a large hardware dealer
and manufacturer, of Birmingham, England. Previously Mr. Boulton had
built engines after the plans of Savery, hence, he undoubtedly discerned
the great improvement over all engines then in use, that this new
discovery was sure to prove. He was a man of wealth, and, in all
probability, his personal knowledge of such matters greatly aided his
faith. No other can be given, for he was obliged to advance over
$229,000 before Watt had so completely perfected his engine that its
operations yielded profit. But his confidence was not misplaced. The
immense Birmingham manufactory, which employed over one thousand hands,
was ultimately driven to its utmost capacity to supply the constantly
increasing demand for steam engines. It was first applied to coinage in
1783, from thirty to forty thousand milled coins being struck off in an
hour as a test. Boulton & Watt sent two complete mints to St.
Petersburg, and for many years executed the entire copper coinage of
England.

Watt was the first to conceive the idea of warming buildings by steam.
He was the first to make a copying-press; he also contrived a flexible
iron pipe with ball and socket joints, to adapt it to the irregular
riverbed, for carrying water across the Clyde. At the time of his death
he was fellow of the Royal Societies of London, and Edinburgh
correspondent of the French Institute, and foreign associate of the
Academy of Sciences. He was buried beside Boulton, in Handsworth Church;
his statue, by Chantery, is in Westminister Abbey. The pedestal bears
the following inscription:--

"Not to perpetuate a name
Which must endure while the peaceful arts flourish,
But to show
That mankind have learned to honor those
Who best deserve their gratitude,
The King,
His Ministers, and many of the Nobles
And Commoners of the Realm,
Raised this Monument to
James Watt,
Who, directing the force of an original Genius,
Early exercised in philosophic research,
To the improvement of
The Steam Engine,
Enlarged the resources of his Country,
Increased the power of man, and rose to an eminent place
Among the most illustrious followers of Science
And the real benefactors of the World.
Born at Greenock, MDCCXXXVI,
Died at Heathfield, in Staffordshire, MDCCCXIX."

The properties of steam had been known to a certain extent for
centuries. In the seventeenth century attention was frequently directed
by ingenious workers to the uses of steam in performing simple b