d ought in justice to be attributed almost as
much to you as to myself. From our cheerful meetings I never
absented myself voluntarily, and from my pleasing recollection
they will never be absent. Should the cause of our separation
make it necessary for to me remove to a still greater distance
from you, I shall only think the more, and with the more regret,
of our past interviews.... Philosophy engrossed us wholly.
Politicians may think there are no objects of any consequence
besides those which immediately interest _them_. But objects far
superior to any of which they have an idea engaged our
attention, and the discussion of them was accompanied with a
satisfaction to which they are strangers. Happy would it be for
the world if their pursuits were as tranquil, and their projects
as innocent, and as friendly to the best interests of mankind,
as ours.

That the partners, Boulton and Watt, had such pleasure amid their lives
of daily cares, all will be glad to know. It was not all humdrum
money-making nor intense inventing. There was the society of gifted
minds, the serene atmosphere of friendship in the high realms of mutual
regard, best recreation of all.

In 1786, quite a break in their daily routine took place. In that year
Messrs. Boulton and Watt visited Paris to meet proposals for their
erecting steam engines in France under an exclusive privilege. They were
also to suggest improvements on the great hydraulic machine of Marly.
Before starting, the sagacious and patriotic Watt wrote to Boulton:

I think if either of us go to France, we should first wait upon
Mr. Pitt (prime minister), and let him know our errand thither,
that the tongue of slander may be silenced, all undue suspicion
removed, and ourselves rendered more valuable in his eyes,
because others desire to have us!

They had a flattering reception in Paris from the ministry, who seemed
desirous that they should establish engine-works in France. This they
absolutely refused to do, as being contrary to the interests of their
country. It may be feared we are not quite so scrupulous in our day. On
the other hand, refusal now would be fruitless, it has become so easy to
obtain plans, and even experts, to build machines for any kind of
product in any country. Automatic machinery has almost dispelled the
need for so-called skilled labor. East Indians, Mexicans, Japanese,
Chinese, all