66

enjoyed the peculiar privilege of unrestrained access to the stores of original documents, as well as of anecdotes, by which this volume has been enriched. This circumstance may be a sufficient guarantee of the genuineness and interesting nature of the materials from which he has had to select; and the care bestowed in moulding them to their present form will be well repaid, if it secures a complete and accurate history of the life of one whom the common consent of mankind has now placed “ at the head of all inventors, in all ages and nations."

The checkered career of so great a man,—now dark with shadows, now bright with lights,-may well teach the stern truth,

“That life is not as idle ore,
"But iron dug from central gloom,

“ And heated hot with burning fears,

“And dipp'd in baths of hissing tears, "And batter'd with the shocks of doom

“To shape and use : yet it is full of hope and encouragement to those who read its lesson aright. For it sets forth the dignity of that intel

pre-eminence, which crowns perseverance in honourable toil;—the lustre of that nobility of soul, which finds its highest scope even amid humble pursuits ;—the majesty of that wisdom, which intently, tranquilly, and reverently searches out the mysterious works and ways of Creation.

lectual

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Page

Introduction - Inventors and their history – Lineage of James Watt

– His great-grandfather – His grandfather Thomas Watt

Burgh of Crawfordsdyke Burgh of Greenock

suits of Thomas Watt His marriage And death

1

Life and pur-

CHAPTER II.

Life and pur-

John and James Watt of Greenock Scenery of the Frith of Clyde

— Rapid progress in the navigation of that river

suits of James Watt of Greenock, father of the great engineer

Agnes Muirheid, his wife - Muirheads of Lachop Flodden

Field — Character, and death, of Agnes Muirheid or Watt

Her

brother, John Muirheid

10

CHAPTER III.

Children of James Watt of Greenock, and Agnes Muirheid — Birth of

James Watt - John Watt, his younger brother James Watt's

childhood — His home, education, and feeble health – Mrs.

Campbell's memoranda of his early years — His powers of imagina-

tion — His first observation of the condensation of steam – Variety

of his youthful studies and pursuits

17

CHAPTER IV.

Schools and schoolmasters of James Watt - Anecdotes of his boyish

habits and pastimes Portraits of Napier and Newton - His

call to be mechanical philosopher — His visit to Glasgow

Acquaintance with Professors of the University - Journey to

London — Practice of mathematical-instrument-making - Return

to Scotland ..

25

CHAPTER V.

Mr. Watt's employment by the College of Glasgow His establish-

ment within its walls as mathematical-instrument-maker to the

University – Progress in his business – Shop-keeping — His

construction of organs and other musical instruments Instru-

ments of his manufacture still in existence - Change of abode

His marriage – Machine for drawing in perspective

41
CHAPTER VI.

Page

Mr. Watt's introduction to Dr. Black, and to Professor Robison – Dr.

Black's history of their friendship, and of Mr. Watt's improve-

ments on the steam-engine — Dr. Robison's history of his ac-

quaintance with Mr. Watt — Account of his character, abilities,

dispositions, habits, and pursuits Experiments on model of

Newcomen's engine — Invention of Separate Condenser, and fur-

ther improvements on the steam-engine ..

57

CHAPTER VII.

Mr. Watt's narrative of the inventions described in his Specification of

1769, given in his notes on Robison Further anecdotes of his

invention of the Separate Condenser His narrative entitled 'A

• Plain Story'

74

..

CHAPTER VIII.

Dr. Black's and Professor Robison's account of Mr. Watt's introduc-

tion to Dr. Roebuck Entire originality of Mr. Watt's invention

- Confirmed by Dr. Roebuck · Wilcke's air-pump acting by the

condensation of steam Subsequent to Mr. Watt's invention of

the Separate Condenser Humphry Gainsborough

92

CHAPTER IX.

6

History of the steam-engine before the time of Watt — Æolipiles

Anthemius – Gerbert Porta Rivault Solomon de Caus

Marquis of Worcester - His 'Century of Inventions' — Ques-

tion whether he executed his apparatus - lis Act of Parliament

Beaufort MSS. Rollock’s ‘Panegyric' — Travels of Cosmo

de Medicis ..

.. 107

6

CHAPTER X.

Comparative claims of Solomon de Caus and the Marquis of Worcester

National controversy Fictitious letter of Marion de l'Orme

- Exposure of a literary imposture -- Philosophical discoveries of

the seventeenth century — Galileo Torricelli Pascal - Otto

de Guericke

.. 121

CHAPTER XI.

Denys Papin — His memoir of 1690 Attempt to form a vacuum

by gunpowder — His subsequent adoption of Savery's principle -

His digester -- Mistakes of English and of French writers in regard

to his inventions -- Translation of his paper of 1690

131
Page

CHAPTER XII.

Thomas Savery ." The Miner's Friend' Description of his steam-

engine — Uses to which it could be applied — Papin's inferior

imitation of it — Estimate by horse-power — Sir Samuel More-

laud — Newcomen and Cawley – Their great improvements

Desaguliers · Amontons and Dalesme Smeaton

143

CHAPTER XIII.

Dr. Roebuck – His history Carron iron-works — Borrowstoness

Introduction to Mr. Watt Progress of the new steam-engine

Testudo boiler Difficulties with cylinder and piston Plate-

condenser — Circular steam-engine or stean-wheel - Dr. Roe-

buck's embarrassments – Mr. Watt's land-surveying and civil-

engineering — His visit to Soho - Introduction to Dr. Small

Renewed experiments Proposals of partnership with Mr. Boul-

ton Patent of 1769

156

..

CHAPTER XIV.

Specification of the Patent of 1769 – Interrupted negotiations —

-

Continued experiments — Expansive power of steam - Successful

trial of engine at Kinneil — Pipe-condenser Further negotia-

tions with Soho Contingent agreement with Dr. Roebuck

Position and circumstances of Mr. Watt

178

CHAPTER XV.

Mr. Watt's civil-engineering - Construction of the Monkland Canal

- Steam-boats for canals - - Screw-propeller or Spiral Oar, 1770 —

Survey for canal in Strathmore Hamilton Bridge — Channel of

the Clyde — Crinan Canal, and other works Survey for Caledo-

nian Canal - Telford — Rate of remuneration of engineers in the

last century

197

screw

CHAPTER XVI.

Philosophical problems - Time-pieces — Micrometer and Dividing-

Surveying quadrant Barometers Micrometers for

measuring distances History of the invention of micrometers -

Sir David Brewster — De la Hire Malvasia Auzout and

Picard Gascoigne — Morin Rochon Maskelyne — Death

of Mr. Watt's first wife

217

CHAPTER XVII.

Depression of spirits - Insolvency of Dr. Roebuck - Formation of

Partnership with Mr. Boulton Transference of the new engine

to Soho – Prolongation of Patent of 1769 Death of Dr. Small

- Notices of bis life, talents, and virtues - Progress and prospects

of the new manufactory Articles of partnership

236