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

Part 12: Boulton & Watt Correspondence and Papers (MS 3147/3/1-79 and 245-285)

Parts 12 and 13 of the microfilm project focus on the full run of correspondence and papers in the Boulton and Watt Archive. These materials have recently been recatalogued by the Archives of Soho Project, a major initiative funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Birmingham City Council and the Birmingham Assay Office Charitable Trust, to achieve a proper arrangement and listing of all the letters and papers. This work was carried out by senior project archivists Adam C Green and Tim Proctor, and project archivist Fiona Tait. It has made these important documents much more accessible to researchers. All the relevant listings compiled by the Archives of Soho Project are included in this microfilm project.

Matthew Boultons lifelong interest in science enabled him to see the potential of James Watts steam power and he backed Watts ideas with the necessary finance. He acquired John Roebucks interest in Watts steam engine patent in 1774 and Watt joined him at Soho in a 25 year partnership lasting until 1800. The patent was also extended for the same period of 25 years. These documents enable scholars to chart the growth of the steam engine business and the work of Boulton & Watt employees at Soho Manufactory (established in 1762) and Soho Foundry (built in the 1790s).

By the mid 1790s James Watt Junior and Matthew Robinson Boulton had already taken a leading role in the running of the business. After 1800 they continued to develop the range of Boulton and Watt activities in the next three decades. Incoming correspondence from Agents, Engine Erectors and Employees at Soho, provide researchers with many insights into the social and economic history of the Industrial Revolution.

Part 12 begins with the Principals and Partners Correspondence and features:
- Letters from Matthew Boulton (1728-1809)
  to James Watt, James Watt Junior and Matthew Robinson Boulton, 1777-1799
- Letters from James Watt (1736-1819)
  to Matthew Boulton, James Watt Junior and Matthew Robinson Boulton, 1777-1816
- Letters from Matthew Robinson Boulton (1770-1842)
  to James Watt, Matthew Boulton, James Watt Junior, Gregory Watt and John Southern,  
  1795-1809
- Letters from James Watt Junior (1769-1848)
  to James Watt, Matthew Robinson Boulton, Gregory Watt, Boulton Watt & Co.,
  John Southern (Engineer and Head of the Drawing Office at Soho Manufactory),
  William Creighton (who succeeded John Southern as Head of the Drawing Office,
  James Miller, James Brown (London based engine erector who frequently assisted in   
  the Drawing Office when he was at Soho) and William Bennett, 1789-1830
- Letters from Gregory Watt (1777-1804)
  to James Watt, James Watt Junior and Matthew Robinson Boulton, 1797-1803

In a letter of 10 October 1801 James Watt Junior writes from Newcastle to Matthew Robinson Boulton on ways of combating the desertion of smiths and the difficulty of getting goods hands in Newcastle. He gives news of an order for a 4 horse engine for Tyne Iron Co. and a new estimate for a probable order from Tyne Main. He remarks on his favourable opinion of the Tyne Iron Co.s establishment, gives his views on Fishwicks property and points out that Hawkes & Co. have given Murray the order for their engine. Mr Wheatley receives a present and an increase in his wages because of his good conduct. He points out errors in the Newcastle accounts, the need to offer assistance to the widow of Thomas Barnes, and concludes that there is a good prospect of an increased demand for coals and new orders for engines. This is typical of the detailed 3 or 4 page letters in which the major protagonists of the business kept in touch with each other on important information on a day by day basis.

These letters complement and dovetail neatly with correspondence already covered from the Matthew Boulton Papers in Part 1 of this microfilm project on the Lunar Society.

This is followed by the incoming correspondence and papers from Agents, Engine Erectors and Employees at Soho. Included here are:

- Thomas Barnes (Boulton & Watts North-Eastern agent from 1794 to 1798)
There is a lot of correspondence from Thomas Barnes to John Southern, the head of Boulton & Watts Drawing Office at the Soho Manufactory. There are very good, detailed letters, often including sketches and diagrams. Two letters cover the making of an iron wagon railway for Walker Colliery.
- John Buchanan (Boulton & Watts clerk at Soho Manufactory)
His letters cover the period 1780-1785, most are addressed to James Watt and were written by Buchanan at Soho.
- Henry Creighton (Engine erector and engineer)
Younger brother of William Creighton, Henry was one of Boulton & Watt Co.s best engine erectors and engineers. Letters cover 1804-1809, a period when he was mainly based in Manchester. He also spent much of 1808 in Ireland. As well as erecting and repairing steam engines, Henry did a great deal of work on gas lighting, heating apparatus and drying stoves.
- William Creighton (Engine erector and engineer)
One of Boulton & Watt Co.s longest serving engineers. He took over as head of the Drawing Office on the death of John Southern in 1815. He was a travelling engine erector and agent, based in Manchester for much of the period covered by his letters 1796, 1800-1805 and 1815, but making extended journeys to Scotland. He attended engines in towns within travelling distance of Manchester, such as Preston, Hull, Halifax, Macclesfield, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Chester.
- Peter Ewart (Agent and engineer)
In the 1790s he worked as an agent and engineer for Boulton & Watt in Manchester. He later pursued several business ventures in Manchester and Liverpool, mainly in textiles, for which he purchased several engines. He also continued to act as an unofficial agent, liaising with customers on Boulton & Watt Co.s behalf and passing information to Soho about the state of various firms in the North West. He also had a keen interest in steam boats.
- William Forman (Clerk, later the Head Clerk, in the engine firms counting house at Soho Manufactory) He was also responsible for the copying press firm, James Watt & Co. These letters written by Forman during the period 1791-1796 and 1799-1800 were sent to James Watt and James Watt Junior whilst they were in London.
- John Hall (Engine erector)
He was one of the first engine erectors employed by Boulton & Watt as documented by his letters for 1778-1783. The engines he worked on include the Wrens Nest forge engine in Shropshire, engines for John Wilkinson at Ketley and Snedshill, and blowing engines in Yorkshire.
- Joseph Harrison (Engine erector)
Another one of the early engine erectors employed by Boulton & Watt. These are letters for 1779, 1786 and 1787 covering his activities.
- Logan Henderson (Engine erector)
He was the first technical assistant engaged by Boulton & Watt and worked for them between 1776 and 1783. Previously he had been an officer in the marines and a sugar planter in the West Indies, losing all his possessions in Jamaica. He had a good knowledge of levelling, draining and machinery. He made extensive visits to Cornwall, London, Ireland, Scotland and the North East, and supervised matters at Soho when Boulton and Watt were absent. There is a substantial sequence of letters from him for the years 1776 to 1790 as well as some letters to him from Matthew Boulton and James Watt in 1777 and 1781. He had charge of the erection of the Torryburn and Byker engines in 1778, spent much of 1781 in Cornwall with James Watt. He got on very well with William Murdock, but not always so well with James Watt, with whom he had a number of bad tempered exchanges. He left the employ of Boulton & Watt abruptly in the early part of 1783. By 1784 he was involved with a foundry in London; then in 1790 he applied, without success, for the post of Engineer to the Dublin Waterworks.
- Jabez Carter Hornblower (Engineer and rival engine-maker)
He worked briefly for Boulton & Watt on various engines, including those at Ketley, Donnington Wood and Penryndee. Letters from Hornblower are dated 1778 and 1779. He was dismissed because of his bad attitude and poor relations with Boulton & Watt customers and other employees. He went on to become a rival engine-maker, constructing engines that Boulton & Watt considered as infringing Watts patent, leading to lengthy legal action.
- Samuel Hurt (Head Clerk at Soho Foundry)
- Abraham Storey (Head of the Foundry department)
- Simon Vivian (Smith and fitter at Soho Foundry)
These letters from three senior employees at the Soho Foundry cover the period 1800-1811 and most are addressed to James Watt Junior and Matthew Robinson Boulton.
- Eidingtoun Smeaton Hutton (Engine erector and engineer)
He was based in Manchester until late 1805, when he moved to Scotland. He worked on a wide variety of engines, liaised with Boulton & Watt & Co.s customers and directed junior engine erectors. He also worked on gas lighting installations. His letters cover 1804-1809.
- James Law (Engine erector)
He travelled around the country working on different engines. Letters cover 1781-1792 and provide details on his work in London, Chester, Nottingham and Oakhampton. There is significant material on the New River Engine, Thompson & Baxters engine, Sir Richard Arkwrights engine, Mr Morehouses engine and the Harris Engine.
- James Lawson (Engine erector and engineer)
There are a considerable number of letters to and from Lawson making up just over 4 reels of this part of the project. He was one of Boulton & Watts longest serving and most experienced engine erectors and engineers. He worked in Cornwall in the 1780s with a visit to Scotland in 1786. By 1793-1795 letters show he had moved to Manchester and the North West and here he acted as an agent for Boulton & Watt. In the second half of 1795 he was called back to London to work on various engines. He spent much of 1796 gathering information on pirate engines for the various legal actions that Boulton & Watt were pursuing. Letters for 1797-1798 show him back in Manchester and the North West continuing his activities as Boulton & Watts agent there. He made a number of journeys to South Wales, London and Cornwall during 1798 and at the end of the year he travelled to Carlisle, Newcastle and on into Scotland visiting various engines and customers. He sent back detailed reports on the state of the engines, the views of customers, possible problems, the settlement of amounts owing, payments and remittances, prospects of new orders and business opportunities. Letters for 1799-1802 cover his work in Manchester, Newcastle and Scotland. In 1802 he was also active in Yorkshire, South Wales and Ireland. The letters document his extensive travels during this period visiting numerous customers. Two letters from James Lawson in 1806 cover engines in South Wales at the Blaenavon Furnaces with various sketches and plans of these and Trevithicks engine and boiler at Pennydarren, as well as repairs to a painted window in Lichfield Cathedral. Lawsons incoming correspondence consists of letters from his employers, Soho employees, and from customers, arranged chronologically by year.

This sequence of material from Agents, Engine Erectors and Employees at Soho is continued in Part 13 of this microfilm project. These letters and papers augment and fit particularly well with material already covered in Parts 2, 7 & 8 of this project. They relate to many of Watts activities, Boulton & Watt customers, steam engines and other business matters mentioned in James Watts Notebooks and Papers (see Muirhead I in Part 2). Letters to Matthew Boulton from Logan Henderson and James Lawson feature in Part 7. Significant letters to James Watt or James Watt Junior from Thomas Barnes, Peter Ewart and James Lawson are in Part 8 (see Muirhead IV).

Throughout, these letters are packed with details of great interest to the social historian.
Here are some examples:

Matthew Boulton (London) to James Watt (Birmingham), 19 May 1779, covering the accident at Chelsea and Boultons scheme to remedy this:
Chelsea Engine was set to work on the day I set out to Holland & continued to work for about 4 or 5 days & then the hook which connected the Chain to one of ye pumps broke & the Engine came into ye House with such force as broke the Cylinder Bottom & did other mischiefs. A new Bottom was cast & all apparent damages was repaired & the Engine set to work again on Thursday last whilst I was present; the Vacuum was bad & yet everything about ye Condenser seemed perfect as everything was now grown warm we screwed up ye screws of ye Cylinder bottom a little, the vacuum grew worse even so bad that ye Engine would not work. We therefore stopped and agreed to examine ye nossells in ye morning, but low to our surprise and chagrin we found the Cylinder itself cracked horizontally about one foot long near its lower flank. We slackened the screws near it & apply a large quantity of putty & the Engine then worked very well. But I fear the Crack may extend & therefore wish your advice how to stop & remedy the mischief. I will endeavour to explain it on the other side & will mark the Crack & what I think should be new in red ink(with diagram overleaf).

Letter from Matthew Boulton (Soho) to James Watt (Cusgarne), 11 September 1781, enclosing sketch plan of proposed new engine workshops at Soho Manufactory. The letter covers experiments upon equalisers. Boulton raises the query that he cannot see why one cylinder cannot be more economical than two, if double the length. There is a discussion of Colcloughs Engine: I think Peter Colclough seems a fair, honest, reasonable man & I dont see how we can escape erecting his Engine. I have wrote to Handley to request him to answer several questions I ask about obtaining a patent in Ireland & to give me his general opinion & directions about the mode of proceeding. If it is necessary that one of us should go over, I have no objection & I am personally acquainted with the Lord Chancellor, the Lieutenant & many of the Irish Parliament, but as to the business of viewing old materials and setting out the new Engine House, I think if the other business doth not require me to go that Mr Henderson might go over either from Cornwall or Bristol...

Letter from James Watt (Newcastle) to James Watt Junior (Soho), 7 November 1796, about Cornish affairs and ongoing legal actions:
...In respect of Mr Wilsons letter, I think nothing for this should be offered to United Mines till something is settled with Counsels, & I really think we should have the 2/3rd from them, if possible but shall agree to any thing resolved upon in the General Soho Council. I think Wilson did wrong to make them any proposal until they came forward like men, he should be cautioned on this head.
I think Mr Robison will make a good witness as his conversation is more full than his letter & he is enraged at the Horners. But there is the difficulty of his procuring leave of absence & of getting his substitute with whom he is on bad terms to lecture for him. There is also the expense which will be considerable, as from his disease, he must travel slowly & with his wife. The Deputy must also be paid, I suppose in all it will not be much under £150-.
John Roebuck will come if wanted, but if he is in his ordinary health he can speak himself in the Mail, his evidence can go no further back than 1767 Dr Black has put his remembrances on paper of which he is to send copy, but cannot come to London on no account.
I came here tonight by 7 oclock & have sent a message to Mr Barnes whom I hope to see in the morning, & regulate my stay accordingly but hope to be home on Friday...

Letter from James Watt (Soho) to M R Boulton (care of Thomas Janes, Manchester),
30 May 1796. On the first sheet is a transcript of agreement between James Stockdale of Cark, Lancashire, and Boulton & Watt for an engine for a Cotton Mill. The letter then goes on to comment on pirate engines, the work of Peter Ewart, and on the premiums to be required from pirated engines:
...Mr Ewart is certainly much wanted both at the Foundry & at Mr Whatelys works & I fear he will get into a scrape with the latter; the bills came to hand. Mr B. & Mr Jn. have been at work upon the estimates, but I have had so much to do , that I have not yet been able to attend to it. The question what we should charge the pirated engines is a difficult one & were we to charge our profits on those we make now, it would show what these profits are: suppose that you were to state that as the end of the term approached we had some years ago raised the premium on 4 horse engines to £6-6- per horse/which was always paid in London & in the South/ & that the premium per horse decreased proportionally as the Engine was larger until at a 14 horse power it came to £5 per horse, but this explanation need not be entered into except when you cannot settle otherwise...

According to information summarised on the docket, a letter from James Watt Junior (Old Cumnock) to Matthew Robinson Boulton (Soho), dated 13 September 1801, describes: Further observations on the state of the engines in Scotland. The Linwood Company supposed to be in treaty with Baird. Engines likely to be wanted at Paisley.
Mr Cunninghams difficulties in transporting his cylinder. Both he  and Mr Houston diligent apostles in propagating the true faith. Overtures to G Grieve for a renewal of his engagement. Visit to Colonel Fullarton and opinions of his numerous schemes. The Colonel is curious to learn our views in the iron trade. Mention of an offer of a situation made to us by Mr Buchan. Mr Buchans estate near Cumnock. At the same inn with him -  likely to learn his situation. Inspection of the neighbourhood of Old Cumnock. Good conduct of Mr Pearson - present to him. Will send him to Manchester. Destinations of the other hands. Proposes McMurdos mother to be cautionary for her sons in the agreement. Order of a new boiler and apparatus for Messrs Finlay & Co. of Catrine Mill.

Letter from James Lawson (Salford) to James Watt (Heathfield), 15 February 1795, detailing his experiments upon engines:
Since I last wrote to you I have made several experiments, both here and at Messrs Wormald Fountain & Gotts, which all agree in the loss by condensation.
From two experiments at Wormald Fountain & Gotts Engine the water evaporated was 15,3 Cubic feet per 112 (lb?) coals - I was very exact in measuring the water & weighing the coal, which agrees with the general consumption, so that the constant evaporation is not less than 15 Cubic feet This chiefly owing to the fireplace being large & the coals burning slowly & undisturbed as there is seldom occasion to stir them the burns remain cool & little heat in the ash pit. The coals are kept thick on the grate and burn bright at the edges as in the Cornish Engines.
The fire places here being much smaller I have got them widened from containing 11 feet to 15. Since which there has been a constant saving of about 12 per cent and much less trouble in keeping the steam regular - I have made two experiments in one of which there was 14,06 & the 14,5 Cubic feet evaporated...

Letters from Logan Henderson from Cusgarne in Cornwall are full of news of Cornish Engines, such as Poldice, Wheal Virgin and Ting Tang, and meetings of Cornish firms. Letters from James Watt Junior in 1796 reveal his activities in London making enquiries to help in the legal case against the Hornblowers, provide news of the injunction against Hornblower, Maberly and Peareth, and his journey to Leeds and Newcastle to serve injunctions on other pirate engines. Further letters from Newcastle cover the trial of the Benwell Engine and the possibilities of further new orders from various collieries in the region. By May he is busy back in London following the legal proceedings there. He reports to Matthew Robinson Boulton in Manchester on the affidavits filed by the Hornblowers and their allies. Letters for May and June continue to relay news of the legal actions. Letters for the following year also provide much material on Albion Mill, the Cornish Engines and the state of the Cornish Mines, as well as the ongoing battle against the Hornblowers.

Taken together these letters and papers provide a vast array of material for the researcher working on the Industrial Revolution. They give a detailed insight into Boulton & Watts network of agents, engine erectors and engineers. This enables the social historian to understand how the business was run and the nature and scope of its impact throughout the country and overseas. There is information on engine customers, the carriers who were transporting parts for Boulton & Watt, and the firms to whom Boulton & Watt subcontracted work. 

A paperback guide accompanies the microfilm project to provide full contents of reels information and detailed listings for Parts 12 and 13.