340 LETTERS ON NATURAL MAGIC. 



or for perpetuating the memory of public achievements. 

 A machine, therefore, which is capable of multiplying 

 the labours of the sculptor in the durable materials of 

 marble or of brass was a desideratum of the highest value, 

 and one whicli could have been expected only from a 

 genius of the first order. During many years Mr. Watt 

 carried on his labours in secret, and he concealed even his 

 intention of constructing such a machine. After he had 

 made considerable progress in its execution, and had 

 thought of securing his invention by a patent, he learned 

 that an ingenious individual in his own neighbourhood 

 had been long occupied in the same pursuit; and Mr. 

 Watt informed me, that he had every reason to believe 

 that this gentleman was entirely ignorant of his labours. 

 A proposal was then made that the two inventors should 

 combine their talents, and secure the privilege by a joint 

 patent ; but Mr. Watt had experienced so frequently the 

 fatal operation of our patent laws, that he saw many diffi- 

 culties in the way of such an arrangement, and he was 

 unwilling, at his advanced age, to embark in a project so 

 extensive, and which seemed to require for its successful 

 prosecution all the ardour and ambition of a youthful 

 mind. The scheme was therefore abandoned ; and such 

 is the unfortunate operation of our patent laws, that the 

 circumstance of two individuals having made the same 

 invention has prevented both from bringing it to perfec- 

 tion, and conferring a great practical benefit upon their 

 species. The machine which Mr. Watt had constructed 

 had actually executed some excellent pieces of work. I 

 have seen in his house at Heathfield copies of basso 

 relievos, and complete statues of a small size ; and some 

 of his friends have in their possession other specimens of 

 its performance. 



Of all the machines which have been constructed in 

 modern times, the calculating machine is doubtless the 



