Memorials of the lineage, early life, education and development of the genius of James Watt

INTRODUCTION. V
printed account of the entertainment, with the addresses delivered on
the occasion, having been transmitted to Mr. James Watt of Soho, the
following gratifying communication in acknowledgment was received
from him, dated London, 3d February 1821 : —
" To James Watt, Esq., Crawfordsdyke, Greenock.
" My dear Sir, — Your very gratifying letter of the 23d ultimo,
was forwarded to me here from Soho, but the Greenock Advertiser
did not reach me until yesterday, — which will account to you for the
delay that has taken place in the acknowledgment of both.
" I now beg you will undertake the office of communicating to the
magistrates, and to the gentlemen of Greenock who attended upon an
occasion so grateful to my feelings, and so honourable to their own,
the deep sense I entertain of this distinguished proof of their regard
for the memory of my father ; and I may be permitted to add also,
of the kindness with which it was accompanied towards Mrs. Watt
and myself. I shall be most happy to cultivate the connexion which
has so long subsisted between my forefathers and their town, in
which I also received a part of my earliest nurture." 1
1 The remainder of Mr. Watt's letter is as fol- as the appropriate seat of one who was no less
lows : — " It will he within your recollection that distinguished for his extensive knowledge in every
during the few days I had the pleasure of passing department of literature and of science, than for
at Greenock last summer, I mentioned to your- his inventive genius — would be entitled to unqua-
self, as I did to other gentlemen, a wish to pre- lified approval, were the present (I presume tem-
sent the town with a Marble Bust of my father, porary) edifice adapted to the reception and pre-
executed hy Mr. Chantrey, on condition of their servation of a fine work of art. Perhaps I shall
providing a suitable place for its reception. The be excused the expression of a hope, that the
Town-Hall appeared to me objectionable, because period may not he far distant when it may be
the business and bustle of the place were not in deemed advisable to construct a building better
character with the retired habits of the original, suited to the tastes and wants of the increas-
and also because it would not there easily be pro- ing population and commerce of the town of
tected from injury. Other objections lay to the Greenock; and, in the meantime, I beg you will
Church. Monuments are not usual in them in state from me that Mr. Chantrey has my instruc-
Scotland ; and this ought not to he considered in tions to proceed with the Bust,
the light of a sepulchral one. The only other " I have been informed that some of my father's
situation that occurred was the Library, which — friends are desirous also of having a Portrait