INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY

Series One: The Boulton & Watt Archives and the Matthew Boulton Papers from Birmingham Central Library

Part 6: Muirhead II - Notebooks and Papers of James Watt and Family

Part 7: Matthew Boulton Correspondence (Subject Material and Individual Correspondents Including

            Garbett, Rennie, Southern and Wilkinson)

Part 8: Muirhead III and IV - Notebooks and Papers of James Watt and Family

Publisher's Note - Part 6

Part 6 of our project Industrial Revolution : A Documentary History covering the Boulton and Watt Archive and Matthew Boulton Papers from the Birmingham Central Library concentrates on the Notebooks and Papers of James Watt and family from the 16 boxes of material in Muirhead II.

James Watt was born at Greenock in January 1736 and began work in Glasgow at the age of 18. His father was a builder, contractor, instrument-maker, ship owner and merchant. In 1755 the young Watt spent a year in London learning how to make precision mathematical instruments. Two years later he opened a shop in Glasgow and by 1759 had entered into partnership with John Craig. He became involved in canal construction and made various journeys to London on canal business. Watt, of course, is famous for his pioneering work on steam power and his steam engine became known as “the workhorse of the Industrial Revolution”. After repairing a Newcomen engine model in 1763 belonging to the College of Glasgow his work on the separate condenser steamengine started in earnest around 1765. Before he moved to Birmingham, Watt’s circle of friends and peers included Joseph Black (who described latent heat) and Adam Smith.

Watt, according to his Memoir of Boulton written in Glasgow in September 1809, first visited the Soho Works in Birmingham in 1767. He was introduced to Dr William Small and his partner Mr Fothergill who then showed him round the works. In 1768 he was again at Soho, on his return from London where he had been taking the necessary steps to obtain a patent for the improved steam engine. On this visit he was introduced to Matthew Boulton who had been absent on the previous occasion. Watt records:

“I had much conversation with Mr Boulton … On my part I explained to him my invention of the Steam Engine and several other schemes of which my head was then full, in the success of which he expressed a friendly interest. My stay at Birmingham at that time was short, but I afterwards kept up correspondence with Mr Boulton through our mutual friend Dr Small”.

In 1774 Boulton took over Roebuck’s share in the patent of Watt’s invention. Watt moved to Birmingham,; details of the journey are recorded in one of his notebooks, (see Part 2 – Muirhead I) and continued his experimental work on the engine with great success. He quickly became an active member of the Lunar Society. The patent was extended for 25 years from 1775 and a partnership between Boulton and Watt was concluded for a similar term.

The material in Part 6 is a rich source for all branches of Watt’s family. Family correspondence, especially letters to and from his second wife, Ann Watt, and his son, James Watt jnr, c.1772-1806, furnish a wealth of detail on business matters, political affairs, social gossip and the responsibilities of landed estates. Watt’s confrontation with and victory over the Hornblowers; frequent news of new customers for Watt’s Steam Engine; deliberations at government level over the Tax on Pig Iron, the need for Peace and Stability – crucial to the requirements of Trade and Manufacturing; the events of the French Revolution; and the pros and cons of the Albion Mill enterprise all loom large in a succession of long, well written accounts.

In a letter of 25 April 1806, Henry Brougham writes to James Watt concerning the Tax on Pig Iron:

“…I called twice on Mr Wilberforce yesterday and did not find him – I also went to the House of Commons but he was engaged in Committees. I wrote a letter, however, to him and explained the outline of the business – desiring him to appoint a time for seeing you – I expect an answer in the course of the morning and shall let you know immediately. If you could be at home about 3 – it is likely he may name half past it, as that is his dinner hour and the time when he wishes to see his friends. I saw Mr Whishaw yesterday – he highly approves the idea of going to Wilberforce – he was with Petty (Chancellor of the Exchequer) in the morning & the subject was avoided – but he is to be sent for again. My compliments to Mr Boulton …”

In a letter from Chiswell Street, dated 26 May 1787, James Watt writes:

“My Dear Annie
I have been here all this day & have been most graciously received by the King, who has expressed himself most highly pleased with everything he has seen here. Mr Whitbread has disposed everything in a princely manner for their Majesties reception, & provided a fine collation for them, at which they spent above an hour after seeing everything in the Brewhouse. There was besides their Majesties & 3 or 4 of the princesses … the Duke of Montague & Lord Aylesford his Brother. The Queen is a most agreeable personage, & also honoured me with much of her notice. Very luckily I was very well all day, but am not very high spirited – the Cornish business & some other things prove dampers. The King told me that Monsieur De Luc was in high spirits with some news he had got from his son in India, who it seems has behaved with great propriety & spirit in some business committed to his care …”

Later the same year Watt writes to his wife on August 30: “I went to the Albion Mill, where the Engine & Mill have been going Exceedingly well ever since the last repair, indeed better than I ever saw it. As to the trade it is much as usual – 37/- per sack & rising. I hope this will find you all well after a pleasant journey for which you have my sincere prayers, yet I cannot help being uneasy at your being so far from me ….”

On September 5 he adds:

“… I have got the matters for Albion Mill put in train, but shall not get everything there settled before next week; … I understand Mr B. did not go to Bristol but waited at Birmingham. Messrs. Monnerons return to go with him & Mr Wilkinson to seek Mr Williams and Anglesey before they go to Cornwall. Mr Droz, the manager, is come here from Paris to meet Mr B. & goes to Birmingham on Friday. Mr de Colonne is in town. I have not seen him yet but called at his Lodgings yesterday & saw his Brother, who has been with me all this forenoon. Please inform your father that some Frenchmen now at Liverpool pretend they have a Secret for making Fossil Alkhali cheap, & also have some Knowledge of the new way of Bleaching for which they intend to take a patent, but as they have no connection with the inventor I shall take measures to frustrate them; in the meantime I wish him to take proper measures to secure himself against it in Scotland by making the acid before proper witnesses whom he can trust & by using the liquor before some of his confidential servants; I think Mr Hamilton & some of yourselves will be sufficient witnesses as to the making, & it will be necessary to make some of it by using 6 ounces of common spirit of salt to each oz of manganese .”

Ann Watt’s business acumen is displayed at the start of her letter from Heathfield of 16 April 1792:

“My dear Jamie
I sent you last night by the Coach some of Mr Wilson’s letters, perhaps more than you wanted but as they related to the Hornblowers I thought there was no harm in sending them. I believe I must take your counting house into my keeping. I never saw such a mass of confusion. I gave Mr Lawson a lesson about it last night & told him he ought to carry his mint business to the mint….”

Three weeks later on 6 May 1792 she writes to her husband with encouragement and advice on business matters as well as to beg him to intervene in their son’s affairs:

“My dear Jamie
I have just received yours & am sorry to see you are very uncertain about your return; it is a long time since you left home. I should think the Hornblowers and their abettors would never venture before Parliament again, still you are certainly right to take every step to prevent your being tormented with them again. Your thanks and gratitude are due to those friends who supported you. I hope you have a little better opinion of the House than you had as it would appear by your having so great a majority they only wanted to have the matter explained to take the side of Justice. It is very vexatious the Albion Mill business. I am afraid Mr W. has been flattering you with hopes that had no real foundation. I think you should at all events push the getting free of it. For I imagine the longer you retain it the greater your loss will be. I am very glad you mean to write to James again, it is a duty he owes you at least not to bring himself so forward in public as to make his friends blush for him; whatever his private sentiments are his impudence must be very great to stand forth as a representative from the People of England to the Jacobin Club. Cooper must be a mad man …. Do therefore try by every means in your power try to stop this mad cancer that he has set out in or surely some evil will befall him; he now shows the temper I always dreaded & thought him possest of but I hope what you say will have a good effect & that he will think better before it is too late.

I received on Saturday three small vials to perfumes which I suppose you sent. If you have time try to get a pair of bell handles. I am told there are some pretty light ones of Tunbridge ware which I think cannot be very dear. You say nothing of Mrs Matthews. I hope she is getting better of her lameness. By this time you have got an addition to your party. Miss B. I suppose arrived on Saturday with Mr Wheatly’s family. I will be obliged if you will send me the proportions of cossal varnish and oyl of tarpins that make it lay on easily on wood as what you mixt is nearly done and I want to varnish the painted tables. I am very uneasy at not hearing from Glasgow. I have not heard since my father’s return except from Mr Miller who says nothing of them. Mrs Short is very much indisposed. Jessy writes me she and Gregory are well and sends their duty. We have very unpleasant weather, high East and N. East winds and the air extremely cold. Compliments to Mrs M. and other friends,
I remain my dear Jamie
Your affectionate A. Watt.”

A letter of January 19 & 20, 1792 from Ann Watt to James Watt is typical of the frequent exchanges between Heathfield and London. She writes with a judicious mixture of gossip, news of friends, a couple of business matters, and a shopping list of items best acquired in London, not forgetting the carpet, of course!

“My dear Jamie
I am glad to hear that you find yourself better & sincerely hope you will continue so. I am sorry for Mr Matthews, you gave but a poor account of him. I wish he may be prevailed on to come here along with you – You say nothing of Mrs Matthews. I am afraid Mr B. has been blabbing. Miss Flynd came here. She asked me many Questions about Mr & Mrs Matthews, most of which I could answer very readily but my answers did not seem to satisfy her – at last she fairly asked if I knew any of my friends who were going to separate. I told her no (for I truely hope there will be no such thing taking place) as I was obliged to say something. I asked her if she knew of anything she hear so, but as I did not know of it she thought it might not be true. I asked no questions so she said no more. If Mrs M. has wrote anything of it I cannot find any excuse for him. Pray write me if any such thing is going forward, had they not better follow Dr Withering’s plan, one to go abroad for a year or two and make no formal separation. Mr C Sturtin was much better yesterday. I sincerely wish he may soon be restored. Mrs Sturtin has behaved with the greatest degree of prudence and tenderness through the whole of his illness, her Mother as I am told the reverse. I have just received a letter enclosing a bill of £124-5-7 from Jos. Wilkes & Co. which I shall send to Mr Pearson. I sent you two letters yesterday by Mr Walker’s box, one from Mr Spooner & one from Mr Stein – I have received a letter full of grateful acknowledgement from Mrs Short for the interest we have taken in her affairs & begs particularly to be remembered to you. Miss Lind presents her compliments to you. Gregory & Jessy send you their duty. The Carpet I would not trouble you with but what I have seen in this town is so ugly & of so poor a quality, If it is brown & green or shades of brown, but if you can’t meet with one without much trouble Don’t mind it as we must take what Birmingham can give – all our friends at Glasgow are well and Mrs Smith has got such presents of plate that I am afraid our present will appear a shabby one. I forgot to mention I sent you a letter from P. Ewart; with compliments to all our friends in Green Lettuce Lane, I remain,

My Dear Jamie
Your Truely affectionate
Annie

The Carpet should be 5 yards by 4.5 yards.

If you could get the underwritten articles without much trouble the purchases would be better than we could get them here:
3 lb of Jordan almonds
1 lb of Black Pepper Corns
Half lb of white Ginger
Quarter lb of White Pepper Corns
1 oz of Nutmegs
1 oz of Cloves
1 oz of Maze
1 oz of Cinnamon
If a small Barell of Anchovies could be got fresh they are very useful. We buy them here from 1/6 to 1/- per lb. Could you get us some Garden Seeds if I was to send a list -.”

This is a superb source for social historians of the period. So much of this material has never been used by scholars before. Here we have several generations of an important family discussing trade, economics, politics, social affairs with much additional comment on health & medicine, travel, household goods, carpets and furnishings, tree planting and the family estates.

There is much material concerning Greenock and the merchant activities of James Watt’s father in Boxes 1-3. Box 4 contains many important letters between James Watt and his second wife, Ann Watt. They cover both business and family matters, including Albion Mill, the Copper Trade, the Cornish Miners, the bleaching process, Hornblower, Watt’s activities in London and Cornwall. Later boxes contain significant correspondence between Ann Watt and James Watt jnr. Letters from John Smeaton to Boulton & Watt cover Trials of the Condenser for an engine, the Byker Engine and the efficiency of the Newcastle Engine in the important years 1778-1779. They have important evidence on the relative merits of the Boulton & Watt engines compared to the Newcomen engine. John Smeaton’s first enquiry is dated 5 January 1778. A month later a 7 page letter follows up Boulton & Watt’s reply. Then a 3 page letter from Smeaton dated 30 March 1778 politely turns down Boulton & Watt’s offer of employment as an Engine Erector on their behalf. (Smeaton suggests he would have been tempted if he had just been setting out on his career, rather than well established and almost in his twilight years.)

On the matter of the Trial concerning the merit and efficiency of the Boulton & Watt Engine, John Smeaton, in a copy of his letter to Mr Saint concludes as follows:

“In short the whole Matter seems to hinge here, and the Result of every Trial I have yet actually seen made leads to this Conclusion, that Messrs Boulton & Watt’s Engine will do the same Work with half the Fuel that will be required upon the most improved Plan of Newcomen’s Principles; which improved Plan will yet do equal Work with half the Fuel, that was consumed in the Common Application of these Principles in use among the Collieries, at the time Longbenton New Engine was built; that is to say, of 4 Chaldron of Coals used in the Year 1772, the Improvements on Newcomen reduced them to two, and the New Principles of Messrs Boulton & Watt have reduced them to one; And I take this Opportunity of doing Messrs Boulton & Watt the Justice to say in Public that on supposition they continue to furnish from their own Manufactory those parts of the Engine, at a moderate price, which require more than the common Accuracy in the Execution, & considering the Actual Saving of one half of the Expense in Boilers; their Engine may be built of equal Powers (the rest of the Work being supposed equally well performed) at the same Expense as a Newcomen …. The whole matter being as I apprehend now before the Public; every Gentleman having Occasion for the Use of Fire Engines will consider his own Situation & make his choice accordingly ….”

In another letter Smeaton recommends everyone choose the Boulton & Watt model:

“… I have only now to add Gentlemen, that I most heartily wish you all the Success that your ingenious Discoverys and indefatigable Labours have deserved, and shall endeavour to promote your Interest, not only in Speaking more particularly to the quantum of Product of your Machines, which you have now enabled me to do, but in recommending to your Execution all such Subjects as occur to me, where the price of Coals is a consideration ….”

The following two examples are characteristic of James Watt’s letters to his wife. The first one is dated London, 24 October 1787:

“My dear Annie
I have yours of the 17th – I wrote to you on Monday since which there has been a meeting of some of the Smelting Companies & the Deputies of the Miners, but nothing was done because two of the old Companies did not attend & they meet again on Friday; Almost all the Smelting Companies agreed that the best thing for them was the continuance of the Metal Company & several of them spoke their minds very freely to Sir Joseph Banks.

It is thought nothing will be done on Friday unless it be a proposal of returning to the old mode of ticketings, which with Mr Williams’ help will decide the fate of the mines in a month or two – Some individuals of the company propose calling on the Miners for damages & for the whole loss which may be sustained; Mr Williams is preparing to sell Copper at £5 per ton so the loss will be very great. As for ourselves I can reconcile my mind to it, but cannot digest the loss of our friends – Mr Wilkinson will not come to us and Mr Wedgwood has been unfortunately hindered by an engagement. Another General Meeting in Cornwall is proposed but who will go there to talk to fools and at the risk of their lives. Attempts are making to get government to buy some copper & other ways support us but I fear they will not do much. The only hold of them is the distress of the miners which will undoubtedly be extreme – Mr Williams has sent word he has another proposition to make but will not come to London for 3 weeks. I have still some hopes for every one who has come here (except Sir J Wronghead all have seen their danger) & probably may put their neighbours right if not too late….”

The second example is a letter from James Watt in Cornwall to his wife dated Truro, 22 September 1792 (see MII/4/4/42):

“My Dear Annie
I have yours of the 11th, and am glad to hear you are all well. I wrote you Dr Withering has changed his mind & goes to Lisbon; we expect him here every day, but if he does not come soon we shall be gone as we intend to depart next week. In respect to Gregory I agree with Mr Hamilton that attending the Gown classes would be time lost unless he could follow out a regular course. Mrs Wilson thanks Jessy for the Handkerchief which came quite safe; and desires her best compliments to you all. As to the Cornish people we have made some trials upon our Engines & published them, they do double what Hornblowers do, yet few will own conviction & thought an angel were to be our advocate he could not convince all, without he were of the Black sort & need the firy pitchfork in his hand. Some however own the truth, & even those who will not seem less zealous against us. A small Engine the Horners have just finished will scarcely go at all, & its draft cannot keep the bottom regularly dry; but they are so worryied that they conceal this, and have ordered a larger Engine from the same scoundrels. Bull in consequence of our notice has given up one of his orders. We have informed Poldice of our affirmation, & have resisted their badgering which was carried to the utmost, & believe they will now acquiesce – Mr Daniel has behaved very well in respect to Wheal Virgin, & asked no better terms than he had ever. Mr John Mastyn has behaved very civily, even kindly, he has a carpet manufactory here & I believe I shall order a carpet for the parlour. The United Mines have received our ultimatum & have paid up their arrears excepting some part which we shall demand. We dined at Falmouth with the Foxes & had a very hard visit which we withstood & believe have silenced them as yesterday at North Downs account we had one further solicitation. Mr Kevil is much our friend & has always been so – Nobody has been more unreasonably solicitous to make us work for less than Sir C. Hawkins who is certainly a mean dog even in the opinion of his fellow adventurers. Mr Jenkins has been very kind, and Mr Vivian has been so also and has given us no opposition that we know of.

The French have certainly made themselves odious in the eyes of all Europe, & I hope the combined armies will soon prove them as impotent as they are cruel. If they murder their King and Queen I doubt not that Britain will declare against them, and that their country will be desolated, though Cooper had the powers of a black angel he cannot whiten them, nor vindicate them to men of common honesty – I have another letter from James. He was to leave Paris last Sunday to go to Nantes, he had not received my letter. He says that the Duke of Bbn. Will soon be oversome, that all is quiet and that they were going on very orderly in choosing the Members of their Convention (who is hope & expect will not sit long in Paris). He says that the elder of the young Deleserts is in London as an aristocrate proscribed but that he seldom visits the family as his sentiments and their differ. I have not the same opinion of his moral principles as you have; but I have taken care not to leave you or anybody else in his power & when I come home shall make that matter still clearer, as my most earnest wish is to keep peace, not only while I live but after my death, so you must not worry on that account.

My headaches are better, but the weather is horrible; wind & heavy rain, though not very cold, Mr B. is pretty well & sends his compliments.

Please thank your father for his kind remembrance & present him my grateful respects, remember me to all friends, accept my love & give it to the Children, let your next be to Heathfield.

I remain dear Annie,
Yours affectionately,
James Watt

P.S. Mrs Matthews is likely to be engaged in a law with that illiberal unjust brute, Taylor, about Globe yard.”

Box 9 also includes 4 bundles of personal letters from Ann Watt to James Watt, 1779-1796. (See extracts mentioned elsewhere in this text).

Further papers relate to Iron Works in the 1790s, James Watt’s property and estates, Papers and Accounts of the Soho Foundry for the period 1778-1811, Papers concerning John Marr – an engineer in the Army married to a cousin of James Watt, Letters between James Watt and James Watt jnr, J Woodward and J Moseley, and a small amount of material relating to the iron trade and blast furnaces. See Boxes 5, 7, 8 and 10-15.

Box 6 contains a series of important Legal Documents including the original Assignment of the property of an Invention concerning Fire Engines, 22 April 1779, Agreements between Boulton & Watt, Articles of Co-Partnership of Boulton, Watt & Co. dated 4 July 1801, similar Articles dated 4 July 1810, and a Deed of Dissolution of the Co-Partnership of Boulton & Watt dated 21 October 1840.

On the subject of the French Revolution, Ann Watt writes to her husband on 9 May 1792:

“…What horrible news we have from France. If it is true the French troops are showing what the rights of man can do. What commander will lead such Monsters who without any cause will turn and murder their leader in the most cruel manner as they have done to Dillion and are threatening to do to others. This levelling principle will never do, man was made for subordination, nature has evidently intended it to be so ….”

The following two extracts relate to the family’s Welsh estates and the discussions of father and son on this subject. James Watt is still very involved in all decision making but his son manages affairs on a day to day basis. On 27 October 1805 Mr J Crummer writes to James Watt:

“My Dear Sir
I expect your son has informed you of the Particulars of his Journey into the Countys of Hereford, Radnor and Brecon, and also the Quantity and Sort of Fruit & Other Trees most proper to plant on your Estates in this Country. I hope you have succeeded in a proper Season for your planting, nearly all the Acorns of this year’s growth in this country are killed with the early Frost, therefore it will not answer to set any of this year. This year has been very unkind in the County’s of Worcester, Salop, Hereford, Radnor and Brecon; Handsworth has been more fortunate in acorns and apples; when you send your own Trees I request the favour of you to order for some 6000 two year old seedling larches; 10000 one year old ditto – Spanish chestnuts 1000; Sycamores 1000; Walnut Trees 100; Plumb Trees 50 – Cherry 50; Pears 100. Please to send yours & mine to the home of Mr Jacob Jones, Talbot Inn, Aberistwith, who will inform me when they arrive, that I may have them removed to such place you may think proper to have them planted, this I mention to you in a former letter.

The Sheep Stealer made his escape on the Road to Brecon … his Stock & Crops will be sold the beginning of next Month, I will go from here tomorrow … to get the Possession of the Farm you desire will have every attention in my power ….”

The estates acquired by James Watt in Wales included numerous farms in two areas, one along the River Wye from Doldowlod, near Rhayader, the other around Gladestry near old and new Radnor (now in Powys). Much correspondence deals with the administration of existing estates and also the consideration of further acquisitions. Watt was assisted in these acquisitions by James Davies of Moorcourt, Herefordshire, and by James Crummer, his agent for the estates. The following table shows the considerable list of properties purchased between 1798 and 1804. As the years went by these estates clearly took up quite a large proportion of James Watt jnr’s time.

A large number of other Welsh farms, many near Llanwrthwl, were purchased by Watt c.1812-1813.

On Tuesday 7 January 1807 we find James Watt jnr writing to James Watt with a Memorandum to write to Mr Crummer:

“Dear Father
As I presume you may be writing to Mr Crummer today in answer to his, please to observe to him that the small plot of land adjoining Kenvas was what I had principally in view, in causing the enquiry to be made respecting Mr Gwynn’s inclination to sell. I believe he has a tolerable sized farm which comes down to the River at Newbridge on the Bucknorth side and if there are any intermediate detached things belonging to him, which I think there are, they might be looked at, and the price enquired.

He has a large farm called Ty Mawr upon the right of the road from Newbridge to Bryn yoie which I believe adjoins the latter, but this is out of the question; at least at present.

Please to remark to Mr Crummer that you hope Welsh has completed the clearing & draining of the only part of the Calfs piece of new upper orchard at Doldowlod, as you intend that for a nursery another year. I should think a good liming would be of much service in neutralizing the vegetable matter it contains. I left directions with Welsh, to make his drains at least six feet deep; and it should be seen that he has followed them.

Mr Crummer should also be apprized that the part of this orchard unoccupied by the former plants, seems the most proper situation for the plants now coming from Scotland; although it lies higher than the other, it seems in general to have a drier bottom and is probably in better heart, as Welsh had manured it well for his potatoes last year. Should this not take them all, the remainder may go to the enclosed orchard or garden, at Ystrad, which must in that case be rendered more secure against sheep than it now is, by rebuilding the wall where it has given way & coping it with bushes.

If Roberts has been detached to Badland or Stonehouse he must return to superintend this planting, as soon as the trees arrive. Mr Crummer should also urge Gallieri to compleat the plans of Ystrad and Badland homesteads, that he may bring them with him when he comes here.

Powel of Carregenvole should be urged to get on with the fencing of the wood at Errow Mawr; and if he can be prevailed upon to do anything towards draining & fencing off the woods on his own farm, so much the better. At all events an agreement must be made with him not to turn any cattle or sheep into his Wood No: 5, which should be sewn with acorns & etc this spring. If Mr Crummer thinks it necessary to fence off the orchard last planted at Carregenvole, he will give directions to that purport.

I propose dining with you today & remain Dear father
Your respectful son, J. Watt.”

This microform edition enables the scholar to examine closely the impact of Watt’s invention, study his business and personal life, his father’s merchant business, the role of his son, James Watt jnr, in continuing the Boulton & Watt business from the 1790s onwards, Watt’s role as landowner, social issues, and see clearly the ties between business, industry and scientific inventions.

<back