WATT, James (1736-1819). Inventor of the Steam Engine. Autograph letter signed ("Boulton & Watt") to Fermin de Gastet & Co., Birmingham, 3 August 1791. 1 page, 4to, seal tear affecting six letters of text. WATT DISCUSSES AN ORDER FOR A STEAM ENGINE. A rare autograph letter from the inventor of the steam engine, the device which spawned the Industrial Revolution and the growth of the modern world. Here Watt sends information regarding an order being filled at his steam engine factory, Soho Engineering Works, which he co-owned with Matthew Boulton: "Annexed you have [a] list of the Goods from Cornwall and amount for insurance. We have written to Mr. Jones agreable to your desire and when we have his answer, shall transmit to you. We have restrained the fire bricks to 8 or 10 as common bricks will do to line the chimneys & boiler flues. I have directed him to get a ship as near the Burthen as possible."