Borough Of Birmingham | Science Museum Group Collection

[Holograph letter] 1784 Oct 30, Birm[ingha]m, [to] Mr. James McGrigor, M[---]d, via Ferrybridge, Glasgow / J. Watt. [McGrigor was Watt's second father-in-law. He wishes to revise 'my survey of the ground between Inverness and Fort William' but fears 'the estimate is less than it can be done for'. Re Mr. Arkwright 'he is, to say no worse, one of the most self sufficient ignorant men I have ever met with', yet 'certainly a man of merit in his way, and one to whom Britain is much indebted and whom she should honour & reward'. Watt gives details of past dealings with Arkwright, adding that 'our rotative engines ... are certainly very applicable to the driving of cotton mills'. He continues 'As Mr Boulton is absent I cannot give any answer .. about the Engineership of this Great Canal'. His mind is 'almost wholly turned toward the steam engine', and 'business which is now very extensive takes up all the time that bad health will permit me to work'. He says 'we must ... go to law with some people who encroach on our patent rights'. He adds his views on taxation 'which is exclusively leveled at trade and manufactures'. And 'our business is going on successfully, and could we only depend on its durability we need look for no better']

Holograph letter 1784 Oct 30

1784 Oct 30

Search our collection

Openshaw-type artifcial hand, Birmingham, England, 1916-1918

Discatron portable record player

SE5A fighter, 1917.

Austin Seven motor car, 1922.

Castles at Tyseley

Hatter's rule

Phenol formaldehyde Bandalasta pepperpot, English, 1920-1940

Silver cigarette box lined with cedar wood

Set of 4 corn knives

Two pink Bandalasta eggcups

Plaster mould, male profile possibly Attila

Thiourea-urea-formaldehyde Bandalastaware sugar caster, 1930

Thiourea-urea-formaldehyde hexagonal Bandalastaware bowl

Six-lens Lancaster Camera

Model of beam and two connecting rods

Prototype wearable computer made by Robert Buckley in Birmingham

Gold Locket containing a photograph of Albert Edward Marshall

Morse tapper key

Apothecaries' balance, 5" steel, in mahogany box

Ovolo moulding plane ,1/2" size by Atkin & Son

Brass stand

Coronet 9.5mm Camera and Box.

Accessories for a Coronet 9.5mm Camera

Joseph Priestley. Medal in bronze by Halliday

Wolseley 7.5 H.P. motor car, with side lamps, spare wheels, and Brighton run presentation tankard

Coronation souvenir: box with lid, decorated with royal coat of arms

Hinks liquid oxygen vaporiser c 1930.

Preston's patent adjustable steel bodied spokeshave, cat no 1402

Lapel badge

Cardiotest 100 cycle ergometer, 1993.

Fresnel lighthouse optic

Packet containing double cyanide gauze

Intervision 486 computer with head-mounted display

Packet containing double cyanide gauze

Packet containing double cyanide gauze

British Rail button

Holograph letter 1784 Oct 30

'Tompion Medal'

Leather worker's edging tool without handle.

Weight for Cooke Refracting Telescope

Weight for Cooke Refracting Telescope

Coronet 9.5mm Camera, Box and Accessories.