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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

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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

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- 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

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- 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

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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

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