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

54 MEMORIALS OF
to have been the case. From evidence furnished by a second copy of
this interesting work known to be extant, and which was in the pos-
session of Dr. Davie, one of the Town-Clerks of Glasgow, the map, it
now appears, was published by the surveyor's nephew, John "Watt, the
younger brother of the great James Watt. On Dr. Davie's copy
there are certain additions made with a pen, and which, to one accus-
tomed to the handwriting of the great Engineer, are easily identified
as having been made by him. 1 These additions are very valuable,
giving us information not only as to the authenticity of the map, if
that could ever have been doubted, but also the period to which the
survey is to be referred, the editor or publisher of it, and the date of
its publication. To the name of " John Watt," in the title, is added,
for example, with a pen, the word " Senior," evidently with the view
of distinguishing the surveyor from his nephew of the same name ;
" 1734" is added as the date of the survey ; and " Published by John
Watt, junior, 1760," subjoined, gives the name of its publisher, and
the year when its publication took place. The information thus
conveyed is invaluable, as scientific and nautical men have now the
means of ascertaining, by a comparison of the soundings given on
John Watt's map with those of the present time, whether, by the
natural action of the currents, or the sand sent down by the opera-
tions of the River Trustees, any changes have been occasioned in the
1 It was in 1841, while in attendance, officially, Arago's " Eloge," aud subsequently the editor of
at the Autumn Circuit Court of Justiciary, at the " Correspondence of the late James Watt on
Glasgow, that I first had an opportunity of in- his Discovery of the Theory of the Composition
specting this second copy of John Watt's Map, in of Water," happening at the time to come into
the hands of my esteemed friend, Dr. Davie, well the Court-house, I suggested to Dr. Davie to show
known for his interest in antiquarian literature. the map to that gentleman, feeling convinced he
Dr. Davie had mentioned to me some time pre- would corroborate the opinion as to the hand-
viously that he had this map, which he had pur- writing, which he at once did. The Doctor
chased at a book sale. When I saw it, I at once then made a present of the map, which was in
said that the manuscript markings upon it were a state of beautiful preservation, to Mr. Muir-
in the handwriting of James Watt, the great head, in whose possession it is now understood
Engineer. Mr. Muirhead, the translator of M. to be.