the composition of water, is followed by the eloquent delineation of the Character of Mr. Watt by Lord Jeffrey; to which those who had known Mr. Watt longest and best, have concurred in ascribing the merit of an unrivalled fidelity. Of the speeches delivered at the meeting at which the statue in Westminster Abbey was voted, it was at first proposed only to have given some extracts. But it was found that the effect of those speeches must have been infinitely injured, by their being at all curtailed; and as they do the highest honour not only to the memory of Mr. Watt, and the talents and feelings of the distinguished speakers, but also to the Nation whose gratitude they were intended to express, the Report of the Committee has been reprinted without abridgement or alteration. The able Dissertation on Machinery considered in relation to the welfare of the working-classes, formed originally a part of the body of the Eloge; and was inserted immediately after that chapter which treats of the History of the Steam-Engine. But, as its introduction there seemed somewhat to interfere with the continuity of the history of Mr. Watt's life and inventions, it has now been, perhaps more appropriately, placed after the other parts of this volume in which those are more immediately noticed. For much of the information contained in the Additional Notes, the Translator has to thank the goodness, (which M. Arago might well call unwearied), of his friend the present Mr. James Watt; who has always viewed as a sacred trust the guardianship of that name which he inherits, and which is now perpetuated, in every quarter of the world, by benefits conferred on mankind, such as lead to the greatest and most imperishable renown. EDINBURGH, 12th November 1839. HISTORICAL ELOGE, &c. 66 AFTER perusing the long catalogue of battles, of murders, of pestilences, of famines, of catastrophes of every kind, which the annals of I know not what country presented, a philosopher exclaimed, Happy is the nation whose history is tiresome!" Why must we add, at least in a literary point of view, "Unfortunate is the man on whom devolves the duty of narrating the history of a happy people!" If the philosopher's exclamation loses nothing of its force when applied to simple individuals, its counterpart expresses, with equal truth, the situation of some biographers. Such were the thoughts which occurred to me, while I was studying the life of James Watt, and collecting the kind communications of the relations, friends, and associates, of that illustrious mechanician. That life, quite patriarchal, devoted to labour, to study, to meditation, will present us with none of those exciting events, of which Α the narration, interspersed with a little skill among the details of science, relieves their gravity. Yet I will relate it, were it only to show in what a humble condition projects were elaborated, which were destined to raise the British nation to an unheard-of height of power. I shall endeavour, above all, to describe with minute accuracy the fertile inventions which for ever connect the name of Watt with that of the steam-engine. son." I am perfectly aware of the dangers of this course. I foresee that it may be said, on leaving this place, "We expected an historical eloge, and we have been present at a dry and tedious lesBut if the lesson were comprehended, I should stand in but little dread of the reproach. I shall, therefore, use every endeavour not to weary your attention. I shall bear in mind that the good breeding of those who address the public consists in perspicuity. THE CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH OF JAMES WATT ; HIS PROMOTION TO THE OFFICE OF MATHEMA- James Watt, one of the eight Foreign Associates of the Academy of Sciences, was born at Greenock, in Scotland, on the 19th of January 1736. Our neighbours on the other side of the channel have the good sense to be of opinion, that the genealogy of a respectable and industrious family |