L Lives of Boulton and Watt. Principally from the Original Soho Mss Samuel Smiles

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Lives of Boulton and Watt. Principally from the Original Soho Mss

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About this book

Samuel Smiles draws on the Soho manuscripts, as the title says, for these lives of Boulton and Watt. One passage prints a letter of 28th March 1656 from the Marquis of Worcester to Colonel Christopher Coppley, asking for ten pounds or help in raising fifty, and the text goes on to say that the Marquis pressed his water-commanding engine on the Government with no further notice from the Protector or his Ministers.

Another passage shows Boulton replying to letters from schemers, among them inventors of perpetual motion and flying-machines, since he never left a letter unanswered. In Cornwall he looks after the engines and finds the mine adventurers grumbling at the badness of the times. A letter from Boulton to De Luc, dated 31st March 1787, says that he and Watt had nearly spent their fortunes on experiments in bringing the engine to its present state.

About the author

Samuel Smiles

Samuel Smiles (1812 to 1904) was a Scottish author and reformer, best known for Self-Help, the hugely influential Victorian guide to character and perseverance. He also wrote biographies of engineers and studies of social and industrial history.