Lives of Boulton and Watt. Principally from the Original Soho Mss. Comprising also a history of the invention and introduction of the steam engine

CHAPTER XVI.

Chapter 1683 wordsPublic domain

Financial position of the firm--Rotary engines for mills--Boulton’s battles with the Cornish adventurers--His life in Cornwall--Murdock and the miners--The Hornblowers’ engine at Radstoke--Watt at Bristol--Major Tucker--Steam mills--Rotary motion applied--The first rotative engines--Pumping-engines for the Fens--Boulton’s health fails--He visits Scotland, Carron ironworks, Lord Dundonald--His extensive correspondence--Grumbling in Cornwall--Concessions to the miners--Press of work at Soho--Watt’s invention of the parallel motion and the governor--Murdock’s model locomotive--Boulton’s praise of Murdock--More pumping-engines wanted--Boulton’s affection for his children--Letter to his son--His scientific recreations--Domestic enjoyment at Cosgarne 317–341