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 
