258 M. Arago's Biographical Memoir of James Watt. 



House of Commons opposed it." I was curious to learn 

 to what class of society those members of Parliament be- 

 longed, to whom Mr Watt alludes, and who refused to the man 

 of genius a small fraction of that wealth which he was about 

 to create. Conceive my surprise, when I learned that at their 

 head stood the celebrated Burke ! Is it then the fact, that a 

 man may be given to profound thought, may possess exten- 

 sive knowledge and sterling honesty, be pre-eminently endowed 

 with oratorical talents to move and carry along with him poli- 

 tical assemblies, and yet be wanting in plain common sense .^ 

 Since the important and wise improvements which Lord 

 Brougham has introduced into the law of patents, inventors 

 will not be subjected to that long series of annoyances to which 

 Mr Watt was exposed. 



So soon as Parliament renewed Mr Watfs patent, for a period 

 of twenty-five years, he and Mr Boulton together, commenced at 

 Soho, those establishments which have proved the most useful 

 school of practical mechanics for the whole of England. They 

 speedily commenced the construction of draining pumps of the 

 largest dimensions, and repeated experiments demonstrated, 

 that, in the production of equal effects, there was a reduc- 

 tion of three-fourths of the expense of the fuel consumed by 

 those of Newcomen. From that moment the new engines 

 spread over all the mining districts, and especially Cornwall. 

 Boulton and Watt received, as remuneration, the third part 

 of the value of the coal which was saved by the use of each 

 of their machines ; and we may judge of the commercial im- 

 portance of the invention by the fact, that, in the single mine 

 of Chacewater, where three pumps were employed, the pro- 

 prietors thought it worth their while to purchase the rights 

 of the inventors, at the price of L. 2.500 per annum for each 

 engine. Thus, in a single establishment, the substitution of 

 the condenser, effected in fuel alone, a reduction in expense of 

 more than L.7500 per annum. 



Men willingly consent to pay the rem of their dwelling or 

 their farm ; but this compliancy abandons them when they 

 have to do with an idea, however great the profit or advantage 

 it may have procured. Ideas ! they exclaim, surely they cost 

 no labour and no trouble. Who, besides, they add, can prove 



