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

JAMES WATT.
199
scientific works, are familiar to those interested in such illustrations,
particularly in the departments of Natural History and Practical
Mechanics. 1
The machine adverted to, which was minutely described in the
letter to Mr. Watt, was the invention, it is understood, either of Mr.
Buchanan himself, or of one of his pupils. It was intended to indicate
the hour of the day or night, the direction of the wind, and the state
of the tide. Its moving power was to be the wind. Mr. Watt's
reply to the communication, manifesting the great engineer's usual
extent and accuracy of knowledge, was to the following effect, and,
as usual, decisive : —
"Glasgow, Oct. 18, 1815.
" Sir, — In reply to your letter of the 12th, my age and the state of
1 These remarks on the procedure and views of
this excellent and sagacious teacher are intended
in the spirit of sincere eulogium. In these days
the high importance in a national point of view
of such instructions as those referred to in the
text, and that in our common sclwols, cannot he
too often or too earnestly pressed upon puhlic
attention. In full remembrance of the great
results that were promised from Mechanic's Insti-
tutions at their founding some years ago, it is
difficult to resist the conviction that they have
failed of their object. If they may not be said to
have entirely done so, they by no means meet
the exigencies of the day, in respect of that kind
and degree of knowledge, and of taste, required
in the British Workman, if he is to compete suc-
cessfully with his neighbours of another tongue.
The great Industrial Exhibitions have, in this
very particular, revealed some humbling facts,
proving beyond all contradiction that in not a few
even of those arts, on our superiority in which we
Jiave been accustomed to plume ourselves, we
have been really surpassed ! Nothing, it is be-
lieved, will secure amongst us the attainment of
that exquisite taste and skill in execution which
characterize our Continental rivals in many im-
portant branches of the useful arts, but a recur-
rence to some such plan of instruction as- that
noticed ; nothing but our making up our minds
without loss of lime to take a lesson in this mat-
ter from our French neighbours, and make it a
part of the education of our common sclwols, to
give instructions not only in the elements of
Science, but, what is quite as essential, — being so
necessary to the education of the Eye, alike of
the master and the workman, — lessons for prac-
tical purposes in the various kinds of Drawing,
Ornamental Design, Colour, &o.
An earnest appreciation of the value of some
such course of proceeding ought, in every manu-
factcrikg community, to be a special and su-
preme requirement in the consideration of all
corporations charged with the direction of Public
Instruction in the present day ; and it is devoutly
to be hoped, that in our own community, supple-
mented as it is far beyond other provincial towns
with the highest educational appliances, in its
academy and libraries, matters of the nature
referred to, so directly affecting its wealth and
population, will not be lost sight of in its school
programmes.