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

206 MEMORIALS OF
through pretty well, (as well, indeed, as I could hope to be in
winter,) and as it is now looking towards spring, hope to escape any
severe cold.
" Mrs. Watt and Miss M'Gregor join me in best wishes to you and
Miss Walkinshaw, requesting to hear from you soon, and I remain,
my dear Sir, yours sincerely, James Watt."
On the 7th February 1816, the letter to Mr. Anderson was laid
before the Town-Council by Mr. Quintin Leitch, then chief-magistrate,
when a minute of acceptance was recorded in the following terms : —
" And the object Dr. Watt has in view, marking distinctly a kind
remembrance of his native town, a benevolence of heart, and
an unceasing regard for the progress of science, the Council
with pleasure agree to accept the proposed deposit, and to
follow out the plan of the donor."
As soon as the necessary preliminaries were arranged, a consider-
able portion of the donation was at once expended in the purchase of
books ; and these, in conformity with the desire of the donor, were
deposited in the Mathematical School of Greenock.
Something of the particular nature of Mr. Watt's intentions in
regard to " the scientific and commercial distinction of his native
town," may be gathered from the character of the works which he
designed for his foundation, and which embraced generally both the
theory and practice of those arts and departments of industry which
were most prosecuted at that time, and in which improvement was
equally attainable and to be desired. 1 A very general spirit of inven-
1 The following is the original List of Works Elementary Illustrations of Laplace's Mechanics.
proposed by Mr. Watt himBelf : — Smeaton on Wind and Water Mills.
Hutchinson's Naval Architecture, (Merchant Desagulier's Experimental Philosophy.
Ships.) Legeudre's Geometry — Translation.
Shipwright's Vade Mecum. Desagulier's Conic Sections.
Venturi on the Motion of Fluids. Gravesande's Introduction to Newton's Mathe-
( 'lare on Fluids, matical Elements of Natural Philosophy.