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

JAMES WATT. 223
visionary ; and Mr. Nicol having hinted that the scheme " would not
do," Rennie, at his own expense, got a boat constructed by another
builder, somewhat broader than the old model, to which he affixed two
paddle-wheels, one on either side, to be worked by manual labour, and
intended to supersede the use of oars. This boat, which went by the
appellation of " Rennie's wheel-boat," after making several trips to
the Broomielaw at Glasgow, was sold, — the labour of the oar being
found, after all, less toilsome than that of the wheel.
The unsuccessful experiment of Rennie's wheel-boat, however, did
not deter another individual, destined to become more celebrated,
from embarking in a somewhat similar scheme. This was Henry
Bell. Mr. Bell applied to Mr. Nicol to build for him a boat, about
fifteen feet keel, with a " well," or opening, in the " run," in which he
placed a wheel, which also was to be worked by manual power.
Finding this single wheel not to answer the purpose intended, he got
Mr. Nicol to plank up the well, and tried his boat with two wheels,
one on either side. The experiment convinced him that this last was
much the best method of distributing the propelling power to the
greatest advantage. The inadequacy of manual labour, however, to
the end to be accomplished was too obvious to escape observation ;
and although he did not at once put into execution his subsequent
and most successful plan of adapting the Steam-Engine to supply the
deficiency in power of which his last experiment had assured him, it
continued to occupy, during several years, his attention and thoughts.
Although Mr. Bell, in his correspondence with the son of Mr.
Miller of Dalswinton, regarding their respective claims to the merit
of the invention of the " Steamboat," has not availed himself of
the fact of this connexion between his early experiments with the
hand-wrought wheels, and his last and successful one with the
steam-engine, an argument might, probably, have, with fairness,
been adduced by him, from this circumstance, in favour of his claim.