OF THE MARQUIS OF WORCESTER. 315 



his early travels, when at Venice, he had observed in 

 the arsenal there a peculiar employment of the lever ; 

 and when at Eome his mathematical studies had led 

 him to a knowledge of a particular kind of fountain. 

 After his return he had undertaken the erection of 

 water works at Eaglan Castle, in connection also, 

 no doubt, with the fountain set up in one of its adjacent 

 courts. The young engineer may have been deeply read 

 in Eamelli s elaborate work, and may have determined, 

 with the assistance of Kaltoif, to adopt, what he long 

 after expressed, as &quot; a humour I have, never to be con 

 tented to produce any invention the second time, 

 without appearing refined/ * Once started on an 

 inquiry so peculiarly suitable to his taste, he may have 

 pursued it almost without design, and continued it only 

 because it interfered with no more serious employment. 

 Being drawn into the designing of novel inventions, and 

 further encouraged by his workman s production of 

 excellent models, it seems natural enough that, in the 

 seclusion of Eaglan, immersed in the scientific literature 

 then available, and possessing as he did a remarkably 

 inquisitive and inventive genius, he should grow up an 

 inventor almost without taking cognizance of his own 

 progress. It is certain that it was peculiar to him 

 to take nothing on trust, but to reduce everything to 

 the test of absolute experiment. There was perhaps 

 never any contrivance of which he thought or read, 

 that he did not reduce to a model; and his was 

 the experience of a great practical mechanic, whose 

 information was founded on known results; whether 

 of success or failure. It was thus that he required the 

 services of Kaltoif through nearly forty years, together 

 with many assistants employed under him. The great 



* Sec page 225. 



