y thus did he triumph, laboring mentally and
physically. Watt therefore must always stand among the benefactors of
men, in the triple capacity of discoverer, inventor, and constructor.

The defects of the cylinder, though serious, were clearly mechanical.
Their certain cure lay in devising mechanical tools and appliances and
educating workmen to meet the new demands. An exact cylinder would leave
no room for leakage between its smooth and true surface and the piston;
but the solution of another difficulty was not so easily indicated. Watt
having closed the top of the cylinder to save steam, was debarred from
using water on the upper surface of the piston as Newcomen did, to fill
the interstices between piston and cylinder and prevent leakage of
steam, as his piston was round and passed through the top of the
cylinder. The model leaked badly from this cause, and while engaged
trying numerous expedients to meet this, and many different things for
stuffing, he wrote to a friend, "My old White Iron man is dead." This
being the one he had trained to be his best mechanic, was a grievous
loss in those days. Misfortunes never come singly; he had just started
the engine after overhauling it, when the beam broke. Discouraged, but
not defeated, he battled on, steadily gaining ground, meeting and
solving one difficulty after another, certain that he had discovered how
to utilise steam.

CHAPTER IV

PARTNERSHIP WITH ROEBUCK

Capital was essential to perfect and place the engine upon the market;
it would require several thousand pounds. Had Watt been a rich man, the
path would have been clear and easy, but he was poor, having no means
but those derived from his instrument-making business, which for some
time had necessarily been neglected. Where was the daring optimist who
could be induced to risk so much in an enterprise of this character,
where result was problematical. Here, Watt's best friend, Professor
Black, who had himself from his own resources from time to time relieved
Watt's pressing necessities, proved once more the friend in time of
need. Black thought of Dr. Roebuck, founder of the celebrated Carron
Iron Works near by, which Burns apostrophised in these lines, when
denied admittance:

"We cam na here to view your works
In hopes to be mair wise,
But only lest we gang to hell
It may be nae surprise."

He was approached upon the subject by Dr. Black, and finally, in
September, 1765, he invi