the late Mr. James Watt. 139 



often happened that a great deal more was learned from his brief 

 and vigorous accomit of the theories and arguments of tedious 

 writers, than an ordinary student could ever have derived from 

 the most faithful study of the originals ; and that errors and 

 absurdities became manifest from the mere clearness and plain- 

 ness of his statement of them, which might have deluded and 

 perplexed most of his hearers without that invaluable assistance. 

 It is needless to say, that with those vast resources, his con- 

 versation was at all times rich and instructive in no ordinary de- 

 gree ; but it was, if possible, still more pleasing than wise, and 

 had all the charms of familiarity, with all the substantial trea- 

 sures of knowledge. No man could be more social in his 

 spirit, less assuming or fastidious in his manners, or more kind 

 and indulgent towards all who approached him. He rather 

 liked to talk, at least in his latter years ; but though he took a 

 considerable share of the conversation, he rarely suggested the 

 topics on which it was to turn, but readily and quietly took up 

 whatever was presented by those around him, and astonished the 

 idle and barren propounders of an ordinary theme, by the trea- 

 sures which he drew from the mine which they had unconsci- 

 ously opened. He generally seemed, indeed, to have no choice 

 or predilection for one subject of discourse rather than another, 

 but allowed his mind, like a great cyclopedia, to be opened at 

 any letter his associates might choose to turn up, and only en- 

 deavoured to select from his inexhaustible stores what might be 

 best adapted to the taste of his present hearers. As to their 

 capacity, he gave himself no trouble ; and, indeed, such was his 

 singular talent for making all things plain, clear, and intelligible, 

 that scarcely any one could be aware of such a deficiency in his 

 presence. His talk, too, though overflowing with information, 

 had no resemblance to lecturing or solemn discoursing, but, on 

 the contrary, was full of colloquial spirit and pleasure. He had 

 a certain quiet and grave humour, which ran through most of his 

 conversation, and a vein of temperate jocularity, which gave in- 

 finite zest and effect to the condensed and inexhaustible informa- 

 tion which formed its main staple and characteristic. There was 

 a little air of afTcctcd testiness, and a lone of pretended rebuke 



