Chapter I: Preface

The present volume concludes the author’s ‘Lives of the Engineers.’ Its preparation was begun many years since. The favourable reception given to the ‘Life of George Stephenson,’ the principal improver and introducer of the locomotive engine, encouraged the author to follow it by a Life of James Watt, the principal inventor and introducer of the condensing engine. On making inquiries, however, he found that the subject had already been taken in hand by J. P. Muirhead, Esq., the literary executor of the late Mr. Watt, of Aston Hall, near Birmingham. As Mr. Muirhead was in all respects entitled to precedence, and was, moreover, in possession of the best sources of information, the author’s contemplated Life of Watt was abandoned, and he satisfied himself with embodying the substance of the materials he had collected in a review of Mr. Muirhead’s work, which appeared in the ‘Quarterly Review’ for July, 1858.

Having recently, however, through the kindness of M. P. W. Boulton, Esq., of Tew Park, Oxon, been enabled to examine the extensive collection of documents brought from Soho, including the original correspondence between Watt and Small, between Watt and Boulton, and between the latter and his numerous intimate friends and business correspondents, it has appeared to the author that, notwithstanding the valuable publications of Mr. Muirhead, the story of the life of Watt is one that will well bear to be told again, in connexion with the life and labours of Matthew Boulton of Soho. The two men were so intimately related during the most important period of their lives, and their biographies so closely intermingle, that it is almost impossible to separate them. They are therefore treated conjointly in the present volume, under the title of ‘Boulton and Watt,’ the name of the old Soho firm which so long enjoyed a world-wide reputation. But though the name of Boulton takes priority in the title, that of Watt will be found in many respects the most prominent in the narrative.

The MS. papers which have been consulted for the purposes of the present volume are of an unusually complete and varied character. They consist of several thousand documents selected from the tons of business books and correspondence which had accumulated at Soho. The most important were selected and arranged by the late M. Robinson Boulton, Esq., who entertained the highest regard for his father's memory; and, from the character of the collection, the author inclines to the opinion that it must have been made with a view to the preparation and publication of a Life of Matthew Boulton,--which has not, however, until now been undertaken. Thus, among sundry papers endorsed “M. Boulton--Biographical Memoirs,” is found a MS. memoir in the handwriting of James Watt, entitled “Memorandum concerning Mr. Boulton, commencing with my first acquaintance with him,” and another of a 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
water-works--His imprisonment--His difficulties--The
water-commanding engine--His “Century of Inventions”--Obscurity
of descriptions of his steam-engine--Persevering struggles--His
later years and death Page 1–26

CHAPTER II.

Zeal of the Marchioness of Worcester--Sir Samuel Morland--His
pumps and fire-engines--His privations and death--Dr.
Dionysius Papin--His digester--Experiments on the power of
steam--His steam-engine--Proposed steamboat--Early schemes
of paddle-boats--Blasco Garay--Papin’s model engine and
boat--Destroyed by boatmen--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--Savery’s
“Fire-engine”--Exhibition of his model--Explanations 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.

Slow progress in invention of the steam-engine--Thomas Newcomen
of Dartmouth--His study of steam-power--Correspondence with Dr.
Hooke of the Royal Society--Newcomen’s experiments--Assisted
by 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

CHAPTER V.

James Watt, his birthplace and lineage--His grandfather the
mathematician--Cartsdyke and Greenock in the last century--James
Watt’s father--His multifarious occupations--His mother--Watt’s
early years--His fragile constitution--Sent to school--His first
visit to Glasgow--His indulgence in storytelling--His boyish
ingenuity--His home education--The Stuart rebellion--Watt’s love
of scientific pursuits--Sent to Glasgow to learn the trade of
mathematical-instrument maker 77–95

CHAPTER VI.

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--Frugal living in London--Danger from pressgangs--His
infirm health--Returns to Scotland--Refused permission to begin
business in Glasgow--Gains asylum in the College--His workshop
there--Makes musical instruments--His various reading and
studies--Intercourse with the professors--Intimate relations of
Watt with Robison--Robison’s estimate of Watt 96–116

CHAPTER VII.

Robison and Watt’s conferences on the power of steam--Dr. Black
and latent heat--Watt’s experiments on steam--His apparatus--The
college model of the Newcomen engine arrives from London--Watt’s
experiments 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 financial difficulties 118–137

CHAPTER VIII.

Watt’s introduction to Dr. Roebuck--Begins business as
surveyor--Surveys canals--Partnership with Roebuck in the
engine--Difficulties in constructing 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 completed--Its
defects--Roebuck’s embarrassments--Watt accepts 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. Roebuck’s
ruin--Turning point in Watt’s fortunes 138–158

CHAPTER IX.

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 productions--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 161–181

CHAPTER X.

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 experiments and their failure--Watt
engineer for the Monkland Canal--Commercial 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--Watt’s arrival at
Birmingham 182–198

CHAPTER XI.

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 by
an Act--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--Watt
returns to Birmingham--The manufacture of engines begun--The
Wilkinsons--First iron vessel 199–213

CHAPTER XII.

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 Tingtang 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 214–229