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

18 MEMORIALS OF
believed, interesting period of his history between extreme youth and
manhood. Judging by the type and character of his life, from the
time when he first becomes known to us, there are many indications
which induce the belief, that he was one of those who, though placed
in circumstances the most adverse, have yet succeeded in dis-
tinguishing themselves by early ardour in the pursuit of know-
ledge. This, however, is certain, that though bereaved of his father
at a tender age, and by the disastrous events of the times stripped
of whatever patrimony he might otherwise have enjoyed, — whether
from the native vigour of his genius, or from the care of those
who had the oversight of his education, — he made solid acquisitions
in learning of various kinds, and particularly in the science of the
mathematics.
It is in the httle town of Crawfordsdyke — about the middle of the
17th century, a small burgh in the parish of Greenock, and closely
adjoining the town of this name — that we first meet with the name
of Thomas Watt. At what period of his life he settled here, cannot
now be known. Neither are we able to describe by what concatena-
tion of events, romantic or otherwise, he came to find himself in a part
of the country so remote from the place of his birth. His object, no
doubt, was to establish himself in some locality where those branches
of scientific knowledge, connected with the mathematics, such as
astronomy and navigation, might be rendered available as a profession.
Looking at the almost nameless village whither he had bent his steps,
— not, certainly, as it is at the present day, as a portion of the town
of Greenock, with its forges, and dockyards, and busy artisan popula-
tion, but as it was some two hundred years ago, with its " forty-four
houses that had outside stairs," and " forty-four that had none," the
former being the more respectable, — it does appear at first sight
difficult to account for his selection of this particular spot, as a place
in which, with any adequate prospect of success, to exercise the duties