CHAPTER XVIIL OFFERS OF EMPLOYMENT IN RUSSIA PRIVILEGE GRANTED IN FRANCE JARY AND PERRIER — M. DE PRONY VISITS PROGRESS AT SOHO TO CORNWALL-INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW STEAM-ENGINES PATENT OF 1780 FOR COPYING-MACHINE MACHINE FOR DRYING LINEN BY STEAM PATENT OF 1781-"SUN AND PLANET WHEELS PATENT OF 1782 EXPANSIVE PRINCIPLE DOUBLE-ACTING ENGINE DOUBLE OR COMPOUND ENGINE. The AT this critical turning-point of his life, Mr. Watt had rather a narrow escape from expatriation, and this country from losing all the benefit of his unrivalled career of invention. In 1773 he had received an invitation from his friend Robison to come to Russia, "where he had recommended him to fill "some station." But in the spring of 1775 an offer was made to him of employment in Russia, under the Imperial Government, which, at a somewhat earlier period, might probably have met with his thankful acceptance; for the salary promised was 1000l. per annum, and the duties required would have suited well his own inclinations and acquirements. offer of the appointment in question, however, seems to have been ensured by, if it did not originate in, Mr. Boulton "having sounded his praises at the Ambassador's;" and he naturally preferred continuing, with him, those endeavours for a parliamentary prolongation of his first patent, on which their future association was to depend. "Your going to "Russia," says Mr. Boulton, "staggers me. The precarious"ness of your health, the dangers of so long a journey or voyage, and my own deprivation of consolation, render me a little uncomfortable; but I wish to assist and advise you "for the best, without regard to self;" and again, "I shall "rejoice at every good that befalls you; yet, nevertheless, I "find I love myself so well that I should be sorry to have you go to Russia, and I begin to repent sounding your 66 "Lord, how frightened I "trumpet at the Ambassador's." "was," writes the genial and hearty Darwin, "when I heard "a Russian bear* had laid hold of you with his great paw, " and was dragging you to Russia! Pray don't go if you "can help it. Russia is like the den of Cacus: you see the footsteps of many beasts going thither, but of few returning. "I hope your fire-engines will keep you here." 66 The case also of a Captain Perry, (who, after having been engaged by Peter the Great as an engineer, and having served for many years in that country, had been obliged to take refuge in the house of the British Ambassador, and to return to England without receiving his pay), as well as representations of other similar instances, alarmed him for the consequences which might possibly again attend such despotic predilections; and recommended to his mind the less dazzling, but more secure destiny, of "a crust of bread and liberty." The Imperial family of Russia were then much interested in the various manufactures carried on at Soho, and greatly admired their products. In February 1776 the Empress stayed for some time at Mr. Boulton's house; " and a charming "woman she is," writes her hospitable entertainer. It is rather a singular circumstance, that when, in 1816, his Imperial Highness the Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia, (the late Czar), applied at the Soho works for permission to view their interior, his application, although supported by a letter from Lord Sidmouth, was rejected. The objection felt, however, was not by any means to the potentate himself or his immediate friends, but to certain persons who followed in his suite, and whom there were good reasons for not initiating into the various processes of the manufacture. Mr. Watt's labours at Soho soon began to manifest the great advantages which that establishment afforded in respect of materials, workmanship, and business connections. Fortunately, the completion of the reciprocating or condensing engine was not made to wait for that of the more troublesome * "Which made old Ben and surly Dennis swear, Pope's Imit. of Hor., B. ii. Ep. i., 1. 388. 66 and uncertain wheel-engine; but was at once proceeded with, under "the master's eye" and care. A cast-iron cylinder, over 18 inches in diameter, an inch thick, and weighing half a ton, but which seemed "tolerably true," "not perfect, but "without any very gross error," was procured from Mr. Wilkinson, and the piston, to diminish friction and the consequent wear of metal, girt with a brass hoop two inches broad: and although when first tried, "the engine goes marvellously bad; "it made eight strokes per minute; but, upon Joseph's endeavouring to mend it, it stood still;" and that, too, though the piston was helped with all the appliances of "hat," papier maché, grease, black-lead powder, a bottle of oil" to drain through the hat and lubricate the sides," and an iron weight above all to prevent the piston leaving the papier behind in its stroke,-yet, after some imperfections of the valves were remedied, "the engine makes 500 strokes "with about two cwt. of coals;" and, in another month or two, with better condensation, it "makes 2000 strokes with one "cwt. of coals;" no bad work for such a machine, as yet but in its childhood. "The copper bottom for Bloomfield engine "is come," at the same time writes Mr. Boulton, "and Mr. "Hurst promises to forward the others directly. The new forging-shop looks very formidable; the roof is nearly put and the hearths are both built. The two small 7-inch 66 pumps for our own condenser are this day arrived; but we "can't bore them until we have got a block cast for fixing "the boring-knives in, which I shall hasten." And, within six months, there comes this order :-" Pray tell Mr. Wilkinson to "get a dozen of cylinders cast and bored, from 12 to 50 inches "diameter, and as many condensers of suitable sizes; the "latter must be sent here, as we will keep them ready fitted up, and then an engine can be turned out of hand in two "or three weeks. I have fixed my mind upon making from "twelve to fifteen reciprocating, and fifty rotative engines. per annum." 66 66 on, 66 The new engines beginning now to be disseminated over many parts of England, and giving entire satisfaction to all who availed themselves of the invention, began to attract notice on the other side of the Channel. Within a couple of years after the passing of the Act of Parliament of 1775, negotiations were set on foot by MM. Perrier for using Mr. Watt's steam-engines to supply Paris with water; and, in 1778, the King of France, by a decree, granted to Messrs. Boulton and Watt an exclusive privilege to make and sell their engines in that country. This decree, according to the French patent law at that time, could not have the force of a patent till an engine had actually been subjected to the judgment of certain Commissioners appointed by the decree, and had been reported by them to be superior to the common. engines. The trial engine, it was agreed, should be erected at the colliery of a M. Jary, near Nantes in Brittany; M. Jary, who was a very ingenious man, himself undertaking nearly the whole care of the erection. 66 "The sum of intelligence concerning Perrier," writes Mr. Boulton, "is, that, through interest, he has obtained the King's arrêt empowering him to raise water from the Seine "to supply Paris, and erecting a company, copy of which I "shall send you; that W. Wilkinson went over to solicit "order for the pipes, &c.; that Perrier, when he went to 66 66 Broseley, was resolved to have common engines; that after"wards he was convinced that ours were much superior, and "then wanted Wilkinson to make them for him, as he did not see the use of applying to us, [he] being out of our jurisdic❝tion; that W. represented that he would be liable to prosecution, and that he was bound by honour and interest not "to do it but through us; that W. thought, as being out of "our jurisdiction, we should serve Perrier upon moderate 66 66 terms, should take out our premium in actions, which would "be saleable as bearing 6 per cent. interest; that W., if em"ployed for pipes, &c., takes 100 shares at 50l. each. 66 "I answered, that Perrier had not behaved to us with pru"dent openness or consideration, and had attempted bribing people to betray us at London; that we had friends in "France of interest, who had long ago assured us of the pro"tection of the Crown, and that the State would see the "propriety of having us to erect our own machines; and that "if they did not, we would not serve Perrier so cheap as if they did; that some of our principal secrets were still in our own breasts; that it was more our interest to work "at home, without France was secured to us;" &c. 66 66 66 "Perrier is a smith to trade, and reckoned a man of ingenuity; but his scheme is undigested, and he is ignorant "even of the proper method of conducting the water. The "Lieutenant of Police is the ultimate judge of disputes in "Perrier's scheme. Rather than fail, suppose we were to "erect one or two engines for Perrier upon easy terms, pro❝vided he and his interest concurred in securing our property "in France." Early in 1779, Perrier visited Soho, "bargained on very "moderate terms" for engines, and drawings for one were sent to Jary by Mr. Watt, to be executed, it would appear, in France. Finding, in May 1780, that the MM. Perrier were to erect three fire-engines, "whereof one according to our plan, and the two others with 'changements qu'il avoit ima"giné,' if we mean to keep this our kingdom of France in proper subjection," wrote Mr. Watt, "it will be necessary "that one of ourselves go over there soon." 66 66 How far MM. Perrier showed off to advantage the engine of English design and French construction, appears from the report of M. De Luc, "who was present at Paris when Perrier "called the Royal Academy to view the engine set out, when, "lo! it went two long strokes per minute; which he said was "owing to the want of the steam-case, which in haste he had "omitted. This being afterwards added, the engine wrought at "the rate of four strokes per minute, and he (De Luc) never saw it go any faster."* This was rather a contrast to the rate at which the Soho engines moved in their own country; and perhaps M. Perrier prevailed on the two others, “with "variations which he had imagined," to mind their business with more alacrity. But when Mr. Watt and Mr. Boulton visited Paris, "We have also vindicated," writes Mr. Watt,† 66 *Mr. Watt to Mr. Boulton, 29 October, 1782. |