JAMES WATT. 31 



itself shut and open the cocks by which these supph'es were 

 regulated, instead of having that service performed as at first 

 by an attendant, there remained little more to be done even 

 in this department. The steam might be applied with more 

 ease and readiness, but not with any augmentation of effect; 

 the power of the engine could be increased only by a more 

 plentiful application of atmospheric pressure. It was with 

 propriety, therefore, that Newcomen's invention was called, not 

 a steam, but an atmospheric engine. 



For half-a-century, accordingly, after the improvements 

 introduced by Beighton, who may be considered as the per- 

 fector of this engine, no further progress worth mentioning was 

 made in the application of steam as an agent in mechanics. 

 The engine itself was more and more extensively employed, 

 notwithstanding its defects ; but no better method was proposed 

 of calling into exercise the stupendous powers of the clement, 

 which, by means of only one of its remarkable properties, was 

 here shown to be capable of rendering such valuable service. Our 

 knowledge of what might be done by steam was in this state when 

 the subject at last happily attracted the attention of Watt. 



James Watt was born at Greenock, on the 19th of January, 

 1736. His father was a merchant, and also one of the magis- 

 trates of that town. He received the rudiments of his education 

 in his native place ; but his health being even then extremely 

 delicate, as it continued to be to the end of his life, his attend- 

 ance at school was not always very regular. He amply made 

 up, however, for what he lost in this way by the diligence with 

 which he pursued his studies at home, where without any 

 assistance he succeeded at a very early age in making consider- 

 able proficiency in various branches ot knowledge. Even 

 at this time his favourite study is said to have been mechanical 



