similar character, by Mr. James Keir,-both written shortly after Mr. Boulton's death. Another collection, endorsed “Familiarum Epistolæ et Selectæ, 1755 to 1808," contains letters received from various distinguished personages in the course of Mr. Boulton's long and interesting career. The number of original documents is indeed so large, that, but for a rigid exclusion of non-essential matter, these Lives must have expanded into several volumes, instead of being compressed into one. But the author believes labour to be well bestowed in practising the art of condensation, and that the interest of biography gains much by judicious rejection. What Watt said to Murdock as to the production of a machine, holds equally true as to the production of a book,-"It is a great thing," said Watt, "to know what to do without." Besides the memoirs of Boulton and Watt, which occupy the principal places in the following volume, it will also be found to contain memoirs of the other inventors who have at various times laboured at the invention and application of the steam-engine, — of the Marquis of Worcester, Dionysius Papin, Thomas Savery, and Thomas Newcomen. The author has also been enabled to gather from the Boulton papers a memoir of William Murdock, which probably contains all that is likely to be collected respecting that excellent and most ingenious mechanic. In addition to the essential assistance received from M. P. W. Boulton, Esq., in preparing the present book, without which it would not have been undertaken, the author desires to record his acknowledgments to J. W. Gibson Watt, Esq., for information relative to James Watt;—to Charles Savery, Esq., Clifton, J. T. Savery, Esq., Modbury, Lieutenant-Colonel Yolland, R.E., and Quartermaster Connolly, R.E., for various. facts as to the family history and professional career of Thomas Savery, inventor of the "Fire Engine; and to Thomas Pemberton, Esq., Heathfield; W. C. Aitkin, Esq., Coventry; George Williamson, Esq., Greenock; the late J. Murdock, Esq., Handsworth; and the late Mr. William Buckle, of the Royal Mint, formerly of Soho,--for various information as to the lives and labours of Boulton and Watt. In his treatment of the subject, it will be observed that the author has endeavoured, as much as possible, to avoid introducing technical details relating to the steam-engine. Those who desire further information on such points, are referred to the works of Farey, Tredgold, Bourne, Scott Russell, Muirhead (Mechanical Inventions of James Watt'), and other technical treatises on the subject, where they will find detailed particulars of the various inventions which are only incidentally referred to in the following pages. London, October, 1865. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Anecdote of Matthew Boulton and George III. Roger Bacon on steam power - Early inventors, their steam machines and apparatus - Hero of Alexandria, Branca, De Caus-The Marquis of Worcester- - His waterHis imprisonment - His difficulties - The water-commanding works engine - His "Century of Inventions" Obscurity of descriptions Persevering struggles - His later years and death of his steam-engine CHAPTER II. Page 1-26 Zeal of the Marchioness of Worcester - Sir Samuel Morland and fire-engines - His privations and death Dr. Dionysius Papin His digester Experiments on the power of steam - His steam-engineProposed steamboat Early schemes of paddle-boats Papin's model engine and boat - Destroyed by boatmen Blasco Garay Papin's death 27-38 CHAPTER III. Thomas Savery - The Savery family Savery's mechanical experiments and contrivances - His paddle-boat-Treatise on 'Navigation Improved ' - Cornish mines and the early pumping machinery engine" Exhibition of his model Savery's "FireExplanations in the Miner's Friend' The engine tried in Cornwall - Its failure at Broadwaters, Staffordshire - Savery's later years His death and testament 39-58 CHAPTER IV. Thomas Newcomen of Correspondence with Dr. experiments Assisted by Slow progress in invention of the steam-engine Dartmouth - His study of steam-power Hooke of the Royal Society - Newcomen's John Calley Newcomen's atmospheric engine Newcomen and Calley erect their first engine - Humphrey Potter the turn-cock boy's contrivance Engines erected at Newcastle-on-Tyne, Leeds, and Cornwall Wheal Fortune engine Mr. William Lemon Joseph Hornblower Jonathan Hulls and steam propulsion of ships His steamboat — Extended use of the Newcomen engines in Cornwall and northern mining counties - Payne, Brindley, and Smeaton, improvers of the steam-engine 59-76 - Cartsdyke and Greenock in the last century James Watt's father- His multifarious occupations His mother - Watt's early years - the Stuart rebellion Watt's love of scientific pursuits Glasgow to learn the trade of mathematical-instrument maker Page 77-95 habits of the merchants Watt's master - Leaves Glasgow, and pro- ceeds to London on horseback Is placed with a mathematical-instru- ment maker - His progress in learning the trade Frugal living in London Danger from press-gangs His infirm health Returns to Scotland Refused permission to begin business in Glasgow — Gains asylum in the College - His workshop there Makes musical instru- Robison and Watt's conferences on the power of steam heat Watt's experiments on steam model of the Newcomen engine arrives from London Watt's experi- ments upon it His difficulties and perseverance His instrument- making business improves Takes a partner and opens a shop in the Salt Market His marriage - Continued experiments on steam - His Sunday walk on Glasgow Green, and his first idea of the condensing engine His experiments with the model, and successive difficulties - Anecdote of Watt and Robison and the new apparatus - The model engine -Removes to a cellar and erects a working engine Mechanical and Watt's introduction to Dr. Roebuck - Begins business as surveyor Surveys canals Partnership with Roebuck in the engine - Difficulties in con- structing the engine-Watt's visit to Kinneil - A patent determined on Watt's despondency Continues his improvements Learns German Correspondence with Dr. Small-Specification of patent lodged — Watt erects a trial engine-The washhouse behind Kinneil The engine engagement to superintend canal works-Employed in various surveys - Designs Hamilton Bridge-Supplies plans for dock and pier at Port Glasgow and harbour at Ayr-Illness and death of Mrs. Watt — Dr. 1 Birmingham in early times Its industry Roads - William Hutton The Boulton family - Matthew Boulton begins business - His trade correspondence — His marriage - His love of business Snow-hill and Soho - Partnership with Fothergill Aims at excellence in his produc- tions Emulates Wedgwood - Surpasses French art-manufacturers His royal and noble patrons - Employs the best artists - Visits of foreigners at Soho - Extension of business - Promotes canals - His vast business Commercial panic - - Boulton's scientific pursuits Page 161-181 Water- and horse-power at Soho - Boulton's correspondence with Benjamin Franklin concerning fire-engine-Boulton's model - Correspondence with Dr. Darwin and Dr. Roebuck Watt visits Soho - First meeting of Boulton and Watt- Correspondence of Boulton and Watt, and of Dr. Small and Watt - Dr. Roebuck visits Boulton-Watt's anxiety for Boulton to join him- Watt's discouragements - His continued experi- ments and their failure- - Watt engineer for the Monkland Canal Com- mercial panic-Watt loses employment as canal engineer Roebuck's failure Terms of proposed partnership between Watt, Small, and Boulton — Roebuck's share in Watt's engine transferred to Boulton · Characteristics of Matthew Boulton Contrast between him and Watt- Boulton's friends - Watt's engine at Soho - Boulton's views of engine business — The Kinneil engine re-erected at Soho - Works successfully Inquiries for pumping-engines from the mining districts - Proposed exten- sion of patent by an Act-Watt in London - Death of Dr. Small Watt invited to Russia- Application to Parliament for extension of Watt returns to Birmingham - The manufacture of engines begun — Watt's house, Harper's Hill - First order for engines - Boulton's activity The London engineers prophesy the failure of Watt's engine-Watt revisits Glasgow -His second marriage - Terms of partnership between Boulton and Watt - Orders from Scotland for engines - Boulton pressed with work and anxiety-Watt returns to Soho with his wife Order for engine for Ting-tang and Chacewater mines, Cornwall Watt and the Shadwell Waterworks Committee - Stratford-le-Bow engine — Diffi- culties with workmen at Soho, and with unskilled enginemen - Expansive |