
would probably stop at any rate & we should have given a bad
precedent without any benefit, however we shall write to Mr D[anie]l
at any rate I believe we are not yet paid up our former balance.
I advise the selling the Cyl[inde]r of Chacewater engine
to Poldice, because if we can find a purchaser for the Materials
they would like a new Cylinder, & if the nozzles are much worn or
damaged sell them with it. I have spoke with Messrs Hurd & Hunt &
they agree to go on above the addit for 3 months as a trial And We &
Doctor W[ithering]. agree to the same, but wish for an estimate of
the monthly costs & probable produce and also of the establishment
you mean to keep up in dressing & returning halvans &c, & I think it
may be right to take a valuation of the Materials &c now on the
mine. Mr Hunt wants an acc[oun]t of his tin now with you sold &
unsold & the same for Mr Rickards seperately. In respect to the
selling M[essr]s Fox's Tin we should be glad to do it provided
Competition in this market can be done away otherwise it is not
worth while, as the demand is small & the factors sell Tin as
payment for Goods & thereby have a double profit, which we cannot
have if a general & sole warehouse were established at B[irmingha]m
& at Bristol we should agree to keep that here or to send our Tin to
it If anybody else were thought more proper.
We shall write Mr Fox very soon on the subject. Mrs W[att]. desires
to know whether ever the cask of brandy was sent off which you or
W[illiam] M[urdock]. mentioned to be bought for us as it has never
come to hand.
With Comp[limen]ts to Mrs Wilson, I
remain
Dear Sir
Your's sincerely
James Watt''
AD1583/3/79
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
William Murdock's invention
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
5 May 1789
Endorsed: Mr Watt May 5 1789
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, Via
Bristol
''Birm[ingha]m May 5th 1789
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
We have your's of 30th. I am very sorry that
W[illiam]. M[urdock]. is likely to lose the benefit of his invention
now it is proved to be useful, but I fear nothing can be done for
his security for the following reasons. 1st because I doubt the
validity of a patent where the invention consisted only in applying
different materials from those usualy used. 2nd A patent costs about
£100, a Caveat will answer little good end & may oblige him to an
expensive Journey to London to Contest the matter before the
Attorney General if any body else applies 3rd Because his having
used it publickly himself, will operate against the patent. The
Words of the oath are ''that the same is of my invention and not
known or used by others to the best of my knowlege & belief''.
4th Rich[ar]d Scantlebury's Claim 5th we had once a clack of that
kind made of wood in our great pump at Soho, but that is forgotten &
should never operate against him as far as we can prevent it.
Rich[ar]d Scantleburys patent does not seem to me to be valid for
some of the above reasons and can only serve to terrify people with
a lawsuit which perhaps if he knew the nature of it he would fear as
much himself. I shall write to London to enquire. The only way for
Mr Murdock seems to be to endeavour to get some thing worth while
from the adv[enture]rs.
I approve very much of what you have got done in respect
to the Horn[blow]ers. I shall see Mr B[oulton]. this evening and
talk with him on it & write you fully. As you observe a Lawsuit is
to be avoided. And though it cannot always be so yet it should be
put off as long as we can the damage in case of Loss will be less, &
circumstances may occur that may render it not of much moment.
Please take care permit be sent with the Brandy under a piece of Tin
nailed to the cask or box & let the box be firm.
Mr Murdock may be assured we shall be of every service
to him we can on this or any other occasion but I see nothing which
can be done in here for his advantage.
Mrs Watt has been very ill lately but is much recovered
& I hope will soon be well She joins me in comp[limen]ts to you &
Mrs Wilson & I remain
Dear Sir
Your's sincerely
James Watt
Mr Wilkinson is
expected here soon, I fear all is not right in money matters with
the C[ornish] M[etal]. Co[mpany] I hear there is to be a meeting of
ye Gr & Wms & some more in London''
AD1583/3/80
Letter, Boulton to
Wilson regarding
robbery at Soho, and other matters
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
25 May 1789
Endorsed: Mr Boulton May 25th 1789
Addressed to: Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson, at Mr Holbrooks, Morriston near,
Swansea, S. Wales
“Soho 25 May 89
Dear Sir
Enclosed I send you a press Copy of my letter to Mr
Morris which will Explain it self - I have never rec[ei]vd any
answer to it or remittance on Acc[oun]t. I therefore must beg the
fav[ou]r of you not only to receive the ballance due for that part
of ye Engine you sent from Cornwall but also for the amount of
B[oulton]&W[att's] bill for the Rotative parts sent from hence
w[hi]ch I cannot exactly tell you ye am[oun]t of as I am at this
mom[en]t pressd for time but believe it is near 200£ I think you
should finaly settle both acc[oun]ts & if inconven[ien]t to Mr
M[orris]. to pay at a short date please to take a Bill at a long
date.
I have just discov[er]d a Capital Robbery at Soho which
takes up all my time & attention & therefore must cut short this
letter by wishing you a good journey & assuring you I shall be happy
to see you at Soho on ye 3[r]d June as you propose - The Bills 404£.
11s[hillings]. 7d [pence] came safe & are at your Cred[i]t.
I am Dear S[i]r
Yours sincerely
M: Boulton
[marginal] Bring
back my Copy''
AD1583/3/81
Letter,
Roberts to
Wilson regarding invoice of goods
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
26 May 1789
Endorsed: Mr Roberts May 26th 1789
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, near Truro, Cornwall
''Soho.
Birmingham 26 May 1789
Mr Thomas Wilson
Bought
of James Watt & Comp[an]y
Jan[uar]y 22nd - 1 Ream Patent Copying Paper
- £1. 1 [shilling]. -
1 Oz [ounce] Ink Powders
- - . 6 . -
ordered by Mr Lawson & delivered to him
- £1. 7. -
May 14 2 Ream Patent Copy Paper
- [£]2. 2. -
Box, pack[in]g & Carr[ia]ge paid to
Pritchard
& Barlow - Bristol
- - . 2
[shillings]. -
[total]
£3. 11 [shillings]. -
Sir
As above you receive Invoice of Goods delivered as
therein mentioned - the last 2 Ream were ordered by Mr Watt & I
believe are for C[ornish]. M[etal]. Co[mpany].
I am Sir
Your
most Obed[ient] h[um]ble Serv[an]t
Jno [John] Roberts
26 May 1789''
AD1583/3/82
Letter,
Hodges to Wilson
regarding accounts between Mr Boulton and Mr Wills
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
3 Jun 1789
Endorsed: Mr Hodges 3 June 1789
Addressed to: Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson, of Chace Water, near Truro
''Soho 3[r]d June 1789
Mr Wilson
Sir
Inclosed is Mr Boulton's Account with Mr
Wills, and also Mr Will's Account with Mr Boulton - On this latter
you will observe several remarks which require an explanation -
particularly the £2: 5 [shillings]: 3 [pence] paid to Mr Rivers for
Carriage p[e]r Coach - and the 15/[shillings]1 [pence] Carriage
p[e]r waggon - Mr Wills shou'd explain what these Boxes contain'd or
to whom deliver'd, and then Mr Boulton I presume will be able to
know whom the Carriage belongs - NB. Mr Wills mentions Lamps on hand
- should he still have any not likely to sell, must beg to know the
sorts, & if a considerable abatement will induce him to take
them shall consent to it - or otherwise must have them back - The
£5: 7: 3 which he credits Mr Boulton for, for oil don't know
how that arises -
It appears that Mr Wills charges in his Acc[oun]t with
Mr Boulton the Oil he consum'd in
trials on Lamps as also the Carriage of ye Lamps and the Postage of
Letters it is thought that if he has 10 p[e]r C[en]t or at most 15
p[e]r C[en]t for his profit or Commission on the prices he has sold
the Lamps at, it will be reasonable or sufficient - Mr Wills will
therefore point out the prices he has sold them at - perhaps some
may be sold higher & some at lower prices than Charged - Please note
we gave him permission to sell some say such as were on hand at ye
reduced prices, same as sent him ye 25 Nov[ember] 1786. -
You will much oblige Mr Boulton by bringing this
Acc[oun]t to an issue soon as possible & also in informing
him what success you have with Mr Kingdon of Exeter -
I am
Sir
Your most obed[ient] Serv[an]t
for Mr Boulton
Jno [John] Hodges''
AD1583/3/83
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
engine required for Haverfordwest by Mr Powell
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
11 Jun 1789
Endorsed: Mr Watt June 11 1789
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, via
Bristol
''Birm[ingha]m June 11th 1789
Mr Wilson /
Dear Sir
J. H. Powell Esq[ui]r[e] who is 2/3
proprietor of one of the Smokeless Coal pits near Haverford West
wants an Engine to draw his water & coals, water about 150 barrels
p[e]r hour at most, if of 40 Gall[on]s each, the depth being only 20
fathoms an 18 inch double will suffice to draw the water in 12 hours
& waits the remainder of the time, please write him to Farley house
near Winchester, what will be the value of the materials of the 18
or 20 you have on hand & what will be wanted to compleat the engine,
I propose to add a rotative motion to it which I have called £100
additional, & a Gin from £100 to £150, there needs no spiral for
that small depth, a ballance chain will do, I suppose no pumps will
be wanted -
He wants W[illiam] M[urdock]. to go over to inspect the
place which please speak to him about, Mr Powell seems a worthy
Gentleman and says he will chearfully pay all expences, I have given
him your direction, & desired him to write you if he wishes Mr
M[urdock]. to go over, The Engine must be fixed so as to be easily
moveable as they must shift it frequently.
I have said it will burn (the 18 inch) from 112 to 120lb
[pound weight] of coals p[e]r hour according to their coals & order
of the Engine have said nothing ab[ou]t premium yet as I do not know
the price of their coals but believe they are high.
I hope you got well home & remain with best
Comp[limen]ts to Mrs Wilson Dear Sir
Your's sincerely
James Watt''
AD1583/3/84
Letter,
Walker to Wilson
regarding dispatch of cutlery, and of gun for Reverend Jenkins
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
23 Jun 1789
Endorsed: Mr Walker 23[r]d June 1789
Addressed to: Mr. Thomas Wilson, Chasewater, near Truro, Cornwall
''Chasewater
Mr. Thomas Wilson
Birmingham 23[r]d June 1789
Dear Sir
I hope you reached home in good health, and found Mrs.
Wilson and Your Family enjoying the like blessing. -
Agreeable to Your request I have forwarded a Box directed to You, by
the Bristol Waggon (Ashmore's) containing the Knives and forks for
Your goodself and those for Mr. Jenkins, which I wish you may
receive safe and to Your liking - Messrs Boulton & Watt will reckon
with You for their cost as well as the Gun for the Rev[eren]d Mr
Jenkins, the whole being as under viz:
[here gives
account for cutlery and the Reverend Jenkins' gun, totalling £10 and
7 shillings]
At present Mr.
Boulton is in London, Mr Watt, at home well -
I am on every occasion
Dear Sir
Your very Obed[ien]t h[um]'ble Serv[an]t
Zac[cheu]s: Walker''
AD1583/3/85
Letter, Boulton to
Wilson regarding
Mr Boulton's conversation with the King
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
29 Jun 1789
Endorsed:
Boulton 29 June 1789
Addressed to: Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson, Chase Water, near Truro,
Cornwall
''London June 29 1789
Mr Tho[ma]s Wilson
Dear Sir
I have been in this City about 9 Days & in
my road up I had a conversation w[i]th the K[in]g who seems
perfectly recoverd & talkd of matters that he recollected I had said
7 years ago - I had his permission to send him some of my halfpence
which I did next morn[in]g & accompanyd them with the history &
perfections of them.
Since I came to Town I have deliverd specimens to most of the
Ministers who all express approbation.
What I am now going to say you must keep to your self or it will
soon come round again to Mr Williams for he has more pimps than one
at Truro.
His Language now is I have not Copper for them being under Contract
for 3100 Ton to the E[ast]:I[ndia]:Co[mpany] & 1000 Ton for foreign
orders w[hi]ch puts it out of my power to supply them (Gov[ernmen]t)
with an ounce before Lady day & the price must be very different to
that before asked & offerd.
This I fear will put by the Coinage altogether & therefore I should
be glad to know your opineon what quantity you think might be
contracted for p[e]r Month over & above the present Contracts, 100
Ton p[e]r Month to begin 3 Mo[nths] hence would answer for the
Coinage. I fear Mr W[illiam]s will stretch his power too far & bring
on other mischiefs.
Pray tell me what quantity there is in Ore in Cornwall & how far it
is possible to Contract w[i]th Gov[ernmen]t, for quantity & time.
I believe Tin will rise for your Gov[ernmen]t.
be silent & answer me respecting the Copper p[e]r return.
my best respects to Mrs Wilson
D[ea]r S[i]r
Yours sincerely
M: Boulton
I will send you
some halfpence p[e]r Coach''
AD1583/3/86
Letter, Watt to
Wilson regarding
savings on engines, and copper supplies
Item
1 folio
Manuscript
8 Jul 1789
Endorsed: Mr Watt July 8 1789
Addressed to: Mr Thomas Wilson, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, via
Bristol
''Birm[ingha]m July 8th 1789
Mr Wilson
Dear Sir
Yesterday received your's of the 4th
covering Bills value £414. 18s[hillings]. 8d [pence], Mr Wilkinson
has accepted the draft on him - I approve much of the method you
took to shew the savings on ye Engines, but think as you do that
they may have had coals from other places, And besides had they had
common Engines that would have gone to this depth the Consumption
would have been much encreased.
Mr B[oulton]. is still in London to the end of this
week, has agreed with Mr W. for Copper for the Coinage when it takes
place, but Ministers will do nothing in it before November & I much
doubt if will then. Mr W. will supply no small orders for copper now
as he says he is under contract for 4000 tons, which will take every
exertion, It is said Tin will rise. Mr Wilkinson has bought 100
bl[oc]ks in London at 63/[shillings] 6 [pence] on speculation.
Mrs W[att]. joins me in Comp[limen]ts & we are glad to
hear that Mrs Wilson is better - I remain
Dear
Sir
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