366 



JAMES WATT. 



HISTORY OF THE STEAM-ENGINE IN ANCIENT TIMES. 



Let us now endeavour to take the part of those nations 

 and individuals, who appear to deserve to be quoted in 

 the history of the steam-engine. Let us trace the chron 

 ological series of improvements made in this machine, 

 from its first germs, which were very ancient, up to the 

 discoveries by Watt. I enter on the subject with a firm 

 inclination to be impartial, with a strong desire to render 

 to each inventor the justice that is due to him, with a 

 certainty of continuing a stranger to any consideration 

 unworthy of the mission that you have given me, or un 

 worthy of the majesty of science, or arising from national 

 prejudices. I acknowledge, on the other hand, that I 

 shall pay but little attention to the numerous decisions 

 already come to, dictated by similar prejudices ; that I 

 shall allow myself still less, if possible, to be influenced 

 by the bitter criticisms that no doubt await me, for the 

 past is a mirror of the future. 



A question well expressed is half solved. If this sen 

 sible axiom had been attended to, the discussions relative 

 to the invention of the steam-engine would not assuredly 

 have presented the symptoms of acrimony and violence 

 with which they have been impressed till now. But the 

 authors had blindly plunged into a defile that had no 

 outlet, by wanting to find a sole inventor, in a case that 

 requires us to distinguish several. The best informed 

 watchmaker of the history of his art would be struck 

 dumb, if he were asked in general terms, who was the 

 inventor of watches ? Though the question would not 

 embarrass him much, if it referred separately to the 

 moving power, to the various forms of escapement, or to 

 the balance. And so it is with the steam-engine; it 



