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

178 MEMORIALS OF
From the minutes of the trustees, 11th Octoher 1774, it would
appear that Mr. Watt was in England; and, from those of 13th
December, it seems to have been even thought that, owing to his
pressing engagements at the time, it would be necessary to employ
another surveyor, to ascertain the proper " levels" for the pipes. So
much personal interest, however, did Mr. Watt take in the execution
of this work, that although his father — who, as a councillor, was at
this time a member of the board of trustees — was fully capable of
ascertaining and marking oft' the levels, he himself hastened, at great
inconvenience, to Greenock, and with the assistance of the old gentle-
man, his father, and a lad to carry the stakes, laid down the levels
with his own hand ; — thus completing, to his satisfaction, an under-
taking which was at the time as beneficial, as the remembrance of his
connexion with the work is now gratifying to his townsmen.
These works, as before remarked, formed the last of Watt's civil-
engineering undertakings. When it is reflected that, in the difficult
and responsible profession in which he had been during these several
years engaged, we see neither the certificated pupil of a polytechnic
school, nor the accredited associate of a privileged and professional
body, — but one who, unsupported in his proper calling, and pressed
by the necessity of finding the means of livelihood almost, had but
recently quitted his workbench and delicate tools, to enter, im-
promptu, the lists, with the Brindleys, the Smeatons, the Golbornes,
and the Rennies of his age, — we cannot regard the display of such
versatility in adapting himself to circumstances and commanding suc-
cess in them, but as a signal instance of that breadth of mental power,
— that many-sidedness of parts, — that self-possessed intellectual auda-
city which everywhere makes Watt's genius wonderful. But there is
more in it that is worthy of observation than this. In the fact just
narrated above — all the more deserving of notice that it was on the
very eve of his new destiny — we remark a happy illustration of those