a vein of temperate jocularity, which gave infinite zest and effect to the condensed and inexhaustible information which formed its main staple and characteristic. There was a little air of affected testiness, and a tone of pretended rebuke and contradiction, with which he used to address his younger friends, that was always felt by them as an endearing mark of his kindness and familiarity,—and prized accordingly, far beyond all the solemn compliments that ever proceeded from the lips of authority. His voice was deep and powerful,-though he commonly spoke in a low and somewhat monotonous tone, which harmonized admirably with the weight and brevity of his observations, and set off to the greatest advantage the pleasant anecdotes, which he delivered with the same grave brow, and the same calm smile playing soberly on his lips. There was nothing of effort indeed, or impatience, any more than of pride or levity, in his demeanour; and there was a finer expression of reposing strength, and mild self-possession in his manner, than we ever recollect to have met with in any other person. He had in his character the utmost abhorrence for all sorts of forwardness, parade, and pretensions; and, indeed, never failed to put all such impostures out of countenance, by the manly plainness and honest intrepidity of his language and deportment. "In his temper and dispositions he was not only kind and affectionate, but generous, and considerate of the feelings of all around him; and gave the most liberal assistance and encouragement to all young persons who showed any indications of talent, or applied to him for patronage or advice. His health, which was delicate from his youth upwards, seemed to become firmer as he advanced in years; and he preserved, up almost to the last moment of his existence, not only the full command of his extraordinary intellect, but all the alacrity of spirit, and the social gaiety, which had illumined his happiest days. His friends in this part of the country never saw him more full of intellectual vigour and colloquial animation,-never more delightful or more instructive,—than in his last visit to Scotland in autumn, 1817. CHARACTER BY JEFFREY. 407 Indeed, it was after that time that he applied himself, with all the ardour of early life, to the invention of a machine for mechanically copying all sorts of sculpture and statuary;-and distributed among his friends some of its earliest performances, as the productions of a young artist just entering on his eightythird year. "This happy and useful life came, at last, to a gentle close. He had suffered some inconvenience through the summer; but was not seriously indisposed till within a few weeks from his death. He then became perfectly aware of the event which was approaching; and, with his usual tranquillity and benevolence of nature, seemed only anxious to point out to the friends around him, the many sources of consolation which were afforded by the circumstances under which it was about to take place. He expressed his sincere gratitude to Providence for the length of days with which he had been blessed, and his exemption from most of the infirmities of age; as well as for the calm and cheerful evening of life that he had been permitted to enjoy, after the honourable labours of the day had been concluded. And thus, full of years and honours, in all calmness and tranquillity, he yielded up his soul, without pang or struggle,--and passed from the bosom of his family to that of his God. "He was twice married, but has left no issue but one son, long associated with him in his business and studies, and two grandchildren by a daughter who predeceased him. He was a Fellow of the Royal Societies both of London and Edinburgh, and one of the few Englishmen who were elected members of the National Institute of France. All men of learning and science were his cordial friends; and such was the influence of his mild character and perfect fairness and liberality, even upon the pretenders to these accomplishments, that he lived to disarm even envy itself, and died, we verily believe, without a single enemy." Mr. Watt became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1784; of the Royal Society of London in 1785; a Member of the Batavian Society in 1787; and a Correspondent of the Institute of France in 1808. By a spontaneous and unanimous vote, the Senate of the University of Glasgow conferred on him, in 1806, the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. In 1814, the Academy of Sciences of the Institute paid him the highest honour which it could bestow; it nominated him one of its Eight Foreign Associates. INDEX. A. 'About the same time,' 275. Acid of sea-salt,' 'dephlogisticated,' 301. Air-pump, by steam, Robison's, 54; Wilcke's, 83, 84; of improved engine, 64, 73, 131, 144, Aladdin, new lamps for old,' 350. Albany, 334: distance from New York, ib., Albion Mills, 236, 237. A new hare,' 243. Anglo-Saxon, Mr. Watt's study of, 373. Arago, M., commentary on Mrs. Campbell's Argand, Mr., Mr. Watt's letter to, on lamps, Aristotle, small bust of, 357. Armada, Spanish, bullets of, 389. Arn's Well, in Green of Glasgow, 67. Artificial alabaster, 356. Arts, Society of, in 1778, 189. B. Bacon, Lord, on the honour paid to inven- Baker and Co., of Manchester, 302. Barge, the royal, distanced by boat with Barometer, new, by Dr. Small, 187, 188; Batavian Society, Mr. Watt a member of, 408. Beam, great, of engine, introduced by New- Beaufort MSS., the, concerning Lord Wor- Beddoes, Dr., 326; his death, 397. Belidor, account of the steam-engine, 2, 53, Mr. Henry, 335. Bellow Mill, in Ayrshire, 322. Beverley, 332. Bion on Mathematical Instruments, 28; Black, Dr., organ built by Mr. Watt for, 34, Blagden, Dr., afterwards Sir Charles, (see Boiler of Savery's engine, 118; of Newco- Bollat, 133. Bo'ness, 138, 143. (See Borrowstoness.) Borrowstoness, 126. (See Bo'ness.) Brewster, Sir David, invents micrometer Bridge, Blackfriars, 236. Brougham, Lord, notice of Dr. W. Small, Brown, Mr. Alexander, conversation with Mr. James, 321, note. Bull, Mr., a stoker,' 305; Boulton and Burke, Edmund, opposes renewal of patent, Bute, organ built for Lord, 85. Cacus, den of, 212. C. Camms, steel, 239, 240. Boulton, Matthew, plate-manufactory and Boulton, Matthew Robinson, anecdote of Boulton and Watt, formation of original Boulton, Watt, and Co., manufactured two Bourne, William, 880. Campbell, Mrs., cousin of the great engineer, Cartsburn, barony of, 3. Boyle, Robert, air-pump, improved by Cartsdyke, (or Crawfordsdyke,) burgh of Bow engine, 207. Hooke, 101. Bradley, 241. Bramah, Joseph, 74, 312. Branca, Le Machine, 89. Breadalbane, Earl of, 170. Breconshire, Mr. Watt's estates in, 369. barony, 3. Cartwright, 230. Cassel, machine of, 115. Cassigrainian telescope converted into a Caus. (See De Caus.) |