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

Part 14: Boulton & Watt Correspondence and Papers (MS 3147/3/405-484)

This part starts with four further sequences of correspondence arranged alphabetically by correspondent:

• General Correspondence for 1795-1798.
• General Correspondence dealt with by John Southern, c1788-1798, mainly in his capacity as assistant to James Watt, chief draughtsman, and later, as head of the Drawing Office at Soho Manufactory.
• General Correspondence received in the Drawing Office for the period
  1829-1843.
• General Correspondence for 1846-1862.

These comprise letters from engine customers, queries on plans, reports on particular problems with certain engines, communications with the carriers who were transporting goods and parts for Boulton, Watt & Sons, firms used by
Boulton, Watt & Sons for sub-contracted work, engine erectors, and people making general enquiries about engines. The later correspondence gives a good idea of the way business was developing and the different types of work being carried out under the direction of James Watt Junior (1769-1848) and Matthew Robinson Boulton (1770-1842).

The next section of the archive comprises letters and papers on the following subjects:

• Cornish Mines and Engines, 1775-1807.
• Albion Mill, 1782-1802.
• Establishment of a London Banking Concern, 1801-180.
• Gas Lighting, 1805-1816.
• Steam Boats, 1810-1843.