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

JAMES WATT. 253
of the best and most recent works in modern science, embracing
mathematics, mechanics, optics, astronomy, chemistry, agriculture,
architecture, &C. 1 It is a subject of just felicitation to the Watt Club,
that its efforts for the completion and perfection of this building, with
its several adjuncts, have been so far attended with success, that little
now remains to render it, both externally and internally, worthy of
the distinguished name it represents.
The notice of one other Testimonial connected with the memory of
Watt will conclude these local memorials. In the laying out of the
grounds of the new Cemetery occupying the heights to the west of
the town, in compliance with a memorial addressed to the Corporation
by the Watt Club, a plateau of considerable dimensions, and forming
the highest portion of the rock, was voted by the Town-Council as a
site for a great national, or rather cosmopolitan testimonial to the
genius of Watt. The proposal, which originated in the Club, was, at
first, to erect on this spot a vast structure of a lofty and imposing-
appearance, to be seen from every part of the surrounding neighbour-
hood, and that all the nations of the world should be invited to contri-
bute the materials ; that those materials should be simply blocks of
stone more or less unchiselled, of every shape and colour and size,
granite or marble, freestone or whinstone, piled aloft and fastened
with cement ; each block to be inscribed with the name of the donor,
and the place or country whence it came. Different plans and forms
of erection more or less in conformity with this view have been pro-
1 Thanks are due in connexion with this im- chemistry, &c. ; — and to Mr. James Broun, of
portant section of the Lihrary, to Mr. John Gray, the Middle Temple, barrister-at-law, who cordially
late chairman of the committee, at whose sugges- undertook the labour of selecting and purchasing
tion those books, which in a long course of years the best editions of standard works in the various
had gone astray, were replaced, and steps taken departments of physics, — a task for which his
to add largely to the collection out of the remain- extended acquaintance with the literature of
ing funds of the Watt Donation ; — to Professor science, added tu his characteristic zeal for the
R. D. Thomson of London also, who kindly fur- interests of his townsmen, eminently qualified
nished lists of the most approved works in him.