259 



Club to see one of these licences dated 1st January, 1791, granted 

 to the Proprietors of the Thames and Severn Navigation, for 

 their engine at Thames head, which was constructed by Boulton 

 and Watt about that time. The document is executed by Watt 

 and by his partner Boulton * This Engine was taken down and 

 replaced by an ordinaiy Cornish Pumping Engine, in 1854. 

 Before Watt's Engine the springs were hfted into the Canal by 

 a Wind Engine. 



But to return from this digression to Eobekt Whitwoeth, 

 who was an able pupil of, and succ essor to James Bbindley. 



* This after reciting that in the 5th January, 9th George III (being 

 1769) James Watt obtained his first patent for the term of 14 years and 

 subsequently that he obtamed an Act of ParUament in the loth George 

 III (being 1775) extending his right of patent 25 years (to 1800) and that 

 the Canal Company wished to avail themselves of his invention and patent, 

 proceeds to say, Now this Indenture tvitnesseth that the said Company of 

 Proprietors of the Thames and Severn Navigation have covenanted 

 promised and agreed, and by these presents, for and on behalf of themselves 

 and their successors do covenant promise and agree, to and with the said 

 James Watt and Matthew Boulton their executors administrators and 

 assigns. That they the said Company of Proprietors of the Thames and 

 Severn Navigation, shall and will on or before the first day of September 

 one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one at their own proper cost and 

 charge set up erect complete and finish at Thames Head aforesaid or at 

 upon or near some other part of the said canal a steam engine of his the 

 said James Watt's invention as described in the said hereinbefore in part 

 recited letters patent and Act of ParUament or one of them and according 

 to the plans and dii-ections to be furnished by the said James Watt and 

 Matthew Boulton their executors administrators and assigns of the dimen- 

 sions hercmbef ore recited. And also that they the said Company of Proprietors 

 and then- successors shaU and will at all times from and after the erecting of 

 the said engine during the then residue of the said term of twenty-five years 

 granted by the said Act of Parliament or dui-ing such part thereof as the 

 said engine shall continue to be used or worked for the purposes of the said 

 Canal at their own proper costs and charges maintain and keep the said 

 engine in good order and repair. And in order to give and make to the said 

 James Watt and Matthew Boulton a compensation and satisfaction for such 

 consent and agreement to the setting up erecting using working and exer- 

 cising the said engine during the remainder of the term of twenty-five years 

 granted by the said Act of ParUament they the said Company of Proprietors 

 of the Thames and Severn Navigation for and on behalf of themselves and 



