Here we take leave of James Watt and of his contemporaries, of the former of whom a French author[43] says: “The part which he played in the mechanical applications of the power of steam can only be compared to that of Newton in astronomy and of Shakespeare in poetry.” Since the time of Watt, improvements have been made principally in matters of mere detail, and in the extension of the range of application of the steam-engine.
[35] The same story is told of Savery and of Worcester.
[36] Robison’s “Mechanical Philosophy,” edited by Brewster.
[37] “Reminiscences of James Watt,” Robert Hart; “Transactions of the Glasgow Archæological Society,” 1859.
[38] “Lives of Boulton and Watt,” Smiles.
[39] For the privilege of using the fly-wheel to regulate the motion of the engine, Boulton & Watt paid a royalty to Matthew Wasborough, who had patented it, and who held also the patent for its combination with a crank, as invented by Pickard and Steed.
[40] “Lives of Boulton and Watt,” Smiles.
[41] “Life of Watt,” p. 512.
[42] For an exceedingly interesting and very faithful account of their work, see “Life of Richard Trevithick,” by F. Trevithick, London, 1872.