Ix REPORT — 1861. 



which has been made in their production. And as the steam-engine has 

 been the basis of all our modern manufacturing industry, I shall glance at 

 the steps by which it has been perfected. 



Passing over the somewhat mythical fame of the Marquis of Worcester, 

 and the labours of Savery, Beigfiton, and Newcomen, we come at once to 

 discuss the state of mechanical art at the time when James Watt brought his 

 gigantic powers to the improvement of the steam-engine. At that time the 

 tools were of the rudest construction, nearly everything being done by hand, 

 and, in consequence, wood was much more extensively employed than iron. 

 Under these circumstances Watt invented separate condensation, rendered 

 the engine double-acting, and converted its rectilinear motion into a circular 

 one suitable for the purposes of manufacture. But the discovery at first 

 made little way ; the public did not understand it ; and a series of years 

 elapsed before the difficulties, commercial and mechanical, which opposed its 

 application, could be overcome. When the certainty of success had been 

 demonstrated, Watt was harassed by infringements of his patent, and law- 

 suits for the maintenance of his rights. Inventors and pretended inventors 

 set up claims, and entered into combination with manufacturers, miners, and 

 others, to destroy the patent, and deprive him of the just fruits of his labour 

 and genius. Such is the selfish heartlessness of mankind in dealing with 

 discoveries not their own, but from which they expect to derive benefit. 



The steam-engine, since it was introduced by Watt, has changed our 

 habits in almost every condition of life. Things which were luxuries have 

 become necessaries ; and it has given to the poor man, in all countries in 

 which it exists, a degree of comfort and independence, and a participation 

 in intellectual culture unknown before its introduction. It has increased 

 our manufactures tenfold, and has lessened the barriers which time and space 

 interpose. It ploughs the land, and winnows and grinds the corn. It spins 

 and weaves our textile fabrics. In mining it pumps, winds, and crushes the 

 ores. It performs these things with powers so great and so energetic as to 

 astonish us at their immensity, whilst they are at the same time perfectly 

 docile, and completely under human control. 



In war it furnishes the means of aggression, as in peace it affords the bonds 

 of conciliation ; and, in fact, places within reach a power which, properly 

 applied, produces harmony and goodwill among men, and leads to the 

 happiest results in every condition of human existence. We may, therefore, 

 well be proud of the honour conferred on this country as the cradle of its 

 origin, and as having fostered its development from its earliest applications 

 to its present hig.'i state of perfection. 



I cannot conclude this notice of the steam-engine without observing the 

 changes it is destined to effect in the cultivation of the soil. It is but a 

 short time since it was thought inapplicable to agricultural purposes, from 

 its great weight and expense. But more recent experience has proved this 

 to be a mistake, and already in most districts we find that it has been pressed 

 into the service of the farm. The small locomotive, mounted on a frame with 

 four wheels, travels from village to village with its attendant, the thrashing- 

 machine, performing the operations of thrashing, winnowing, and cleaning 

 at less than one-half the cost by the old and tedious process of hand labour. 

 Its application to ploughing and tillage on a large scale is, in my opinion, 

 still in its infancy, and I doubt not that many Members of this Association 

 will live to see the steam-plough in operation over the whole length 

 and breadth of the land. Much has to be done before this important 

 change can be successfully accomplished ; but, with the aid of the agri- 

 culturist preparing the land so as to meet the requirements of steam- 



