|
CONTENTS.
――――♦――――
EARLY LIFE OF JAMES WATT.
――――♦――――
CHAPTER I.
James Watt, his birthplace and lineage—His
grandfather, the Mathematician—Cartsdyke and Greenock in the last
century—James Watt's father—His mother—Watt's early years—His
fragile constitution—Sent to school—His first visit to Glasgow—His
indulgence in story-telling—His boyish ingenuity—His home
education—The Rebellion of 1745—Watt's love of scientific
pursuits—Sent to Glasgow to learn the trade of
mathematical-instrument making.
CHAPTER II.
Glasgow in 1754—The Glasgow tobacco lords—The early
clubs, and social habits of the merchants—Watt's master—Leaves
Glasgow, and proceeds to London on horseback—Is placed with a
mathematical-instrument maker—His progress in learning the
trade—Danger from press-gangs—Returns to Scotland— Refused
permission to begin business in Glasgow—Gains asylum in the
College—His various readings and studies—Intercourse with the
professors—Intimate relations of Watt with Robison—Robison's
estimate of Watt.
CHAPTER III.
Early knowledge of the power of steam—Writings of
Hero—The Æolipile—Branca—Solomon de Caus—Marquis of
Worcester—Water-commanding machine—Dr. Papin—His
steam-machine—Thomas Savery—Early tin-mining—His steam-engine—Used
to pump water—Huel Vor—Thomas Newcomen—His steam-engine—Improved by
accident—Humphrey Potter—Henry Beighton—Newcomen's engine used in
Staffordshire and Cornwall—Found wasteful, and disused.
CHAPTER IV.
Robison and Watt's conferences on the power of
steam—Dr. Black and latent heat—Watt's experiments on steam—The
College model of the Newcomen engine arrives from London—Watt's
difficulties and perseverance—His instrument-making business
improves—Takes a partner and opens a shop in the Salt Market—His
marriage—His Sunday walk on Glasgow Green, and his first idea of the
condensing engine—Anecdote of Watt and Robison and the new
apparatus—Removes to a cellar and erects a working engine—Mechanical
and financial difficulties.
CHAPTER V.
Watt's introduction to Dr. Roebuck—Begins business as
surveyor—Partnership with Roebuck in the engine—Watt's visit to
Kinneil—A patent determined on—Watt's despondency—Learns
German—Correspondence with Dr. Small—Watt erects a trial
engine—Roebuck's embarrassments—Watt superintends canal
works—Employed in surveys—Designs Hamilton Bridge—Supplies plans for
dock and pier at Port Glasgow and harbour at Ayr—Illness and death
of Mrs. Watt— Dr. Roebuck's ruin.
――――♦――――
BOULTON AND WATT, ENGINEERS, BIRMINGHAM.
――――♦――――
CHAPTER VI.
Birmingham in early times—Its industry—The Boulton
family—Matthew Boulton begins business—His marriage—His love of
business—Snow-hill and Soho—Partnership with Fothergill—Aims at
excellence in his productions—Emulates Wedgwood—Surpasses French
art-manufactures—His royal and noble patrons—Employs the best
artists—Visits of foreigners at Soho—Boulton's vast business—His
scientific pursuits.
CHAPTER VII.
Water and horse-power at Soho—Boulton's
correspondence with Benjamin Franklin concerning
fire-engine—Boulton's model—Watt visits Soho—First meeting of
Boulton and Watt—Correspondence of Boulton, Dr. Small, and Watt—Dr.
Roebuck visits Boulton—Watt's anxiety for Boulton to join him—Watt,
engineer for the Monkland Canal—Watt loses employment as canal
engineer—Terms of proposed partnership between Watt, Small, and
Boulton—Roebuck's share in Watt's engine transferred to Boulton
—Watt's arrival at Birmingham.
CHAPTER VIII.
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 extension of patent—Watt in London—Death of Dr.
Small—Watt invited to Russia—Application to Parliament for extension
of engine patent—Application opposed—Watt's arguments—Act
obtained—The manufacture of engines begun.
CHAPTER IX.
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—Boulton pressed with work and
anxiety—Watt returns to Soho with his wife—Order for engines for
Ting-tang and Chacewater mines, Cornwall—Watt and the Shadwell
Waterworks Committee—Stratford-le-Bow engine—Difficulties with
workmen at Soho, and with unskilled enginemen—Expansive working.
CHAPTER X.
Inefficiency of the Newcomen pumping-engines—Watt in
Cornwall—Mines drowned—Watt and Jonathan Hornblower—Mrs. Watt's
account of Cornwall—Chacewater engine finished—Watt's
embarrassments—Boulton's courage and perseverance—Fothergill's
despondency—Fire at Soho—Engine royalty on savings of
fuel—Altercations with adventurers—Boulton's harassments—Proceeds to
Cornwall—Watt's despondency—Boulton sustains the firm—Orders for
engines from abroad—William Murdock, his excellencies of character
and ability—First interview with Boulton and engagement—His mode of
dealing with the Captains—Watt's reliance on Boulton.
CHAPTER XI.
Lieutenant Henderson in Cornwall—Boulton's financial
embarrassments increase—Boulton and Fothergill—The "Soho
pictures"—Watt's letter-copying machine—Boulton pushes the
machine—More financial difficulties—Watt's sufferings and
melancholy—More Cornish engines waned—Engine dues—Boulton cheers
Watt—Mining adventurers' meetings—Boulton organises the mining
business—Boulton's house at Cosgarne. Cornwall—The engine patent
threatened by the Cornish men—Watt on patent right—The Birmingham
Copper Company—Boulton improves engine-boilers by introducing
tubes—His indefatigable industry.
CHAPTER XII.
Watt again visits Cornwall—Rotary motion—The
crank-engine at Soho—Theft of the invention—Matthew
Washborough—Smeaton and steam power—Rotary-motion engine—Boulton and
Watt's cares—Evasions of the engine patent—The Hornblowers'
Engine—Watt's new inventions—Boulton's confidence in the
engine—Air-engine—Watt's fears for the patent—The rotary engine
invented—The equalising beam—Various expedients for producing
circular motion—Murdock's sun-and-planet motion—Patent taken for the
reciprocating expansive engine—Murdock's efficiency and
popularity—Watt's despondency—Gloomy prospects of the mining trade.
CHAPTER XIII.
Financial position of the firm—Rotary engines for
mills—Boulton's battles with the Cornish adventurers—Murdock and the
miners —The Hornblowers' engine at Radstoke—Steam mills—The first
rotative engines—Boulton's health fails—He visits Scotland, Carron
ironworks, Lord Dundonald—Grumbling in Cornwall and concessions to
the miners—Press of work at Soho—Watt's invention of the Parallel
Motion and the Governor—Murdock's model locomotive—Boulton's
affection for his children—Domestic enjoyment at Cosgarne.
CHAPTER XIV.
Boulton's action in commercial politics—Watt on free
commerce—Combination against patents—Fluctuations in the business at
Soho—The Cornish copper-miners—The Copper Company formed, and
Boulton's part in it—Riots in Cornwall—Boulton's life threatened—The
Albion Mill scheme—The double-acting engines—Albion Mill burnt
down—Demand for rotative engines—Want of skill and misconduct of
workmen—Speculativeness of Boulton—Watt's caution in
investing—Boulton's health fails—His depressed spirits—Generosity to
Watt.
CHAPTER XV.
Friends of Boulton and Watt—The Lunar
Society—Provincial scientific societies—Distinguished associates of
the Lunar Society —Dr. Darwin--Dr. Priestley, his gifts and
accomplishments—Josiah Wedgwood—Meetings and discussions of the
Lunar Society—Dr. Priestley's speculations and
experiments—Composition of water, Watt and Cavendish—Bleaching by
chlorine—Sun-pictures—Saint-Fond at Birmingham, his descriptions of
Watt and Priestley—Decline of the Lunar Society.
CHAPTER XVI.
Increasing debasement of the coinage—Punishments for
counterfeiting—Birmingham coiners—Boulton refuses orders for base
money—Executes a contract for coin for the East India
Company—Applies the steam-engine to coining—Improves the coining
apparatus—Political action in relation to base coin—Strikes model
coins for inspection of the Privy Council—Opposed by the Mint
authorities—Presents model coins to the king—Executes orders for
foreign governments—His success—Medalling—Description of the Soho
mint—Large consumption of copper in coining—Threatened attack on
Soho by a mob—Boulton executes the new copper coinage for Great
Britain—Erects the new Government Mint on Tower Hill, and mints for
foreign countries—Watt's estimate of Boulton's improvements in
coining.
CHAPTER XVII.
Prosperity of Soho—Relaxing strain upon Boulton and
Watt—Interview with the king at Windsor—Young Boulton's return from
Paris—The French revolution—The Birmingham riots—Priestley's house
destroyed—Unpopularity of the "Philosophers"—Young Watt and the
Jacobins—Watt's flight from Paris—Denounced by Burke—The sons join
their fathers in partnership—Evasion of engine dues—Legal
proceedings and favourable judgments—William Murdock—His valuable
services—His engine improvements—Return to Soho—Invents
gas-lighting—Winsor's wonderful schemes—Murdock's various
inventions—Substitute for isinglass, his idea of power wasted in
streets, atmospheric railway, &c.—His death.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Watt withdraws from Soho—Boulton continues his
interest in business—The burglary at Soho—Sir Walter Scott and
Boulton—Watt in retirement—Search for investments—Makes a foreign
tour--Painful bereavements—Death of Dr. Black—Deaths of members of
the Lunar Society—Watt's family bereavements—Watt's studies on the
inhalation of gas—Gregory Watt, his brilliant talents—His friendship
with Humphry Davy—His scientific pursuits—His illness and
death—Death of Professor Robison—Watt's estimate of
Robison—Boulton's last days, his death and funeral—His character—His
strength, courage, and perseverance in fighting the battle of the
steam-engine—Watt's estimate of Boulton.
CHAPTER XIX.
Watt's closing years—His pursuits—His machine for
copying statuary—His garret workshop—Mrs. Watt a martinet—Retention
of his faculties—Is consulted by the Glasgow Waterworks
Company—Growth and improvement of Glasgow—Watt's interview with the
brothers Hart—Sir Walter Scott's panegyric on Watt—His extensive and
varied knowledge—His anecdotal powers---Description of him by
visitors at Heathfield—His last improvements in the
sculpture-copying machine—His last illness and peaceful
death—Monumental honours—His qualities and genius—Universal
application of the steam-engine—Conclusion.
|
