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

JAMES WATT. ] 8 1
honourable, and I am much obliged to those friends who have named
me for it ;• — yet I cannot tell that it would be right for me to accept
it, at least for a continuance, and that, for two reasons, — my mind
being almost wholly turned towards the steam-engine, almost all the
minutise and necessary matters of fact relative to the canal business
are gone from me, so that all that remains to me is the power of
judging when the facts are present, and that is certainly now more
mature than when I left you. Secondly, the contriving of engines
and the other necessary attentions to a business which is now very
extensive, take up all the time that bad health will permit me to work ;
and it is possible that, setting aside the damage which the distraction
of my attention might do the partnership, my own share of the loss in
the engine business might exceed my gains by the canal direction. In
other respects, you may be certain, that the being enabled to spend
some part of my time among my friends must prove highly agreeable
to me. The matter, therefore, shall have serious consideration
" Our rotative engines, which we have now rendered very complete,
are certainly very applicable to the driving of cotton mills, in every
case where the conveniency of placing the mill in a town, or ready-
built manufactory, will compensate for the expense of coals and of our
premium. Our premium we have fixed at £5 per annum for every
horse power the machine is equal to, and the coals are about ten
pound weight for each horse We find that we must, in spite
of every peaceable disposition, go to law with some people, who
encroach upon our patent rights ; and as our very being depends on
the success of that suit, we must bestow every attention on it, which
necessarily takes up much of our time, — and we think of beginning it
this term, that is, within a month, if the advice of our counsel prove
favourable, otherwise we had better bear with some inconvenience
than lose all. Yet, if we do not vindicate our rights, we run a risk of
losing all that way. I wrote to Mr. Hamilton some time ago, con-