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of Edinburgh, Session 1873 - 74 . 
scientific teaching is spreading true principles of engineering 
design in this country, as the works of Navier, Poncelet, Morin, 
and Weisbacli had done many years previously on the engineering 
practice of France and Germany. I say advisedly, that in far 
fewer cases now-a-days do we see the strength and stability which 
ought to he given by the skilful arrangement of the parts of the 
structure, supplied by means of an imposing massiveness involving 
a lavish expenditure of material and labour — that is, money — 
than twenty years ago was usual. 
His complete knowledge of foreign languages enabled him to 
correspond with such men as Weisbach, Zeuner, Yerdet, and other 
professors of applied mechanics on the Continent, to the mutual 
interest and advantage of all. He also corresponded in German 
with Poggendorf, Clausius, and Helmholz. Each of the manuals 
has gone through many editions, — that on the “ Steam Engine,” 
&c., nine ; “ Applied Mechanics,” seven, and so on. 
In 1862 he effectually called the attention of the Senate of the 
University to the manner in which the usefulness of the Chair of 
Civil Engineering and Mechanics was impaired through its being 
isolated from other branches of study, and induced the authorities 
to establish a systematic curriculum of study and examination in 
all the sciences bearing on engineering, followed by the granting of 
certificates to the successful candidates ; a measure which led to a 
steady and continuous increase in the number and efficiency of the 
students in the engineering department of the University; and it 
could, indeed, scarcely be otherwise, seeing that William Thomson 
taught Natural Philosophy, and Eankine taught its applications. 
His style of lecturing was attractive ; he never failed or faltered in 
an exposition or demonstration ; and his power of illustration of 
the details of steam-engine practice, for example, was unusually 
lucid from his knowledge of the chemistry of the subject being co- 
extensive with his mechanical and physical knowledge. He at once 
gained the confidence of thoughtful students, and during the first 
session, that in which he lectured for Professor Gordon, he contracted 
an intimacy with Mr J. R. Napier, a shipbuilder and engineer, am- 
bitious to emancipate his business from being that of one of mere 
empiricism, and this friendship, as it ripened, proved of great con- 
sequence to the whole science of shipbuilding and steam propulsion. 
