Monument To Mr. Watt.
The Times, 1824-06-19T00:00:00

A AMeeting was vesterday held at the Freemasons'ltavern, to consider the propriety-of ereciing a nionument to the late James Watt, as a tribute 'of national gratitude to him, who, by his ge- nius and science, has multiplied the resources of his country and imfproved the condition of all mankind. The assemblage upon this occasion was numerous and most respectable; comprising the Earl of Liverpool, the Earl of Aberdeen, Lord Bexley, the Chancellor of the Excheqtuer, Mr. Secretary Peel, ir. HIuskisson, AI.P.; Mr. C. Grant, Al.P., MUr. WVilberforce, A1.P., Sir James MIacintosh, AJ.P., Ir. Brougham, Ml.P., Sir Jaames Graham Bart., A.P., Sir -Isaac Coffin, Bart., Al. P., SirRobt Wilson, IIL P., M1r. Gladstone, M. P., Sir Humpiery Davy, Mlr. Bolton, MIr. Littleton, M. P., Mr. Frankland Lewis, M.P., and several otlher Mlembers of Parlia- ment and gentlemen of distinction. Sevesalfashionable ladies were also prestent. - - I The Earl of IAVERPOOL, having been called to the chair, in- formed the meeting ihat they were-assembled for the purpose of dis- charging a public duty of respect and gratitude to the memory of one of the mostextraordinary personages that ever blessed this countrv with their services. It would not be denied that there were few indiylduals who hada greaterclaim upon our gratituide than thosewho by their discoveries had increased the productive powers of human industry; and when, in any age of the world, was there a more important discovery than that of the steam engine, of which the late MIr. lVatt was almrost the author; for its utility was nearlv alto- gether unknown, until lie by his genius, and sagacity, and patient study, rendered it applicable to the practical purposes of life; and by thereby abridgtiogvhuman and animal labour, he had conferred the greatest possible benefits upon the whole world ? In such an assembly as the present,it would be presumption to say much of the ir,vention of Mlr. WVatt. It had been compared to the trunk of the elephant; there was nothing too small for the fineness of its touch, and nothing so great as to be beyond its reach. Whilst it had im- roved the texture of the finest silk, it had abridged savigation of halF its difficulties. His lordship, aftcr dwellng on the advantages of nIr.. Wriatt's discoveries, proceeded to speak ef his private cha- racter. A more excellent man in all the relations of life never ex- isted; and if he--had- not received all the rewards to which his merits entitledl him whilst living, it was because the mo- desty and sinmplicity of his life prevented them. from being sufficiently known, It had been said that the value of hig discoveries had been diminished by their having becomae known to the whole world * but whilst the universality of their advantages increased our admiration of their author, it was impossible not to feel that it was to this coantrr, from its wealth and great comman: of fuel, that they were pariicularly and permanently applicable. flis lord- ship) concluded by saying, that he was commanded by the King to express his Mlajesty's deep sense of the merits of the individual whose services they were discussing, antl his wish that no sub- scription for a monument to his memory should take place at the head of which his name did not appear; he was thercfore com- manded to put down his Mlajesty's name, at the top of the list, for 5001. (Loud cheers.) Sir HUMrPHRY DAVY. after explaining the nature of Alr. Watt's inventions, which, he said, was not a fortuitous discovery, but the result of much philosophical studv and numerous experi- ments, pronounced a warea panegyric upon his character. The meinory of James lFatt would live as long as civilized society ex- isted; but it became them to give some substantial testimonial of their gratitude, net to increase his glory, hut to testify their sense of his services, for which purpose lie begged leave to move-" That the late James Watt, Esq., by the profound science and original genius displayed in his admirable inventions, has more than any other man of modern times exemplified the practical utility of knowledge, eularged the power of man over the external world, and both nmultiplied and diffused the accommodations and enjoyments of human lifc." Mr. BOLTOX, formerly the partner of Mr. Watt, entered into a calculation to slhow that there was a saving of animal labour effectedI to the nation by Mlr. Watt's invention to the extent of two millions and a half per%tnnum. It was this whichl so mainly tended to sup- port the nation through the late war, and enabled it to endure that contest with an eneray which excited the surprise of the world. ( Hear.) Both his (Nr. Bolton's3 fattier and himself had esteemed his connexion vwith that great man as the highest honour, and it was that connexion henowv pnleaded for his presumption in seconding the resolution. (Applause.) lr. HusKessox felt it impossible not to be prottd of the country whiclh had given birth to a man wtho liad conferred such mighty be- nefits on the world, and increased the happiness of mankind. His improvements in physical and chymical science had a most benefi- cial influence upon moral society, even in countries the mo,t remote and savage ; for, by increasing the mcans of satisfying every want, thvy had created inducements to miake exertions towards civilization. The righlt lion. gentleman then went on to show the great ad- vantages Mr. NWait's scientife inventions had conferred upon this country, the effectof whiclh was particularly *'lt daring our late gigantic contest, to the triuMlhant termination of which thev lhad most materially contributed. Therefore, wheti monuments were erected to those heroes who fell in that contest,we ought not torefrise them to those whose services, if morc mnodest, were inot less valuable. By his great genius we had been enabled to defv the rinds anmd waves, and under the wiiU of man trium phant over the verv elemnents. IIuLch as had already been gained, we might anticipate still greater sdvantages from the further application of his invention. After * ome farther oSservations, the right hon. gent. concluded by moving _-" That these benefits,conferred byAlr. Watton the whole civilizea world, have been first and most experienced by Iiis own country, which owes a tribute of Rational gratitude to a man who his thus honoured her by his genius, and promoted her well-being by his discoveries." Sir JA)rES 31AC1tTOSH. in seconding the resolution, pro- nounced a glowing eulosium on the genius and invention of 1r. WVatt, which raised him, he said, to the highest rank in society and entitled himin to the lasting gratitude of his country and of all mankind. The debt of science had beeti well paid by the Presitlent of the Royal Society, than whom no man was better qualified or more entitled ts paY it; the debt of the state and of mankind had lbeen eloquentlypaid by the MIinisters of the C.own,_ the debt of that state, which, armed with threefold strength bi- the genius of Alr. Watr, had thusbeen enabled to escape from the greatest dangers that ever threatened a nation. The learned gentle- man read an extract from one of Bacon's tracts, in which that philo sopher,in an imaginary temple dedicated to science,set a gallery apart for the statues of inventers; attd in another part, hc said that whilst the heathens ranked heroes and foundersofstatesamongst theirdemi- gods, thev ranked inventers of arts amongst their gods. It was only sixty years since this invemition bv iMIr. WVatt had taken place; and it had found its way already to every country, from the Mississippi to the Ganges, and even amongst the savages of South Amrerica. After observing at great lengths upon the effects of their discoveries the Iea.tiedgenttemanstated thiathe lied lately visited the Mlechanics1 Institution in company with Ir. Broughiam, and was present whilst a lecture was delivered upon the laws of attraction to above 800 me- chanics. He never witnessed more attention bestowed upoD a lecture by any bodyof philosophers in bis life, and when the lecturer had con- cluded, an unianimous plaudit burst from the whole body, expressive of their deliht at discovering and comprehen'ding a new and sublime truth. (lIear.) At more intellectual plaudit never rose fromnany borly of men. This showed hism time value of uniting science with the useful arts and perhaps ninny a Newton lid been lost to the world for the want of that alliance before. After some further remarks, the learned gentlemati concluded by seconding the resolution. Mr.Bn.ouoG-IASE wasthankful for thehonour alowed himin taking a part in this proceeding, for which he supposed he was indebted to the bumble share he had hlad in promotitig those institutions to which allusion had been made by his lion. friend (Sir J. Macim- toshl), the effect of which would be to draw forth manya man of genius to follow in the footsteps of him whose name, though once obscure, was now shining with brilliant and usefal lustre. le had had the honour of that individual's acquaintance, and he would state, thatthe public knew buthalfhis worth. Ir.private life, his disposition was purc, candid, and simple; and he (Air. Brougham) never met a nan more scrupulously loving of justice. One circumstance par- ticularly struck Iiim in the character of this truly great man,-his versatility of mind was eo great and universal, that it was difficult to say wlhether it was more remarkable for its immense grasp or its minute cielicacy of research. His invention had been compared to the trunk of the elephant, which could pick up straws, or tear up trees by the roots: Mer. Untts mind resembled his own_ invention,.wmilst not?ung was beyond its dominion, no- thing was too minute for the delicacy of its touch,_whilst it could tear up -and cleave rocks, it could fashion the head of a pin. So he could pass at once from the study of the solar sys- tem to the details of a needle or a nail; or ascend from the simplest subject to the most abstruse. One quality, which particularly distin. guished him fromall other men ofgenius,wasa total want ofjealousy; a careful and even scrupulous self-denial, lest he should infringe on the merits of others; so much so, that he denied that he was the in- venter of the steam.engine, and only called himself it's improver; although it might as well be said that Newton was not the author of his system because Descartes or G.dileo hnad made one or two minute discoveriesin it before; or that Sir II. Davy was inot tlieinventer of galvanism. After some further remaTks the learned gentleman moved... "ThataAlonumentbeerected tohisimemory,eitherii the cathedral clurch of St. Paul's,or in the collegiate churchof St. Peter's,Wrest, minster; and that a subscription for that purpose be forthiwitlt opened." Air. LITTLETON seconded the resolution. Before itwas put, JIr. PEEL caine forward and said, that althottgh justice, as far as human nature could do justice, had been done to the merits of Mir. Watt, yet frotu thelteculiarity of his (Mr. Peel's) situation, he was induced to offer Itis humnble tribute to his memory also. lie was one ofthe numberless persons who derived a direct personal benefit from his itiventioiis, and who owed all he possessed in the world to thehonest industry ef others. (Cheers.) That man must have a base and worthless mind who on such ani occasion as this refused to ac- knowledge his origin and the debt lie owed to it, with amiv other feel- ingtlan that of gratitude. (Hear.) The origin he alluded towas the cotton manufacture, which had received new life and spirit from. the discovery of Mr. Watt. In the vear 17 '9the-first steam.enKine applied to rotatorv motion was erected in the town of Alancles- -ter; since when the improvement in this branch of manu- facture had increased so rapidly, titat in the same room |you might perceive the raw produce, and see it the next moment converted into the most beautiful fabric that adorned the female form. When he contemplated the extraordinary benefits conferred I upon the countrr by this great man's inventions, he felt that the class of society from which he (ulr. Peel) sprang was ennobled by his genius, and, therefore, he cordially join in- the wish to see his statue amongsl those of the other individuals who lad done honour to their country. (Loud cheers.) Timle Earl of ABERDEEN' moved the fourth resolutiot, wltich was for the appointment of a committee. Ir. F. LEwIs seconded it. The noble CnAIR3mAN read a letter from Mr. Canning, express. ing lis deep regret at being prevented by public businecs from attending the meeting, his cordial approbation of its objbect and his desire to give it esvery support in his power. Mr. JogIAk WfDa 00Dn moved the fifth regolutiom, which "Thatithe thanks of this inet!tng be preented to the Bar] of I~cr~~iforN iinpartial and'dignifitdl condu8t in-thb chiirj1134 M1,-1IT- ,1forlilIhlas heardl, Atih, ieipectf'ulgratitiide, thie gracious' communicition wlhich his I dsh'i has been autborised-to make " Alir.WrLnaERVoItCE seco.dgdit,andaspoke !at some length.--' The Earl of lIVERtPOOL, after expressingchissense df the honour conferred upon him, said that thcy had now only to ciTmmencethe subcritio, ad ~egga tat-the-woldacceprto0l.rfibi&uI~ lajest, annd 100L ferFom ahimllsetlf,h(etdouht a aused) fromwhit, the meeting adjournedl. ,lfOXUMENT TO MR. WATT.