BOULTON. 13 



and likewise for a remuneration for his services. On account of the 

 loss of office, Bentham's salary was continued ; but during the dis- 

 cussion which arose regarding the statement of services which Sir 

 Samuel had drawn up at the request of the Admiralty, although, on 

 coming to the metal mills, Lord Melville said, " There Sir Samuel 

 stands upon a rock," it proved a slippery one ; for under the pretext 

 that it would be necessary to apply to parliament for so large a 

 sum as a year's savings effected by the introduction of the metal 

 mills, no remuneration was ever accorded to Bentham for any one 

 of his services. 



After the restoration of peace in 1814, Sir Samuel retired to 

 France, for the economical education of his children. In 1827 he 

 returned to England, where he remained until his death in 1831, at 

 the age. of seventy-four. Papers and Practical Illustrations of 

 Public Works of Recent Construction, &c. London, 1856. 



MATTHEW BOULTON, F.R.S. L. and E. &c. 



Born at Birmingham, Sept. 3, 1728. Died Aug. 17, 1809. 



This skilful, energetic, and farseeing man, who, by his extended 

 views and liberal spirit of enterprise, contributed so greatly towards 

 the successful introduction of Watt's condensing steam-engine, 

 commenced life at Birmingham as a maker of buttons and shoe- 

 buckles. Matthew Boulton received an ordinary education at a 

 school at Deritend. He was, however, gifted with rare endow- 

 ments, and of these he made the best use ; with a thorough 

 knowledge of business, great prudence, and admirable tact, he com- 

 bined boldness of spirit, quickness of thought, and promptitude of 

 action. At the death of his father, Boulton became possessed of 

 considerable property, and desirous of extending his commercial 

 operations, purchased, about the year 1762, a lease of Soho, near 

 Handsworth, where he founded that establishment which has be- 

 come renowned as the nursery of English mechanics. The hill 

 from which this place derived its name was, at that time, a bleak 

 and barren heath, at the bottom of which rippled a small stream. 

 Boulton's instinctive mind saw the uses to which these waters might 

 be turned. By collecting them into a pool, and pouring their united 

 weight upon a water wheel, he became possessed of a motive-power 

 sufficient to set in motion various machines, by whose agency were 

 fabricated articles in gold, silver, and tortoise-shell, and plated and 

 inlaid works of the greatest elegance arid perfection. On the side 

 of the hill, Boulton built extensive workshops, and dwellings capable 



