Note 171 — Chapter XIII · Watt in Cornwall—Introduction of his Pumping-engines.

Matthews wrote him on the 8th October, 1778, that he had met a Mr. Boldero at the Goldsmiths’ Hall, who had much influence in Cornwall, and that he expressed the opinion that, if the engines could do what Boulton and Watt promised, they might soon get from 40,000l. to 80,000l. for them in Cornwall. Matthews accordingly recommended Boulton to apply to Elliot and Praed, the Cornish bankers, for an advance on security of the engine contracts.—It would appear from a letter written to Boulton a few days later, by Mr. Barton, Matthews’s partner, that Boulton was, amidst his many speculations, engaged in a privateering adventure during the war of the American Revolution:—“It may give you some pleasure,” wrote Barton, “to hear we are likely to receive some produce from our adventure to New York. One of the vessels our little brig took last year was fitted out at New York, and in a cruise of 13 weeks has taken 13 prizes, 12 of which are carried safe in, and we have advice of 200 hogsheads of tobacco being shipped as part of the prizes, which, if now here, would fetch us 10,000l. But while the embargo on shipping at New York continues, they cannot stir out of port. However, I think we shall see them before you raise that sum from your engine concern, and yet I hope that is not very far off.”