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INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Series One: The Boulton & Watt Archive and the Matthew Boulton Papers from Birmingham Central Library

Part 7: Matthew Boulton Correspondence (Subject Material and Individual Correspondents including Garbett, Rennie, Southern & Wilkinson)

A Documentary History provides further vital subject material from the Matthew Boulton Papers (Boxes 308-310, 312, 322, 325-328, 332, 337, 343, 358-360, 362, 363, 367-369 and 375). This comprises correspondence with key figures:

 - Samuel Garbett (Chairman of the Birmingham Commercial Committee)
 - Logan Henderson (the first technical assistant engaged by Boulton and Watt)
 - James Lawson (Engine erector employed by Boulton and Watt)
 - Mrs Charlotte Matthews (Wife of Matthew Boultons main London agent)
 - John Rennie (Civil engineer, who worked for Boulton and Watt in 1780s)
 - John Scale (Partner in the Soho Manufactory)
 - John Southern (Draughtsman and Manager of the Soho Foundry)
 - Sir Zaccheus Walker (Senior Boulton and Watt employee - 'Principal Clerk')
 - John Wilkinson (Ironmaster at Bersham, Broseley and Bradley)
 - William Wilkinson (Iron master and close friend of M R Boulton and James Watt jnr)
 - Thomas Wilson (Engine erector used by many of the Cornish Mines)
 - Samuel Wyatt (Architect, worked on Soho House, Heathfield Hall and Albion Mill)

"These papers provide a unique opportunity to study numerous facets of late 18th century industry and industrial society. It is not only the scale and relative completeness of the archive that makes it outstanding but the fact that, by virtue of their stature, Boulton and Watt corresponded with very many of the major figures in late 18th century scientific and industrial society both in Britain and overseas. These papers are a unique source for studies of steam power."
Professor Jennifer Tann, Consultant Editor
School of Continuing Studies, University of Birmingham

The following extracts offer a flavour of the rich detail in these letters:

26 July 1784, Matthew Boulton to Samuel Garbett
"I am certain you have done all that could be done in the Sheffield business. Sir John Dalymple has written a Pamphlet recommending his Lands and our Engines for the establishment of an Iron Works. Chacewater Mine will stop unless I and my friends carry it on. The Tax on Candles will affect Wheal Virgin Mine about £200 a year, and other Mines proportionally, but I could not stir the Cornish gentlemen"

31 August 1786, Samuel Garbett to Matthew Boulton
"I am anxious to hear that the Cornish Metal Company have sent and have determined to keep considerable Stocks of Copper at Amsterdam and Hamburg, with orders to sell at a certain price. And that they have sent an intelligent person to every Mine in Europe, that can affect the markets at Hamburg and Amsterdam I find Mr Gascoigne not only wrote to Carron for 600 tons of the best metal for making Cannon, but also for 20,000 Fire Bricks, and 100 tons of Fire Clay, and for such Machinery and Utensils as will enable Russia to make Cannon for all Europe."

28 March 1792
Samuel Garbett to Matthew Boulton, at Mr Matthew, Green Lettuce Lane, Cannon Street, London
"If you could prove that Hornblower has erected any Engines since the date of his Patent which have not proved better than Mr Smeatons, or have not performed the effect he proposed to his employers, or what he expressed in his Petition for a Patent, it might be of use to state the particulars in order to show that he should be discouraged as an impostor."

11 September 1792, Samuel Garbett to Matthew, at Mr Wilsons, Truro, Cornwall
" Mr Timmins said their Plan was to act in conjunction with the Birmingham Metal Company in buying Copper, agreeing with the Copper Mining Company to take what Copper they wanted for making Brass at the price equal to the Standard price Ores that had been bought at the public Ticketings, and with the lowest price for Smelting. If dissatisfied they were determined to erect Smelting Works to smelt 700 tons annually and buy Ores at the public Ticketings. I avoided mentioning your name. I was glad to see that Mr Monneron was honourably liberated, but the French are so frantic that life is very precarious in the country. Doctor Gilby and Miss Capper were married yesterday. A Canal is proposed from near Dudley to join the Worcester Canal at Selly Oak. Lord Macartney writes to me that he had John Olny narrowly watched, and he turned out the rogue he was represented to be; he is now in Gaol."

11 May 1778
Logan Henderson to Matthew Boulton, at No: 6 Green Lettuce Lane, Cannon Street, London
" Mr Playfair tells me that Lady Dumfries has employed a Mr Patterson to enquire into the merits of Chelsea Engine with a view of making a bargain with you. Mr [Gilbert] Meason and her ladyship will be very difficult to fix; it is still in your power to bring them to terms. I have a letter from Mr Dundas, a neighbour of Colvills, who says the [Torryburn] Engine continues to go charmingly, though Lord Cochrane has been trying to demonstrate that it is good for nothing. You was some time ago so kind as to make me an offer of your interest of getting me into Mr Jacksons office at Birmingham if he should take a fancy to resign, I have now to request your interest, if not otherways engaged when that event may happen, in favour of a brother of mine, who is much better qualified for an office of that nature than I can pretend to be. Mr Watt knows him very well."

4 January 1792, John Rennie to Matthew Boulton
"I assure you it is not my intention to leave Mills for Canals, but I detest idleness and it is solely to fill up my time that I have embarked in Canals. I still intend to carry on the Mill Trade. I have lately embarked myself pretty deeply in the Mustard, Oil and Hair Powder manufactory with this purpose. I am obliged to you for your mention of the Iron Mill, and gladly accept."

6 July 1789, John Southern to Matthew Boulton
"I understand that you know the new Fly is not yet tried. Everything about that Press is ready except Buschs machine, and the 6 & 7 sided Socket and trough which we intend to have recast after making the pattern more correct to the top of the screw. Yesterday we put on the 5 curves, and Mr Lawson will probably inform you how they act."

1 May 1776, John Wilkinson to Matthew Boulton
"On receipt of your first letter from London, I wrote to Bersham to send the Articles for Stratford [the engine fitter] immediately to London by the first ship from Chester; such parts as we waited instructions for, may now be had readier in town, as I mentioned in a letter to Mr Watt, to whom I wrote again respecting some defects in our Engine The Cylinder and working Barrels for Bedworth are ready: the Pipes are casting. Nothing shall wait, if I have the needful instructions in time. If I were a tailor, I should be inclined to remark, that it was more difficult to get the measure taken than to make the suit of clothes."

One final extract brings news from Cornwall and information on committee business. 
October 1785, Matthew Boulton to John Wilkinson
"We have now undertaken to make an Engine for Wheal Maid to work an 18 box to the depth of 160 fathoms or 110 fat. Below adit. This is to do the work of 3 Engines and thereby make a great saving. Mr Daniel of Truro desires me to acquaint you that the Adventurers of Wheal Virgin will have a good Engine of our construction to dispose of about midsummer: this may serve your purpose. Tomorrow a new Committee will be chosen for the Miners and Metal Company"

Each part of this project has a clear theme. Libraries can acquire the project part by part confident that each area has clear research and teaching potential.



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