business habits, and enterpris. its wonted vigour, and his con

ing spirit, having, in a great versation its wonted charms. measure, relieved him from During the last years of his all worldly concern, and al- life, he employed himself in lowed him to devote his mind contriving a machine for takto those profound and valuable ing copies of pieces of sculp researches, by which he has ture. This machine never re. added so largely to the field of ceived the finishing touch of science. Mr Watt's retire- its inventor's hand: but it was ment from public business, did brought to such perfection, not relax his ardour for scien- that seven specimens were exe➡ tific pursuits and new inven- cuted by it in a very creditable tions. Towards the end of the manner. Some of these he year 1809, he was applied to distributed among his friends, by the Glasgow Water Com-"as the productions of a young pany to assist them in pointing artist, just entering his eightyout a method of leading water third year." Mr Watt's quiet across the river, from a well and peaceful mind was ever on the south side, which af- disposed to shrink from the forded a natural filter. From agitations of paper wars and a consideration of the struc-law pleas, and to repose in the ture of the lobster's tail, he formed the idea of a flexible main, with ball and socket joints, to be laid across the bed of the river, and which was constructed according to his plan, in the summer of This ingenious contrivance gave such satisfaction, that another precisely similar, was added a short time afterwards. Two years subsequent to this, he received the thanks of the board of admiralty, for his opinion and advice regarding the formation of the docks then carrying on at Sheerness. In 1817, Mr Watt paid a visit to his native country: and it surprised and delighted his friends to find that he enjoyed good health, his mind possessed

quiet retreats of science. Many attempts were made to pirate his inventions and to encroach upon his patent rights, against which he never made any other defence than that which become an honest man, i. e. an appeal for the protection of the law of the land. He lived to see all these attempts to rob him of the profits of his inventions, as well as the envy and detraction which are ever the followers of merit, silenced for ever, and terminated a long, useful, and honourable life in the full possession of his mental faculties, at his residence at Heathfield in Staffordshire, on the 25th of August, 1819, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. The fame of Watt will in fu

anecdote-such that, when combined with his plain unalfeeted language, the mellow tones of his manly voice, his natural good humour and expressive countenance, produced an effect on those around

ture ages rest secure upon the imperishable basis of his many discoveries, and he will ever be ranked in the first class of those great men who have benefited the human race by the improvement of the arts of industry and peace. Even dur-him which will hardly ever ing his lifetime this was known and recognized, and he received several honorary distinctions. In 1784, he was elected a fellow of the royal society of Edinburgh, and the year following, he became fellow of the royal society of London. In 1787, he was chosen corresponding member of the Batavian Society; in 1806, he received the honorary degree of LL.D. from the university of Glasgow; and ten years later, he was made a member of the national institute of France. Respecting the private charac-sures of the abyss to the sum

ter of Watt, it would be difficult to communicate an adequate idea of its excellence. Those who knew him will ever remember that in his private intercourse with society, he elicited from them more love and admiration than they can ever express. He was benevolent and kind to all those who came about him, or solicited either his patronage or advice. His conversation was easy, fluent, and devoid of all formality replete with profound and accurate information on all subjects, blended with pertinent and amusing

fade from memory. He read much, and could easily remember and readily apply all that was valuable of what he read. He was versed in several of the modern languages, antiquities, law, and the fine arts, and was largely read in light literature. In the words of the author of Waverley, his "genius discovered the means of multiplying our natural resources in a degree, perhaps, even beyond his own stupendous powers of calculation and combination, bringing the trea

mit of the earth; giving the feeble arm of man the momentum of an Afrite; commanding manufactures to arise, as the rod of the prophet produced water in the desert; affording the means of dispensing with that time and tide which wait for no man, and of sailing without that wind which defied the commands and threats of Xerxes himself. This patent commander of the elements-this abridger of time and spacethis magician, whose cloudy machinery has produced a change on the world, the ef feets of which, extraordinary

WATT.

as they are, are perhaps, only now beginning to be felt, was perhaps not only the most profound man of science, the most successful combiner of power and calculator of numbers, as adapted to practical purposes, was not only one of the most generally well informed, but one of the best and kindest of human beings."

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Symington, in Ayrshire. It was his first determination to follow the clerical profession; but he abandoned his intention, and turned himself to the study of medicine; and, in order to have every advantage towards acquiring a proficiency in that branch of knowledge, removed to Edinburgh, which has been so long celebrated as a medical school. Here he remained until he had gone through the usual studies of the science. In 1799, he returned to Glasgow, and, after an examination by the faculty of physicians and surgeons there, was found a fit and capable person to exercise the arts of surgery and pharmacy." In the same year, he set up as surgeon in the town of Paisley; and soon began to attain great popularity in his profession, and to reap the reward of his talents and perseverance. He was chiefly attached to that department of human inquiry which comes under the denomination of

WATT, Robert, M. D., the author of the Bibliotheca Britannica,' and of several medical treatises, was born in Ayrshire, May, 1774. His early life, it would seem, was subject to considerabie hardships, and afforded few opportunities for cultivating his mind. But his ardour in the pursuit of knowledge overcame all the difficulties of his position, and by his own exertions he rose, in the course of a brief career, to great eminence in the medical profession, and left behind him a work of vast utility in literature, the compilation of which must have cost a labour almost incalculable. In 1793, at the age of eighteen, he matricu-experimental philosophy-par. lated in the Glasgow college, under professor Richardson; and, from that period, went regularly through the successive classes in the university, up to the year 1797. During the summer recesses, he supported himself by teaching, at first as a private tutor; but latterly he took up a small public school in the village of

ticularly chemistry, to which science he, for a considerable time, devoted his leisure hours almost exclusively. The period of Dr Watt's residence in Paisley, was perhaps the busiest in his life. He enjoyed, during it, a better state of health than he ever did afterwards; and hed, besides, all the ardour and enterprise of

one newly entered into a sphere on the highest scale, took a large house in Queen street, and confined his profession to that of physician and accoucheur, In the same winter, he began his lectures on the theory and practice of medicine; and thus at once placed himself in that station of life for which he was so eminently qualified. His success in Glas

for which he had long panted. The number and variety of manuscripts which he has left, sufficiently attest the persevering activity of his mind during this period. The only work which he ventured to publish while at Paisley, was one, entitled Cases of Diabetes, Cansumption,' &c., which appeared in 1803, and excited consider-gow was complete and imable interest at the time among the learned of the profession. Soon after its publication, he felt a desire to remove to another quarter, and commence for himself on a higher scale than he had hitherto done, but, before coming to any decision on this point, he made a tour through England, with the view of ascertaining whether that country might not afford an eligible spot. It does not appear, however, that he found any situation there agreeable to his wishes; for, on his return home, he removed to Glasgow. Previously to this, he had received from the university of Aberdeen the title of doctor in Medicine, and had been elected member of the faculty of physicians and surgeons of Glasgow, He had also become pretty well known in the neighbourhood as an eminent practitioner, and had every reason to calculate upon success, whatever rank of his profession he should assume. He, therefore, commenced up

mediate. As a physician, he suddenly acquired a most respectable and extensive praetice; and as a lecturer, his popularity was equally gratifying. His lecture room was numerously attended, and he spared no pains or expense that might conduce to the advantage of his pupils. His lectures were formed on the best models, and from the most extensive sources, and his manner of delivering them was easy and engaging. During the first course, he read them from his MSS., but afterwards abandoned that method for extemporaneous delivery, assisting his memory merely by brief memorandums of the chief heads of discourse. For the benefit of his students he form. ed a complete and valuable library of medical books, of which he published a catalogue. The Bibliotheca, may be said to have originated with the formation of this library. Besides the catalogue of it, which was printed in the

usual form, having the works which attacked him at times arranged under their respective very severely, and kept him authors in alphabetical order, always under great restrictions he drew out an index of the in his diet and general regimen. various subjects which the The disease had gained ground volumes embraced, making re- with time, and perhaps was acferences to the place which celerated by the laborious life each held upon the shelf; and which he led. He, neverthethus brought before his eye, at less, continued to struggle one view, all the books in his against it, maintained his usual possession that treated on any good spirits, and went through particular point. The utility the various arduous duties of of this index to himself and his profession. But, although his students, soon turned his he had long laboured under mind to the consideration of that painful disease of which one upon a more comprehen- he eventually died, it was not sive scale, that would embrace until the year 1817, that he all the medical works which totally discontinued his profeshad been printed in the British sional pursuits. Having, by dominions. This he im this time, brought his great mediately set about drawing work, the Bibliotheca, to a out, and devoted much of his very considerable state of fortime to it. After he had near- wardness, he probably saw ly completed his object, he that, from the state of his extended the original plan by health, the duration of his life introducing works on law, di- must be but limited, and was vinity, and miscellaneous sub- desirous, while yet some jects, the more popular and strength and vigour remained, important of foreign authors to place the work in such a and their productions, and the state, that even his death would various continental editions of not prevent its publication. the classics. In 1813, he pub- He retired, therefore, with his lished a Treatise on the History, family, to the country, engagNature, and Treatment of Chin- ed several young men as cough,' and in 1814, issued, amanuenses, and devoted himanonymously, a small volume, self exclusively to the compilaentitled Rules of Life, with tion. In this literary secluReflections on the Manners and sion, he was for some time able Dispositions of Mankind.' About to make great progress in his this time, his health began undertaking; but, though freed rapidly to decline. From his from worldly interruptions, he youth he had been troubled had to combat with a disease with a stomachic which was every day becoming VOL. IV.

stomachic disorder,

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