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

JAMES WATT. 29
tering justice according to the primitive forms of investigation and
summary trial in use in those times.
Thomas Watt was accordingly appointed to the functions of " Bailie
of the Barony," a feudal office of importance and magisterial authority,
which usually conferred upon its occupant respect and consideration,
as well as influence in the community ; not only a large share, but also
the most prominent direction of all its local affairs falling within its
jurisdiction. Of the manner in which he deported himself in the
discharge of the multifarious duties devolving upon him in this office,
as well as in several others with which he came to be invested, the
various public records of the time afford a not uninteresting picture ;
presenting this worthy ancestor of James Watt in a light which will
bo found to have been eminently characteristic, and a family feature
of all the Watts — a happy combination of qualities, a union of the
speculative with the practical, of the reflective with the useful and
active, and a judicious balancing of their respective claims, as bearing
upon the aims and ends of life. This trait of character, indeed, in
connexion with a name which now holds so distinguished a relation to
Science and the Arts — and regarding which nothing can now be
uninteresting — becomes so prominent throughout the course of our
memorials, that did the simple but authentic memoirs of these estim-
able progenitors of Watt elicit no other fact of any moment than this,
the task involved in the dusty researches of the chronicler would not,
certainly, be wholly without its success and reward.
It will be seen that the " Bailie of the Barony" exercised both his
legislative and judicial functions with consummate prudence and skill.
A book containing a record of " Acts and Proceedings in the Heid
Courts" (head courts) of the barony, as early as 11th November 1696,
has luckily been preserved, of the interesting matter in which a few
specimens will be given. This book shows that Thomas Watt was at