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

Part 1: Lunar Society Correspondence

EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION TO PART 1:
LUNAR SOCIETY CORRESPONDENCE BY SIR NICHOLAS GOODISON

This collection of manuscripts, reproduced from the Matthew Boulton papers held by the Archives Division of Birmingham Central Library, reveals much of the spirit behind the industrialisation of Britain in the second half of the 18th century. It offers great potential for the study of industrial innovation and scientific advance. It features the thoughts and deliberations of some of the leading scientific and industrial minds of the late 18th century. These were the men who were probably most influential in shaping changes in the fabric of culture and society at an important time in our history.

The Lunar Society was the most significant of the provincial philosophical societies in eighteenth century England. Members included Matthew Boulton, Erasmus Darwin, Thomas Day, Richard Lovell Edgeworth, James Keir, Joseph Priestley, William Small, James Watt, Josiah Wedgwood, John Whitehurst and William Withering. This group of talented individuals had wide-ranging interests in science, commerce and manufacturing. At their meetings and in correspondence with each other they discussed the social, political, economic, scientific and technological problems of a rapidly industrialising community. Add to the names above visitors such as Benjamin Franklin, and one has truly impressive international group.

The precise origin of the Lunar Society is difficult to determine. It seems to have started in the 1760s. Meetings took place at the homes of its various members on a monthly basis on or around the date of the full moon. Perhaps its origin should be sought at Soho House, the Handsworth home of Matthew Boulton, the entrepreneur who inherited a button and buckle factory from his father and transformed it into the renowned Soho Works where, through the development of James Watt's steam engine, he supplied the power needed by many projects of mass manufacture, engineering and mining. Before this he had developed a major manufacturing business in silver, plate and ormolu.

One of the most striking things about the Lunar Society is the absence of any formal records of its activities. This was an informal group which had no officers, with a variety of members attending different meetings and only a handful providing continuity. The fact that there are no minutes or published transactions makes the task of research more difficult, and one of the best sources for the researcher is therefore the correspondence of the men who were, at one time or another, members of the Society.

This microform project seeks to reproduce a substantial part of that correspondence. It is based upon the letters and papers exchanged between Matthew Boulton and other members. This rich source covers many different subjects. To mention a few they include Watt's steam engine, the importance of canals (which Wedgwood, Darwin, Boulton, Small, Galton and Watt all encouraged and helped to finance), the improvements in road transport, the significance of capital investment, technological improvement and new processes, and a whole range of scientific experiments, day-to-day problems of organization, working conditions, health, politics, medicine, sanitation, and improvements in education.

The manuscripts shed much light on Matthew Boulton and his immense importance both in the affairs of this Society and in the Industrial Revolution. Robert Schofield in his book, The Lunar Society of Birmingham, highlights the significance of Matthew Boulton: 'The most important of these men was Matthew Boulton and the entire history of the Lunar Society is marked by characteristics impressed upon it by Boulton's personality.'

Schofield characterised Matthew Boulton as 'a born promoter'. He never saw a business without conceiving ways of improving it; he never spent a year without attempting to expand and improve his own. Throughout his life, he jumped from one project to another, often before the first was completed and frequently before it was apparent whether it could be successfully completed. Although he possessed a quick mind, he worked best at the elaboration of other peoples' ideas.

Two of his Lunar Society friends left revealing statements about this trait. James Keir wrote, in a memoir of Matthew Boulton: 'Mr Boulton is a proof how much sound knowledge may be acquired without much regular study, by means of a quick and just apprehension, such practical application, and nice mechanical feelings . It cannot be doubted that he was indebted for much of his knowledge to the best preceptor, the conversation of eminent men.'

James Watt said: 'Mr Boulton . possessed in a high degree the facility of rendering any new invention of his own or others useful to the public by organising and arranging the processes by which it could be carried on . His conception of the nature of any invention was quick and he was not less quick in perceiving the uses to which it might be applied and the profits which might accrue from it.'

The key role of Matthew Boulton emerges clearly from this project based on his correspondence and papers. But the themes are many. Here are a few extracts which give a flavour of some of these manuscript letters:

Erasmus Darwin (Lichfield) to Matthew Boulton (Birmingham), ?1766:
'I have got with me a mechanical Friend, Mr Edgeworth from Oxfordshire - the greatest conjuror I ever saw - G-d send fair weather, and pray come to my Assistance, and prevail on Dr Small and Mrs Boulton to attend you tomorrow Morning and we will reconvey to Birmingham on Monday, if ye d-l permit, adieu .'

'He has ye principles of Nature in his Palm, and moulds them as He pleases. Can take away Polarity to give it to the Needle by rubbing it twice on ye Palm of his hand And can see through two solid Oak Boards without Glasses, wonderful! astonishing! diabolical!!! Pray tell Dr Small He must come to see these Miracles'.
[see under Erasmus Darwin, item 12]

James Keir (Wordsley near Stourbridge) to Matthew Boulton, 2 October 1772:
'Yours I had the pleasure of receiving yesterday. Your orders shall be executed as speedily as possibly especially I hope for your own Experiments as I well know the Impatience of my fellow-schemers, and I should also be sorry to check by delay your present hobby-horsicality for chemistry .'
[see under James Keir, item 3]

James Keir to Matthew Boulton, [July 1777]
'.I had a letter yesterday from Dr Darwin in which h says he longs for a little philosophical laughing. - therefore when you are at leisure, some full moons Sunday, I hope you will indulge the Dr and let us both know in time, that we may lay aside our patients and Glass making to attend you.'
[see under James Keir, item 15]

Matthew Boulton to James Watt, 25 February 1776:
'Pray remember that ye celebration of ye 3rd full moon will be on Sunday March 3rd. Darwin and Keir [sic] will both be at Soho. I then propose to make any Motions to Members respecting new Laws, and regulations, such as will tend to prevent the decline of a society which I hope will be lasting. Pray bring Mr Wilkinson, I think he will make a good member .'
[see under James Watt, Box 1, item 57]

Josiah Wedgwood, Great George Street [London] to M Boulton, Soho, [Birmingham], 5 May 1785:
'I waited on Sir Robert Lawley, when he told me what he had written, by which you know Mr Pit's sentiments remain still unaltered with respect to the Irish business, or at least with what relates to Iron. Mr Crawshaw, the great Iron Merchant, read at or meeting a paper to be presented to Mr Pitt stating the great importance of the Iron trade to this nation. He expressed surprise that neither Mr Wilkinson nor Mr Reynolds nor any of the Iron Masters were in town to give evidence upon the subject. Is it impossible to send a petition from the button manufacturers? We are trifled here by the soap makers etc.'
[see under Josiah Wedgwood, item 28]

Josiah Wedgwood, Great George Street, London to M Boulton, Soho, Birmingham, 21 May 1785:
'We have seen Mr Garbett here, just seen him, and he is gone. I need not tell you how much we stand in need of abilities like his, at this most critical and most perilous moment. I will not repeat what I have said in a short letter to Mr Watt, and need not tell you that we consider your town as the animating spirit of the towns and places in your neighbourhood. Several petitions are coming up besides two from Manchester and the neighbouring towns .'
and then annexe added by S Garbett -
'I have been at two General Meetings of the Chamber and shall be at another this evening. Though Mr Wedgwood intimates I have been slight in my attention to the Chamber, the business one way or other has employed more than four fifths of the hours I have had in London. You will soon see Mr Gilbert Meason at Birmingham, Mr Hollis is going through Cornwall.'
[see under Josiah Wedgwood, item 33]

Josiah Wedgwood, Great George Street [London] to M Boulton, Soho, [Birmingham], 27 May 1785
'The alterations are so great from the original eleven propositions, that there is every reason to believe the Irish will not accept the present amendments. I mean throwing in my petitions and having good evidences at the bar. Much is expected from your town and neighbourhood. Mr Garbett was so kind as to promise some petitions to the House of Commons praying for time. Perhaps they are come today and will be examined in the House of Lords. Mr Manchester requesting they will send evidence on silk, cotton and fustians.'
[see under Josiah Wedgwood, item 34]

The publication of these letters follows shortly after the foundation of a new Lunar Society in Birmingham. Like its illustrious predecessor, the new society aims to bring together those best able to contribute innovative and practical ideas to shape the economy, culture, environment and development of the West Midlands region as it prepares for the twenty-first century. It will be a forum to discuss the many issues facing the City of Birmingham and the surrounding localities. Drawing members from all walks of life, from the city, from industry, business and commerce and from the universities, this new society hopes to promote a new understanding and an interdisciplinary approach to the new challenges of a rapidly changing world.

In a passage in the first newsletter of the new Lunar Society, Sir Adrian Cadbury writes: 'I see the eighteenth century Lunar Society as providing us with a model and as being the inspiration for our activities. In that sense, we are not attempting to recreate what was literally a unique gathering of great minds, but rather to honour their example . They mustered an extraordinary range of talents and experience because of the breadth of their individual interests. To follow that pattern we (now) need a much wider membership, but with the same aim in view - that of crossing the boundaries which divide us. This is made all the more necessary by the increase in specialisation since the time of the Lunar Society, when Erasmus Darwin could combine the callings of doctor, botanist, scientific classifier, inventor, geologist, educationalist and poet.'

Harold Blumenthal, who first floated the proposal for a revival of the Lunar Society, explains his vision of the new society in the same newsletter. 'It seemed to me that something more was wanted: Birmingham needed a body of well-informed and experienced people who had the ability to explore ideas and the experience to be able to carry them out. It seemed to me also that the Lunar Society of Birmingham in the eighteenth century had done this very thing, so creating the industrial might of the West Midlands, and perhaps of the country. Such a body could play its part in the revitalisation of Birmingham.'

Publication also coincides with the exciting project to restore Soho House, which was Matthew Boulton's home and venue for many of the meetings of the original Lunar Society. The house has been acquired by the City Council's Museums and Art Gallery as part of its Heritage Development Plan. The main focus for Soho House will be its restoration as Matthew Boulton's home, but it will also seek to present Matthew Boulton's role in the early history of the Industrial Revolution. Soho House will also be used for forthcoming meetings and events of the new Lunar Society.

Study of this collection of manuscripts and letters, through the microform project, will bring to life, once again, the meetings and deliberations at Soho House and the breadth of interest and activities of Matthew Boulton and his many collaborators. It will reveal to all the sense of adventure, and enthusiasm, with which these eminent men at the vanguard of the Industrial Revolution threw themselves into their scientific experiments and their business transactions, and the skill with which they organised tremendous social and economic change.

Nicholas Goodison
Chairman, Soho House and Archives APPeal, May 1993

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