[236] Boulton to Watt, 26th March, 1782. The following was Boulton’s method of dealing with a refractory and drunken workman:--“I told you in my former letters how Jim Taylor had gone on,--that I had talked to him in a friendly way but all to no purpose. He came last Monday evening to the smith’s shop, drank more ale, was sent for, and he became abusive to the men, saying we had nobody could work well but himself, and that we could not do without him. The next morning I went into the shop predetermined to part with him. I stopped the noise of bellows and hammers, and appealed to the jury of the shop for the justice of my determination, and made the best use I could of the example. I sent Taylor off with deserved contempt, and to convince him that we really could do without him. However we are very much behind hand in nozzles.”--Boulton to Watt, 19th April, 1782. William Murdock was by far the ablest and most efficient of the Soho men, and won golden opinions in all quarters; so much so, that he was in constant request. We find him described as “flying from mine to mine,” putting the engines to rights. If anything went wrong, Murdock was immediately sent for. He was active, quick-sighted, shrewd, indefatigable, and an excellent workman. His wages, down to 1780, were only 20_s._ a week, and, thinking himself worth more, he asked for an advance to two guineas. Boulton, instead of refusing, adroitly managed to obtain a present of ten guineas from the owners of the United Mines, to which he added other ten, in acknowledgment of the admirable manner in which he had erected their new engine; Mr. Beauchamp, the Chairman of the Company, having publicly declared that “he regarded William as the most obliging and industrious workman he had ever known.” Though Murdock’s wages were not then raised, and though Bonze, the Cornish engineer--a man of means as well as of skill and experience--invited him to join in an engineering partnership, William remained loyal to the Boulton and Watt firm, and in due time he had his reward. Murdock’s popularity with the Cornishmen increased so much that Watt seems to have grown somewhat jealous of him, for when William was to be had, they preferred him to Watt himself.[237] At Wheal Virgin, the adventurers insisted upon having him all to themselves; but this was not practicable, as there were other engines in progress requiring constant attention,--Wheal Crenver, which Watt described as “in the enemy’s country, Pool hardly completed yet, and Dalcoath in its childhood.”