1839.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



399 



THE LIFE OF JAMES WATT. 



The interest attached to a life of Watt, and the additional attraction 

 of its emanating from the pen of Arago, has naturally excited in the 

 public, a desire to possess a work, apparently possessing such a valuable 

 character. The controversies which have been raised by those who 

 have read it in its original form, have excited a curiosity, which the 

 well selected extracts in the Athenteum were calculated to provoke. 

 Under such circumstances, this work necessarily demanded our atten- 

 tion, and we thought it therefore, better to give a complete translation 

 accompanied by notes, rather than by referring to specific points, to 

 appear in the position of treating M. Arago unfairly, or of availing our- 

 selves of materials, which were not at the public's disposal. 



In determining upon this task at that short notice, which the nature 

 of a periodical work allows, it happened unfortunately that the illness 

 of the gentleman, to whom it was originally confided, still further dimi- 

 nished the brief period, which was necessary for the discussion of a 

 subject so extensive. It rarely happens that a translator can be placed 

 in a position more embarrassing than that imposed by the work of M. 

 Arago ; coming, as it does, with all the weight of a great name, its 

 pretensions are contradicted by a mannerism and poverty of style, which 

 on the one hand, compels the translator to slur over these defects, or else 

 to allow the points of detraction full play. Confused by this dilemma, 

 we have generally felt it our duty at every sacrifice, to adhere strictly to 

 the terms of the author. To render his text more clear, we have intro-' 

 dueed engraved illustrations of which he was not able to avail himself, 

 and we have stiH furtlier elucidated it, by occasional notes of our own, 

 and from the able columns of the Athena'um. To Tredgold and to Mr. 

 Robert Stuart, it is needless to say, that no one engaged in the discussion 

 of such a subject, could fail to be under obligations. 



We have felt it our duty to express in our remarks, a difference from 

 the views of M. Arago, at which the worshippers of names may feel 

 astonished, but of which the lovers of truth will appreciate the necessity. 

 With the most lavish promises, the work presents most insignificant 

 performance, nothing true of what is new, and nothing new of what is 

 true. It is needless to say, that England comes out from this chamber 

 of torture, pure as she went into it, unaccused by her own confessions, 

 and triumphant over the imputations of her adversaries. 



HISTORICAL EUl.OGIUM ON JAMES WATT. 



Read before the Acarletmj of Sciences, al Paris, on the 8th of December, 1833, 

 b;/ M. Arago. 



After running through a long list of battles, murders, plagues, famines, 

 and catastrophes of all kinds with which the chronicles of some country 

 were filled, of which I do not remember the name, a philosopher ex- 

 claimed " How happy is that nation, the history of which is barren " 

 Why must we say, in a literary point of view, "111 luck to whoever is 

 obliged to relate the history of a happy people." If the exclamation of 

 the philosopher loses nothing of its truth when applied to individuals, 

 the converse, unfortunately, characterises with equal truth too many bio- 

 graphies. 



Such were the reflections which struck me whilst I traced the life of 

 Watt — whilst I collected together the kind communications of the rela- 

 tions, friends, and companions of that illustrious mechanic. His life 

 trulypatriarchal, was devoted to labour, study, and meditation, and affords 

 nolle of those striking events, the relation of which, used skilCully, 

 serves to relieve the dryness of scientific subjects. 1 will relate it, how- 

 ever, were it only to shew in what an humble position were prepared 

 those projects destined to raise the English nation to an unexampled 

 degree of power. I shall particularly endeavour to point out minutely 

 the numerous inventions which indissolubly connect the name of Watt 

 with the history of the steam engine. I know the dangers of this plan 

 I feel the objections which may be raised against it, I know it may lie said' 

 that we came to hear an historical sketch, and have been obliged to listen 

 to a dry and barren lecture, a rcpioach, by the bye, which "would be of 



little weight with me, could I but give a lecture on the subject. I will 

 endeavour, therefore, not to trespass too far on your attention, but to re- 

 collect that clearness of expression is a matter of courtesy on the part 

 of those who address a public audience 



Childhood and Youth of Watt — His employjient as Philoso- 

 phical Instrument Maker to the Univeusitv of Glasgow. 

 James Watt, one of the eight foreign members of the Academy of 

 Sciences, was born at Gieenock, in Scotland, on the )9th of January, 

 1736. Our neighbours on the other side of the Channel, are wise enough 

 to think that the genealogy of an honest and industiious family is just 

 as worthy of preservation, as the musty deeds of titled houses, often cele- 

 brated only for the enormity ot their crimes, or the greatness of their 

 vices. I may, therefore, state, that the great gi-andfather of James Watt, 

 was a farmer in the county of Aberdeen, and that he was killed in one 

 of the battles of Montrose. The victorious party, as was the custom in 

 j;ivil wars, and, I was going to add, is now, did not think his death a 

 sufficient expiation for the opinions which he had embraced, but still 

 farther punished him in the person of his son, by confiscating his little 

 property This unfortunate child, Thomas Watt, was brought up by 

 some distant relation; and in the isolated position to which he was re- 

 duced, gave himself up to serious and assiduous study. On the esta- 

 blishment of tranquility he removed to Greenock, where he taught 

 mathematics and navigation ; and afterwards lived at Crawford's Dyke, 

 of which he was one of the magistrates. He died in 1734, aged 92 years. 

 This Thomas Watt, had two sons, the eldest of whom, John, followed 

 the profession of his father, at Glasgow, and died in 1737, aged 50, 

 leaving a chart of the River Clyde, which was published by his brother 

 James. This latter, the father of the celebrated engineer, was for a long 

 time treasurer, member of the council, and baillie of the burgh, and 

 distinguished himself in those offices by his ardent zeal, and enlightened 

 spirit of reform. He phtralised, do not be afraid, (these threa syllables, 

 which are now almost excommunicated in l-'rance, shall do no injury to 

 the memory of Watt;) he pluraHsed 'thicc kinds of employment, he 

 supplied shipping, he was a ship owner, and a merchant, although these, 

 unfortunately, did not prevent him from losing in business, towards the 

 end of his life, part of the fortune which he had so honorably gained. He 

 died at the age of 84, in 1782. 



James Watt, the subject of this Eulogium, was born with a very deli- 

 cate constitution. His mother, whose maiden name was Muirhead, gave 

 him his first lessons in reading. He learned writing and accounts from 

 his father. He also attended the public school at Greenock. Thus the 

 humble Scotch parochial schools* may be as justly proud of inscribing 

 the name of this celebrated engineer among the pupils, whom they have 

 formed, as the college of La Fleche, formerly boasted of Descartes, and 

 as the University of Cambridge, still boast of Newton. 



To be precise, I must relate that frequent illnesses prevented young 

 Watt from constantly attending the public school of Greenock ; that a 

 great part of the year he was confined to his room, and that there he de- 

 voted himself to study, without any out-of-door assistance. As usually 

 happens, the high intellectual faculties, destined to produce such precious 

 fruits, began to be developed in retreat. Being too sickly to allow his 

 parents to think of imposing upon him a laborious occupation ; they 

 even left him the free choice of his amusements, and we shall see whe- 

 ther he abused it. A friend of Mr. Watt one day perceived young James 

 stretched upon the floor, and tracing with chalk all sorts of intricate 

 lines. " Why," cried he, " do you allow this child to waste his time thus ? 

 send him to school." Mr. Watt replied: " Perhaps, sir, you may have 

 pronounced a hasty judgment. Before condemning us, examine atten- 

 tively what the boy is about." The reparation was not delayed; the 

 child, only six years of age, was engaged in the solution of a geometrical 

 problem. 



Guided by an enlightened tendeiness, the elder James Watt, placed a 

 certain number of tools at the disposal of the young student, at an early 

 age ; the latter used them with the greatest skill ; he took to pieces and 

 put together again the childish toys which passed through his hands, and 

 was always making new ones. At a later period he used them in the con- 

 struction of a small electrical machine, the brilliant sparks ot which 

 became a great source of amusement and surprise to all the companions 

 of the poor invalid. 



Perhaps Watt, with an excellent memory, would not have figured 

 among the little piodigies of the ordinary schools. He would certainly 

 have refused to leain lessons like a parrot ; he who perceived from his 

 early years the necessity of carefully cultivating the intellectual elements 

 which were presented to his mind. Nature, besides, had created him for 

 meditatiun. James Watt, also augured very favourably of the rising 

 faculties of his son ; relations, however, more distant, and less clear- 

 sighted, did not pai take of the same hopes. 



' Mr, Arago says grammar schools.— Note of translator. 



2 K 



