^52 Memoir of James Wdltj Esq, F.R.S. 



hopes that it may in time be employed to advantage on the opea 

 ocean. 



That the power of steam may he employed to the ploughing 

 of land, is by no means improbable, and we believe there are at 

 this time projects in embrvo for that very purpose. 



The number of horses kept for labour is already very consider- 

 ably diminished ; the prices of coal, iron, and the produce of 

 mines of all sorts are also reduced, or prevented from augment- 

 ing, as they otherwise would have done ; so that in every view of 

 the matter the invention is highly beneficial to mankind. 



The life of a sedentary or studious man produces lew incidents; 

 but in particular where, like Mr. Watt, lie happens not to live 

 amongst a society where he can associate much with others of a 

 similar cast. 



Birmingham, or the country round, afforded few men vvho were 

 calculated to associate with Mr. Watt ; accordingly he was almost 

 constantly at home, and very seldom in company. 



Mr. Watt had for a number of years quitted business, having 

 acquired an independence, and having a son to continue the ma- 

 Mufactory, as we have already said, with the son of Mr. Boulton. 



Mr. Watt was a fellow of the Royal Society of London, and a 

 member of the Institute of Paris ; and there is not any body of 

 learned or scientific men in Europe that would not have thought 

 his being admitted into their number as an honour conferred* 

 xijion them. 



He died at the age of eighty-four, at his house at Heathfield, 

 near Birmingham, having enjoyed his usual health and spirits 

 alma«t to the last. 



Those vvho knew him best, and were the most capable of ap- 

 preciating his talents, esteemed him the most highly ; and his 

 was the rare felicity to have survived envy and closed his days in 

 the possession and enjoyment of the esteem and admiration of 

 his coiitemporarie*. But the time is not yet come when full jus- 

 tice will be rendered to the wonderful effects his discoveries have 

 produced in the world. The man, who by tbe strength of hi* 

 genius under the greatest difhcnlties, brought to perfection a 

 power that acquires for this country such incalculable benefits, 

 and who, in remote antiijuity, would have been deified amongst 

 ihe inventors of the arts of life, has been suffered to depart this 

 .vorld without any notice by the lulers of his country : but it is to 

 )C hoped he has left fiiends who will do ample justice to his merit 

 »ad his memory, which we have endeavoured to do as far ai our 

 -icans afforded and our space admitted. 



LXXIII. On 



