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Correspondence: 1855. Miscellaneous topics pertaining to engineering and business matters together with current, family and personal affairs. Correspondents and contents include:
James Paterson (items belonging to himself and PC to be removed from Mr Nairne’s mill before the forced sale there of machinery and equipment);
James Martie, Jonsererd, By Gothenberg, Sweden (recommends a young engineer; the effects of the Crimean War on trade, the difficulty in finding supplies of hemp and the excessively cold winter; the building of a railway between Gothenberg and Stockholm; wage rates in Sweden);
James Sinclair, Strone, Stirling (engines for The Scotsman’s printing press; progress on his water engine; ordering canvas for his schooners);
Thomas Greenwood, Wellington Foundry, Leeds, (matters of patent; a move to making machinery for arms manufacturing for the Crimean War, comments on the progress of the War; letter of introduction regarding an artist with a new yarn);
James McCallum, 5 Brighton Place, Glasgow, (request for a reference from PC in support of his application to Cox Bros of Dundee);
James Spence, Portsmouth Dockyard (dissatisfaction with his position and the possibility of applying for the post of manager of the Dundee gas works; The return of the ship Samson from Odessa and Sebastopol with a tame Circassian bear; evidence of and rants against incompetence and mismanagement in the Crimean War; the effects of extremes of temperature on metal; drawing of a Russian marine mine - ‘infernal machine’; programme of a meeting of the Royal Scottish Society of Arts that includes a paper by James Spense on the ‘Rise and Progress of the Royal Steam Navy’; articles in the Artisan; family news: brain fever of Rachel Jane and the making of a photographic portrait of his fast failing son);
Thomas Marsden, Broughton, Manchester (trade reference regarding Thomas Briggs)
James Carmichael, Filature d’Ailly, France (to be made a partner in the French company; major breakdowns at Ailly and at Dens Works losing 12 days work; a proposal to buy a new factory; price of English and Belgian coal; trade and manufacturing, prices of Whitworth Lathes);
D. Cruickshank, 38 Charles St., Westminster, London (death of the Emperor Nicholas; the consequences for a lasting peace; increasing numbers of soldiers in locality bringing serious problems for his school; criticisms of government: ‘what a mess our government have made of the war and themselves … a radical change must take place … the aristocratic element must give place to acknowledged utility come from what class it may’; family matters and illness; letter of complaint on behalf of James Spence and some of his friends;
D. Kinnear, Arbroath (an election in Arbroath lost by W. E. Baxter*; the support given to a worker by Baxter Bros after a disabling accident);
[John] Tannoch D.D., minister of Glamis, (request on behalf of a parishioner for an advance on her allowance due to the severity of the winter, scarcity of work and ill health in the family);
David Baxter, London and Edinburgh (flax, output, competition and tenders; telegraph message);
John Batley, Wellington Foundry, Leeds (patent infringements, machine manufacture for the War, business references, trade; Derby and Coalbrookdale catalogues with price lists for Mrs Baxter);
Charles McKinlay & Co., Leith; invoice for wines and spirits.
William Henderson, Riga (successful establishment of a mill, marriage to his English housekeeper);
James Leslie, 72 George Street Edinburgh (the working costs of engines);
Robert Small (a scheme for the consumption of smoke in Glasgow);
William Ingram, Musselborough (thanking for hospitality in Dundee);
Henry S Boase, Claverhouse (bleaching, dying and experiments in the drying of flax yarn);
E. Young, Annan.
James Laing, Glasgow (request for 20 shillings assistance);
James Low, junior, Monifieth;
John Smith, Dundee (letter on leaving PC’s employ);
Thomas Greenwood, Wellington Foundry, Leeds (dispute between Mr Fairbairn, Mr Mathers and himself and its resolution; production moved to machinery for arms manufacture, little left in flax machinery; marriage of Mr Fairbairn and Mrs Bell (nee Brandling) of Newcastle);
Chris Kerr (advice regarding a purchase);
J. Robertson, Manse of Mains (request for the employment of his step-brother, a mechanic);
John Robertson, 14 Meadow Street, Dundee (subscriptions to the Infirmary);
John Corlass, Preston (gift of towels);
William Leitch, Ladybank (meeting of Heritors and Kirk Session; a request to visit a factory to gain information on the social and moral aspects; social changes, the role of religion, experiments in social welfare and organisation);
Robert Small, Dundee (unable to find a ship under £18 or £20 to load for Abbeville);
Andrew Fullerton, Abbey Mount Works, Edinburgh (suggested remedy for PC’s leg ulcer;
Edward Baxter, Dundee (£5 7s due by PC and Mr Low of Monifieth);
William Nairne, (his bankruptcy, illness and the dishonesty of his son);
Thomas Pratt, Cupar, Fife (recommendation of Mr Smith for employment as a clerk).
[111 items]

* Later MP for Montrose Burghs. Nephew of Sir David Baxter.

Correspondence: 1846-1847. Miscellaneous topics pertaining to engineering and business matters together with current, general and family affairs. Correspondents and contents include:
John Smith, Seagate (letter of introduction for David Boyack); William Nairne, Milnhaugh (his railway engines and a newspaper attack on him);
William Anderson, India Street, Montrose, (Position for Hackle maker in France); James Spence, Royal Dockyard, Portsmouth (Wishes PC happy New Year and informs him of his promotion; Submission of drawings and specifications to the naval dockyards by Ward Foundry; Orders and employment of John Carmichael, Discusses life at the dockyard)
William Cruikshanks, Dundee (request for loan);
Shaw, Reid & McLachlan (relates to legal case);
Allan Fordyce, Haubordin, nr Calais (comments, critically, on David Baxter’s paper to the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of Dundee against the Ten Hour Bill; refers to competition from cheap labour in Europe with figures for French workers including Fordyce’s version of wage rates in France);
David Greig 166 Rose Street, Edinburgh (Letters relating to death of John Adamson in wreck of the Brechin Castle*, in which Baxter Brothers had an interest, and legal position of his siblings as heirs)
Trunbull & Co , Claverhouse Bleachfield (poor state of yarn); George Whyte, St Rollox Flax Mills, (seeking position for his brother); J Stewart, Blairgowrie Mills (flax dressing prices); David Peter, Salford (Has left Thomas Marsden’s employ following a dispute, but has completed work on machines for PC; reasons for leaving Marsden’s employment and new position with a railway [Buxton Railway?]); Jas. Paterson, Dundee (requesting money for William Nairne);
W. Ransley, Box and Ivory Rule Maker, 20 Stangate, Westminster Bridge, London (measuring instruments);
George Lowry, Belfast (the performance of a competitor’s machine); Thomas Greenwood, Wellington Foundry, Leeds (Machinery matters); James Grandison, (McBride & Co’s claim for a patent predating PCs)
Patent disputes in Britain and France.
D Cruikshank, Greenacres Moor (3rd August, 1847, describes a parliamentary election at Oldham [1847 general election] and subsequent riots);
Troops being sent to Ireland and concern for the situation in ‘high quarters’.
Tests on canvas failing navy test, December 1847.
Jacquard looms.
[51 items]

*SS Brechin Castle was lost with all hands off Swansea in February 1847. John Adamson was her second mate. See also MS 73/2

Correspondence: 1845. Miscellaneous topics pertaining to engineering and business matters together with current, general and family affairs. Correspondents and contents include:
Thomas Marsden, Salford (engineering and machinery matters; spindles; heckling machine); James Carmichael, Amiens (Arrival at Folkestone – noting earlier daylight than in Dundee; his arrival in France and setting up of the factory at Ailly-sur-Somme, notes his difficulties with language, mentions impressions of France and surveying of Paris Boulogne Railway; has got lad who speaks both English and French to help him and describes early work in setting up and planning mill; includes account of the employment of Dundee workers there; Visit to Paris, describes his discussions about planning of buildings at Amiens, especially his dwelling house; describes his progress; report to Baxter Brothers on progress to factory; mentions payment matters relating to A. B. Brown and W. Bates); Robert Baxter*, Rue de Paris Lille (Alludes to request his wife made to PC which PC had declined, describes his operations and requests advice on spinning jute; asks for further advice, noting he has no access to whale oil);William Martin [?], North England Insurance Office, Dundee, (Payment for fighting fire at Cowgate Port**); William Nairne, Milnhaugh (Discusses spinning machine; Thanks PC for apples, notes ‚daft days‘ have hindered his progress and discusses machinery; mechanical designs; enquires about PC’s health and discusses engineering matters; recomends George Bruce to PC; Covering letter for Duncan Forbes and request that PC order shuttle pins); Alex Balfour, Leven (Request for a reference from PC for David Brown who has applied to be manager of his mill); James Combe, Leeds (new loom - includes drawing; mill machinery with diagrams); William Stratton, Arbroath (recommending William Hutchison for post of foreman hackler); Samuel S. Faulkner (printed letter setting out his improvements on cotton cards); Alexander McKenzie, Kirkland (application for the post of foreman hackler); David Ballingall (application for the post of foreman hackler); John Christie, Dysart (response to application being rejected and suspicion ‘you have been prejudiced against me’); MacLea & Marsh, Leeds (order of couplings); Duncan Forbes, Luncarty ( Provides sample of writing and discusses Calender); William Martin (insurance matters); D. Cruickshank, Leeds, (regarding a post teaching English in Montrose).
[33 items]

* Likely the son of William T Baxter, the Dundee radical whom Mary Godwin resided with, and therefore second cousin to Sir David Baxter
** According to Dundee, Perth and Cupar Advertiser 31 January 1845 a fire engine party of workmen from Baxter Bros led by Mr Carmichael, successfully fought a fire at ‘Mr William Culross’s heckle-house at the Cowgate Port.’