2237 - Margaret Watt (II) to James Watt (II), 14 July 1787

  • Transcription
  • Letter Details
  • People (2)
  • How to Cite
Transcription
s

Image 1 of 4

Image #1 of letter: Margaret Watt (II) to James Watt (II), 14 July 1787

Image 2 of 4

Image #2 of letter: Margaret Watt (II) to James Watt (II), 14 July 1787

Image 3 of 4

Image #3 of letter: Margaret Watt (II) to James Watt (II), 14 July 1787

Image 4 of 4

Image #4 of letter: Margaret Watt (II) to James Watt (II), 14 July 1787
Create a New Transcription
View Existing Transcriptions

Some general tips:

  • The ‘Golden Rule’: Please transcribe exactly what is written in the letters (including any exact spelling, capitalization and punctuation). Try to replicate the layout, too (starting a new line when the letter writer does so).
  • Handwriting can be difficult to read. If something is illegible you can simply insert ‘[illeg]’. If you think you know what something says, but are not entirely sure (for example, if you think the word may be ‘butter’), you can insert ‘[?butter]’. Anything in square brackets is your comment (and not in the original).
  • Most letters are more than one page. If you wish to transcribe the whole letter, that’s terrific. But you can also choose to transcribe just one page if you prefer.
  • Your transcription will not go live immediately but will be quickly reviewed before being published on this page.
  • Use our ‘Guidance on Transcription’ if you are unsure how to record something.
Note: This letter has already been transcribed 2 times (some may be pending approval, so not yet visible). Please review these existing transcriptions first to prevent duplicating transcriptions.

Transcribe Image 1

Transcribe Image 2

Transcribe Image 3

Transcribe Image 4

Optional. Will be shared on the website.
Optional. Will not be shared on the website.
Optional. Will not be shared on the website.

Image 1

Hond Sir
[illeg] July 14 1787

I took the opportunity tof Dr. Hill's going
to London with his Nephew to write you a few lines
but to his great disapointment he did not see you therefore
he brought the letter back again, he thought he should
be at Birmingham, but had not time as his stay
was shorter than he expected it would be. Dr Hill
saw by the Papers that you were at London, and
went to the Albion Mill two or three times to inquire
for you, the People there said the account of your

Image 2

being in Town was a mistake for you were not, neither
had you been there nor was you expected.

My Aunts have both been Complaining very
much this Winter, Aunt [?Mary] I am affraid is in a
very poor state of health: she has a continual headach and
a pain in her side, and is troubled with very [illeg]

We intend to go for a few weeks into the country and
I a in great hopes it will do both my Aunts good,
my Aunt Betty was very ill all spring, but is now better,
it is realy wonderfull what she goes through, I had no
Idea, that she ever was so ill as I have seen her since I
came her; but she say's she has been often worse-

I dare say you will be very greived to hear that
your Friend Dr. Irvine is dead he went to the [illeg]

Image 3

House to see a Pot made he was overheated and did not
take time to cool himself he took bold Fever and died in two days after-

I am sorry to hear from Miss McGrigor that Mamma and [?Jesoy] have been ill, I hope they are now better
and that your own health is not so bad as it used to
be: I wrote to Mamma some time ago and my [?Aunt]
will be glad to hear from her, they desire their best
Compliments to you both-

We have had a favourable Winter but a cold stormy
and unhealthy Spring: the Fever has been very Fatal
here- Please to give my [?Duty] to Mamma Love to Gregory and [?Jesoy]- there is a Mrs [?Darieson]
here an Old acquaintance of yours, who desires to be

Image 4

kindly remembered to you

I remain Dear Sir
your Dutiful Daughter
Margt Watt

P. Watt July 14th
1787

Mr James Watt
Engineer
Birmingham

PS I should be glad to know if you have heard
any thing of [illeg] and when he is to be home
if he is come already I [?would] be oblidged to you
to tell him I shall be glad to hear from him

Image 1

Calton July 14 1787
Hond Sir

I took the opportunity of Dr Hill's going
to London with his Nephew to write you a few lines
but to his great disapointment he did not see you therefore
he brought the letter back again, he thought he should
be at Birmingham, but had not time as his stay
was shorter than he expected it would be Dr Hill
saw by the Papers that you were at London, and
went to the Albion Mill two or three times to inquire
for you, the People there said the account of your

Image 2

being in Town was a mistake for you were not, neither
had had you been there nor was you expected.
My Aunts have both been Complaining very
much this Winter, Aunt Marr I am affraid is in a
very poor state of health: she has a Continual headach and
a pain in her Side, and is troubled with very Low spirits
We intend to go for a few weeks into the country and
I am in great hopes it will do both my Aunts good.
my Aunt Betty was very ill all spring, but is now better,
it is realy wonderfull what she goes through, I had no
Idea, that she ever was so ill as I have seen her since I
came here; but she say's she has been often worse -
I dare say you will be very greived to hear that
your Freind Dr Irvine is dead he went to the Glass

Image 3

House to see a Pot made he was overheated and did not
take time to cool himself he took Cold Fever and died
in ten days after -
I am very sorry to hear from Miss Mcgrigor that
Mamma and Jessy have been ill. I hope they are now better
and that your own health is not so bad as it used to
be: I wrote to Mamma some time ago and my Aunt
will be glad to hear from her, they desire their best
Compliments to you both -
We have had a favourable Winter but a cold stormy
and unhealthy Spring: the Fever has been very Fatal
here - Please to give my Duty to Mamma Love to
Gregory and Jessy - there is a Mrs Davieson
here an Old acquaintance of yours, who desires to be

Image 4

kindly remembered to you
I remain Dear Sir
your Dutiful Daughter
Margt Watt

[annotation] P Watt July 14th
1787

[original hand] Mr James Watt
Engineer
Birmingham
Via Ferry bridge

PS I should be glad to know if you have heard
any thing of {?Jemmy} and when he is to be home
if he is come already I would be oblidged to you
to tell him I shall be glad to {^hear from} him

Details

Margaret Watt (II) to James Watt (II), 14 July 1787

She sent a letter to her father to London, but it did not reach him. She reports that her Aunts Marr and Betty have been very unwell this winter and they plan to go into the country for their health. She reports that her father’s friend is dead through overheating and a fever. She is sorry to hear her stepmother, Ann Watt, and Jessy have been unwell. It has been an ‘unhealthy Spring’.

Watt, James and Family Papers

MS 3219/4/1/1/8/7

Library of Birmingham

1787

7

14

July 14 1787

Calton

[Glasgow] [Scotland]

Birmingham

[Warwickshire] [England]

People
Person: Margaret Watt (jnr)
View full details of Person: Margaret Watt (jnr)

primary author

  • travel
  • writing

  • affection
  • grateful
  • love

  • environment
  • weather
  • winter

family

Person: Margaret Watt (snr)
View full details of Person: Margaret Watt (snr)

other

illness

  • recovery
  • unwell

How to Cite

To Cite this Letter

Margaret Watt (II) to James Watt (II), 14 July 1787, 1471787: Library of Birmingham, Watt, James and Family Papers, MS 3219/4/1/1/8/7

To Cite this Edition

Material Identities, Social Bodies: Embodiment in British Letters c.1680-1820. Compiled by: Karen Harvey, Helen Esfandiary, Sarah Fox, Emily Vine, University of Birmingham. Project funded by the Leverhulme Trust (2021-2025, Ref. RPG-2020-163), https://socialbodies.bham.ac.uk.

Feedback