524 



THE STEAM-ENGINE. 



been erected, attracted the particular attention of Mr. Watt, who, on visiting 

 Cornwall, went to see it, and had many experiments tried with it. It was 

 under the care of Mr. Murdock, the agent of Messrs. Boulton and Watt in 

 Cornwall. When Mr. Watt inspected it he pronounced it perfect, and that 

 further improvement could not be expected. How singular an instance this 

 of the impossibility, even of the most sagacious, to foresee the results of 

 mechanical improvement! In twenty years afterward the average duty of 

 the best engine was nearly 40,000,000, and in forty years it was above 

 84,000,000 ! 



