[ [417] Cited in Muirhead’s ‘Mechanical Inventions,’ &c., ii. 340–1. These drawings must be in existence, and of great interest, as showing the vigour of Watt’s inventive faculty at this late period of his life.
[ [418] In 1808 Mr. Watt made over 300l. to the College by Deed of Gift, for the purpose of founding a prize for students in Natural Science, as some acknowledgment of “the many favours” which the College had conferred upon him.—In 1816 he gave to the Town of Greenock 100l. for the purpose of purchasing books for the Mathematical School. “My intention in this donation,” he observed in his letter to Mr. Anderson of Greenock, “is to form the beginning of a scientific library, for the instruction of the youth of Greenock; and I hope it will prompt others to add to it, and to render my townsmen as eminent for their knowledge as they are for their spirit of enterprise.” Watt’s idea has since been carried out by his townsmen, and the Watt Library is now one of the most valuable institutions of Greenock. It ought to be added, that the erection of the building was mainly due to the munificence of Mr. Watt’s son, the late James Watt, Esq., of Aston Hall, near Birmingham. A marble statue of Watt, by Chantrey, is placed in the Library, with an inscription from the pen of Lord Jeffrey.
[ [419] Answer by the author of ‘Waverley’ to the Epistle Dedicatory of ‘The Monastery.’
[ [420] ‘Autobiography of Mrs. Schimmelpenninck,’ 3rd ed. 35.
[ [421] The following anecdote is told by Mrs. Schimmelpenninck:—“During the peace of Amiens, Mr. Watt visited Paris. It so happened that while going through one of the palaces, I believe the Tuileries, a French housemaid appeared much perplexed concerning some bright English stoves which had just been received, and which she did not know how to clean. An English gentleman was standing by, to whom she appealed for information. This was Charles James Fox. He could give no help; “But,” said he, “here is a fellow-countryman of mine who will tell you all about it.” This was Mr. Watt, to whom he was at the moment talking; and who proceeded to give the housemaid full instructions as to the best mode of cleaning her grate. This anecdote I have often heard Mrs. Watt tell with great diversion.”
[ [422] Lord Brougham says, “His voice was deep and low, and if somewhat monotonous, it yet seemed in harmony with the weight and the beauty of his discourse, through which, however, there also ran a current of a lighter kind; for he was mirthful, temperately jocular, nor could anything to more advantage set off the living anecdotes of men and things, with which the grave texture of his talk was interwoven, than his sly and quiet humour, both of mind and look, in recounting them.”—‘Lives of Philosophers of the Time of George III.’
[ [423] “I remember, as a young girl,” she says, “the pleasant dinners and people I have seen at Soho. I remember being present one day when Bertrand de Moleville, the exiled minister of Louis XVI., left the dinner-table to make an omelette, which was, of course, pronounced ‘excellent.’ That man then gave me a lifelong lesson,—of the power of enjoyment and of giving pleasure by his cheerful bright manner and conversation, under such sad circumstances as exile and poverty. I looked at him with great admiration, and I have his face distinct before me now, though I saw him only that once.”
[ [424] The following is the inscription:—
not to perpetuate a name
which must endure while the peaceful arts flourish,
but to show
that mankind have learned to honour those
who best deserve their gratitude,
the King,
his ministers, and many of the nobles
and commoners of the realm,
raised this monument to
JAMES WATT,
who directing the force of an original genius
early exercised in philosophic research
to the improvement of
the Steam-engine,
enlarged the resources of his country,
increased the power of man,
and rose to an eminent place
among the most illustrious followers of science,
and the real benefactors of the world.
Born at Greenock, 1736.
Died at Heathfield, in Staffordshire, 1819.
[ [425] E. M. Bataille, ‘Traité des Machines à Vapeur.’ Paris, 1847–9.