MEMOIRS OF REMARKABLE PERSONS.

MATTHEW BOULTON, Esq. F. R. S. THIS gentleman, son of Matthew Boulton, by Christian, daughter of Mr. Peers, of Chester, was born at Birmingham on the 3d September, (O. S.) 1728, and was principally edu. cated at a private Grammar School, kept by the Rev. Mr. Ansted, who officiated at St. John's Chapel, Deritend. He learned drawing under Worledge, and mathematics under Cooper, &c.-He was above the middle stature, and well built; was exceedingly encouraging to modest merit, and fascinating in his manner and conversation.

So early as the year 1745, Mr. Boulton invented and brought to great perfection, the inlaid steel buckles, buttons, watch chains, &c. Great quantities of these were exported to France, from whence they were re-purchased with avidity, by the English, as the offspring of French ingenuity!

Mr. Boulton's manufactory at Birmingham being inadequate to his extensive improvements and further experiments, he, in 1762, purchased a lease of the Soho, at Handsworth, in the county of Stafford, distant about two miles; at that time, a barren heath, on the bleak summit of which stood a naked hut, the habitation of of a warrener, These extensive tracts of common were converted by Mr. B. into the present superb manufactory, which was finished in 1765, at the expence of 9000l. and in the year 1794, he purchased the fee simple of Soho, and much of the other adjoining lands.

curious of this kingdom, France, and the greatest part of Europe.

Finding that the mill which he had erected, fell infinitely short, even with the aid of horses, of the force which was necessary for the completion of his vast designs, Mr. B. in 1767, had recourse to that masterpiece of human ingenuity, the Steam Engine. This wonderful machine was yet in its infancy, and did not at first answer the expectations that had been formed of it. In 1769, Mr. James Watt, of Glasgow, obtained a patent for a prodigious improvement in the Steam Engine. This induced Mr. B. to form connections with Mr. Watt, and invited him to settle at Sobo, to which the latter consented. In 1775, Parliament granted a prolongation of the patent for 25 years, and Messrs. Boulton and Watt, entering into a partnership, established a very extensive manufactory of those engines at Soho, whence most of the great mines and manufactories in England continue to be supplied, and they are cal purpose where great power is renow applied in almost every mechaniquisite.

of the Steam Engine, that of coinAmongst the various applications ing seems to be of considerable imoperations are concentered on the portance, as by its powers, all the same spot. It works a number of coining machines with greater rapidity and exactness, by a few boys from 12 to 14 years of age, than could be done by a great number of strong men, without endangering their fin gers, as the machine itself lays the blanks upon the dye perfectly conImpelled by an ardent attachment central with it, and, when struck, to the arts, and by the patriotic am- displaces one piece and replaces anobition of bringing his favorite Soho ther. to the highest perfection, the inge- The coining-mill, which was erected nious Proprietor soon established a in 1788, and has since been greatly seminary of artists, for drawing and improved, is adapted to work eight modelling; and men of genius were machines, and each is capable of sought for, and liberally patronized, striking from 60 to 100 pieces of which shortly led to the successful money per minute, the size of a guiestablishment of an extensive manu- nea, which is equal to between 80,000 factory of ornaments, in what the and 40,000 per hour, and at the same French call OR MOLU; and these or- blow, which strikes the face and renaments not only found their way into verse, the edge of the piece is also the apartments of his Majesty, but struck, either plain or with an inalso into those of the nobility and scription.

"The whole of this expensive and return received a polite letter of magnificent apparatus, (says Dr. Dar- thanks and approbation, together with win) moves with such superior ex- a splendid collection of medals, micellence and cheapness of workman- nerals from Siberia, and specimens ship, as well as with works of such of all the modern money of Russia. powerful machinery, as must totally Among the medals, which, for eleprevent clandestine imitations, and gance of design and beauty of execuIn consequence save many lives from tion, have never yet been equalled in the hands of the executioner; a cir- this or any other country, is a massy cumstance worthy the attention of a one of gold, impressed with a striking great Minister. If a civic crown was likeness, it is said, of that monarch. given in Rome for preserving the life Our readers will be surprised, when of one citizen, Mr. Boulton should they are told that this unrivalled be covered with a garland of oak." piece was struck from a die engraved About the year 1773, the ingenious by the present Empress Dowager, art of copying pictures in oil colours, who has from her youth taken great by a mechanical process was invented delight in the art of engraving on at Soho; and under the patronage of steel. the above Proprietor, was brought to such a degree of perfection, as to be taken for originals by the most experienced connoisseurs. This art was brought to perfection under the management of the late ingenious Mr. Eginton, who was no less celebrated for his paintings on glass. In 1788, Mr. Boulton struck a piece of gold, the size of a guinea, as a pattern, the letters of which were indented instead of a relief; and the head and other devices, although in relief, were protected from wear by a that border, and from the perfect rotundity of shape, &c. with the aid of a steel gauge, it may, with great ease and certainty, by ascertaining its specific gravity, be distinguished from any base metal

Previous to Mr. Boulton's engagement to supply government with copper pence, in order to bring his apparatus to perfection, he exercised It coining silver money for Sierra Leone, and the African Company; and copper for the East India Company and Bermuda.

With a view of still further improving and facilitating the manufactory of steam engines, Messrs. Boulton and Watt have lately, in conjunction with their sons, established a foundry at Smethwick, a short distance from Soho. Here that powerful agent is employed, as it were, to multiply itself, and its various parts are fabricated and adapted together with the same regularity, neatness, and expedition, which distinguish all the operations of their manufactory. Those engines are afterwards distributed to all parts of the kingdom by the Birmingham canal, which communicates with a wet dock belonging to the foundry.

In a national view, Mr. Boulton's undertakings are highly valuable and important. By collecting around him artists of various descriptions, rival talents have been called forth, and, by successive competition, have been multiplied to an extent highly beneficial to the puplic. A barren heath has been covered with plenty and population; and these works, which Various beautiful medals, of supe- in their infancy were little known and rior wokrmanship to any of the mo- attended to, now cover several acres, dern money of this country, of our give employment to many more than celebrated naval and other officers 600 persons, and are indubitably the have, from time to time, been struck first of their kind in Europe. here by Mr. Boulton, for the purpose Mr. Boulton was not only a Fellow of employing and encouraging inge- of the Royal Societies of London and nious artists, to revive that branch of

culpture.

Since the demise of the late Empress Catherine, Mr. Boulton presented her successor, the late Emperor Paul I. with some of the curious articles of his manufactory, and in

Edinburgh, but likewise of that which bears the Imperial Title of the Free and Economical at St. Petersburgh, and many other Foreign Institutions of the highest celebrity in Europe.

For a long time previous to his decease, he had been confined to his

room by illness, and his dissolution mourning and scarfs; the hearse and daily expected. His memory will coaches, and numberless carriages ever remain dear to the British nation, of the deceased's friends followed. whose glory was advanced in propor- Eighteen singers, in cloaks, preceded, tion to his own fame. While we singing appropriate psalms the whole commemorate those great men, who way. All the beadles of Birmingham have sought their country's honour in rode on horseback, and kept the way the fields of war, we ought not to open. The corpse was followed to omit paying a just tribute of applause the grave by 600 workmen of the to those who have promoted arts, in- manufactory of Soho, who had each dustry, and commerce, and diffused a silver medal presented to bim, plenty and comfort through the realm, struck for the occasion, they wore by cultivating science, and applying bat-bands and gloves, and some it to the useful arts of peace. mourning. The town was emptied The funeral of this distinguished of its principal inhabitants. The man, took place, with appropriate workmen were provided, after the solemnity, at Handsworth, about three funeral, with a dinner at Handsworth, quarters of a mile from Soho. A and allowed to regale themselves for hearse and nine mourning coaches two hours. The expence of the fuattended, but the coffin was carried neral is calculated at 2000. by three sets of bearers, by hand, in

THEATRICAL RECORDER.

LYCEUM, STRAND.

house, anxiously waiting his return; and thus they go off in the usual man

AUGUST 28. This evening a new her in piece

This piece is said to be from the pen of Mr. Theodore Hooke, but it is much inferior to the other productions of that gentleman. It bears in some respects the marks of a foreign origin, and is perhaps a version from the French, hastily adapted to our stage. The plot is simple; but it is not con

comic opera, under the title of Safe and Sound, was brought out at this theatre-The scene is in the Prussian state, and the plot has its foundation in the celebrated law of the Great Frederick against duelling Two young officers, Lindor and Albert, intimate friends, quarrel, fight, and the latter, who falls, is supposed to be ducted with much regard to probadead. Lindor, flying to e cape the bility. Lindor, in getting over the punishment of the law, gets into the wall, meets a servant, who at first takes garden of Baron Bellmont, whom he him for a robber: but in a few misoon learns is the father of his oppo- nutes this servant, without any appa nent. He contrives a story to account rent motive, and even without any for his appearance there, and as his solicitation, introduces the intruder to person is unknown, passes under the his master's daughter, and another name of Steinback. Albert, who, it at lady, and advises him to make love last appears, has recovered from his to them. The ladies on their part are wounds, returns to the house of his as susceptible of the tender passion, as father, and the friends are reconciled. if they had been born in a circulating After some escapes from the soldiers, library, and Lindor finds that the who are pursuing them, the duellists trifling circumstance of leaping a wall, are taken, and about to be carried off. or even dropping from the clouds, The audience are, however, quickly could be no obstacle in his way to the relieved from all anxiety for the fate heart of Annette. The dialogue is of the two heroes. A pardon arrives, pretty well written, and occasionally it is difficult to tell why, except that displays humour, though some of the it comes in very conveniently to put jokes are old acquaintance, introan end to this scene of distress and duced under very slender disguises. the piece. Lindor is united to An- The love sentiments too are as extranette, the sister of his friend, and vagant as the plot. But notwithstandAlbert has a fair one in his father's ing these defects, the piece is, upea

the whole, pleasing. The music is sweet, but, we believe, not all new. It has, however, been selected and adapted with taste and judgment. Many of the airs sung by Mrs. Mountain, Mrs. Bishop, Mr. Phillips, and Mr. Horn, were encored. The overture too is very beautiful.

The acting also deserves much praise. Baron Bellmont by Mr. Dowton, bis old steward by Penson, were performed in a way highly advantageous to the piece. Mrs. Orger, Oxberry, and all the other performers did their best. The audience in general seemed much gratified, and the announcement of the next performance was received by a great majority ith strong marks of approbation. The house was quite full.

COVENT GARDEN NEW THEATRE.

and in succinct tunics, representing the hours or seasons, governing and attending the winged horse Pegasus.

The third sitting figure in the centre, looking from the portico, is Eschylus, the father of Tragedy. He holds a scroll open on his knee: his attention is fixed on Wisdom, or Minerva, seated opposite to the poet. She is distinguished by her helmet and shield. Between Eschylus and Minerva, Bacchus stands leaning on his fawn, because the Greeks repre sented Tragedies in honour of Bacchus. Behind Minerva stands Melpomene, or Tragedy, holding a sword and mask; then follow two Furies, with snakes and torches, pursuing Orestes, who stretches his hands to supplicate Apollo for protection.Apollo is represented in the quadriga, or four horsed chariot of the sun. The last described figures relate to part of Eschylus's Tragedy of Orestes.

AT length, after patiently suffering for several years the successive extor- The Modern Drama.-In the centre, tions of human meal-worms, maw- (looking from the portico) Shakspeare worms, and monopolists of every de- is sitting; the Comic and Tragic scription, in their depredations upon Masks, with the lyre, are about his the meat, drink, cloth, &c. used by seat; his right hand is raised, expresJohn Bull; John has shewn that the sive of calling up the following chasusceptibility which used to reside in racters in the Tempest:-First, Calihis belly, has been transferred to his ban, laden with wood; next Ferdidiversions, in which he will not tamely nand, sheathing his sword; then Misubmit to any abridgement whatever. randa, entreating Prospero in behalf In vain has the magnificent exterior of her lover; they are led on by Ariel of the New Theatre lately burst upon above, playing on a lyre. This part the astonished optics of the gazing of the composition is terminated by multitude. Attic taste and modern Hecate (the three-formed Goddess) in elegance have in vain united to divert her car, drawn by oxen, descending. John's attention from other designs She is attended by Lady Macbeth concealed under this magnificent ex- with the daggers in her hands, followed terior. The sculpture upon the Bow- by Macbeth turning in horror from street front, which at first was all that the body of Duncan behind him. could be wished, represents the Ancient Drama, viz.

In the centre, three Greek poets are sitting; the two looking towards the portico, are Aristophanes, representing the Old Comedy, and (nearest to the spectator) Menander, representing the New Comedy. Before them Thalia presents herself with her crook and comic mask, as the object of their imitation. She is followed by Polyhymnia playing on the greater lyre, Euterpe on the lesser lyre, Clio with the long pipes, and Terpsichore, the Muse of Action or Pantomime. These are succeeded by three Nymphs, crowned with the leaves of the fir-pine,

In the centre, looking towards the portico, is Milton, seated, contemplating Urania, according to his own description in the Paradise Lost. Urania is seated, facing him above; at his feet is Sampson Agonistes chained. The remaining figures represent the Masque of Comus; the two brothers drive out three Bacchanals, with their staggering leader Comus. The Enchanted Lady is seated in the chair, and the series is ended by two tygers, representing the transformation of Comus's devotees.

Two niches in the wings are occupied by statues representing Tragedy and Comedy: the former in the nich