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

202 MEMORIALS OF
to co-operate with the donor in carrying into execution his generous
scheme.
On Mr. Watt's return to England his plan was matured. The
following letters on the subject detail the steps he had taken, and
specify the rules and conditions he wished to be observed in insti-
tuting and giving permanency to the proposed Library. From
Heathfield he writes to Mr. Anderson, 12th Jan. 1816 : —
" My dear Sir, — In consequence of your obliging consent to act for
me in the following business, I applied to my friend Mr. Watt of
Crawfordsdyke, to join you in it, which he kindly agreed to, and
mentioned the Rev. Dr. Scott as a proper co-adjutor in the choice of
the books, which I approved of; but not being personally acquainted
with that gentleman, and the shortness of my stay not permitting an
introduction, I begged he would mention it to him, and request his
consent to my naming him as one of my trustees in it.
" As I had not then made out a draft of the conditions on which I
proposed to give the money, I left it with my friend Mr. Walkinshaw
to deposit in the bank, until I should have time to consider the sub-
ject. An accumulation of business, from my long absence, and other
matters which a younger man would probably have soon dispatched,
have made me delay doing so until the present time.
" I now request that, at your convenience, you will consult with
the above-named gentlemen aud Mr. Walkinshaw, and make the fol-
lowing proposal on my part : —
" James Watt of Heathfield, in the county of Stafford, LL.D., offers to the
Magistrates and Town-Council of Greenock, the sum of One Hundred Pounds
sterling on the following conditions, which he hopes they will do him the favour to
agree to : —
" 1st. That the said sum shall be laid out upon books for the use of the Mathe-
matical School of Greenock, which books shall be such as treat of Natural Philosophy