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saw how it was to be accomplished. He could, therefore, tell in an instant whether a thing was practicable; if he thought it was not, no persuasion or offer of money could induce him to attempt it. He never pursued chimeras, like those mechanics who have not had the benefit of education or instruction; and though this may be ascribed to the intercourse he had with great mathemati cians and philosophers, there is every reason to believe that he would have equally guarded himself against them, even had he not enjoyed that advantage.

The same quickness of apprehension which he manifested in mechanics, he showed also in other things. His observations on most subjects were judicious, and peculiar to himself. With regard to his moral character, he was every thing that could be desired. Although he still retained something of the manners of his former condition, his mild and pleasing deportment rendered his company and conversation agreeable. He possessed a good heart, and his life was sober and regular. Though he was every day welcome to the best tables, he stayed for the most part at home through choice; went to market for his own provisions, which he cooked himself, and was as contented over his humble meal as Curius was over his turnips. A little before his death he had the pleasure of seeing a curious harpsichord he had made, and which was purchased by his Prussian majesty, placed in an elegant apartment of the new palace at Pottsdam. As he had for some time neglected this instrument, the too great attention which he bestowed on putting it in order, contributed not a little to bring on that disease which at last proved fatal to him. His clock having become deranged during his illness, he could not be prevented, notwithstanding the admonition and advice of his friend and physician, Dr. Stahls, from repairing it. Close application occasioned some obstructions which were not observed till too late; and an inflammation taking place, he died, in 1771, at the house of Count de Powdewils, in the sixtieth year of his age.

MATTHEW BOULTON.

THIS individual, well known as the partner of the celebrated Watt, was born at Birmingham on the 14th of September, 1728; and after having received a tolerable education, studied drawing and mathematics. He commenced business as a manufacturer of

hardware; and having discovered a new method of inlaying steel, he sent a considerable quantity of buckles, watch-chains, &c., to the continent, where they were purchased by the English travellers as the offspring of French ingenuity. Finding his premises at Birmingham not sufficiently capacious for his purposes, he, in 1762, purchased an extensive tract of heath, about two miles from the town, and at great expense laid the foundation of those vast and unrivalled works known as the Soho establishment. To this spot his liberality soon attracted numbers of ingenious men from all parts, and by their aid the most splendid apartments in Europe received their ornaments.

About 1767, finding the force of the water-mill inadequate to his purposes, he constructed a steam engine upon the original plan of Savery; and two years afterwards entered into partnership with Watt, in conjunction with whom he turned that machine into several new and important uses. They soon acquired a mechanical fame all over Europe by the extent and utility of their undertakings; the most important of which was their improvement in coinage, which they effected about 1788. The coins struck at the Soho manufactory were remarkable for their beauty and execution, and caused the inventors to be employed by the Sierra Leone Company in the coinage of their silver, and by the East India Company in that of their copper.

Mr. Boulton also sent two complete mints to St. Petersburg; and having presented the late emperor Paul the First with some of the most curious articles of his manufacture, that sovereign returned him a polite letter of thanks and approbation, together with a princely present of medals and minerals from Siberia, and specimens of all the modern money of Russia. Another invention which emanated from the Soho establishment was a method of copying oil paintings with such fidelity as to deceive the most practised connoisseurs. The last discovery for which Mr. Boulton obtained a patent, was an important method for raising water and other fluids by impulse; the specification of which is published in the ninth volume of the Repertory of the Arts. It had been demonstrated by Daniel Bernouilli, that water flowing through a pipe and arriving at a part in which the pipe is suddenly contracted, would have its velocity at first very greatly increased; but no practical application of the principle appears to have been attempted until 1792, by an apparatus set up by Mr. Whitehurst at Oulton, in Cheshire. To this Mr. Boulton added a number of ingenious modifications.

As an illustration of the nicety and skill displayed in some of the articles made by Mr. Boulton, the following anecdote is re

lated :-He visited France on a certain occasion, for the purpose of attending a celebrated mechanical fair that was about taking place; at which he begged to be allowed to exhibit a needle of his own making, at the same time submitting it to the examiners of works intended for this public display, who one and all pronounced it to be, though well-shaped and finely polished, but a common needle," and not worthy of appearing amongst the splendid and ingenious improvements and inventions that usually graced the fair. "Gentlemen," observed Mr. Boulton, " my needle is well worthy of appearance amongst your promised novelties; only allow it to be exhibited with them now, and I will afterwards show you the reason why."

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An unwilling assent to this request was finally obtained; but when the fair closed, and the prizes were to be awarded, the arbitrators triumphantly asked, "where was Mr. Boulton's needle? and what were those striking merits which everybody had failed to discover?" Thereupon Mr. Boulton again presented it to them for inspection, with a magnifying glass, begging them to state whether they observed roughness or wrinkle upon its surface. The umpires returning it, said, "Far from it; for that its sole merit seemed to lie in its exquisite polish." Behold, then," said this ingenious man, "its undiscoverable merit; and whilst I prove to you that I made no vain boast of its claim to your attention, you will learn, perhaps, not to judge so readily again by mere exterior." He then unscrewed the needle, when another appeared of as exquisite a workmanship; and, to the astonished eyes of the Frenchmen, about half a dozen beautiful needles were thus turned out, neatly and curiously packed within each other!-a miracle of art that seems to rival all we ever read of,—a truly “multum in parvo!" Mr. Boulton triumphed in his turn, and carried off the prize which his delicate workmanship so richly deserved.

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Mr. Boulton appeared at St. James' on a levee day: "Well, Mr. Boulton, ," said the king, "I am glad to see you; what new project have you got now?" I "said Mr. Boulton, manufacturing a new article that kings are very fond of." "Aye! aye! Mr. Boulton, what's that?" "It is power, and please your majesty." "Power!—Mr. Boulton, we like power, that's true; but what do you mean?" "Why, sir, I mean the power of steam to move machines." His majesty appeared pleased, and laughing, said, "Very good; go on, go on."

After a life devoted to the advancement of the useful arts and the commercial interests of his country, the subject of our memoir died on the 17th of August, 1809, in the eighty-first year of his

age, and was buried at Handsworth, near Soho; his funeral being followed by six hundred workmen, each of whom received a silver medal, struck to commemorate the event.

Mr. Boulton presents us with an example of the vast influence and effects that may be produced upon society by the well-directed powers of a great mind abundantly stored with resources, but disdaining the selfish and narrow views that might have contracted its usefulness, had he neglected to call to his aid the genius of a Watt, and others equally eminent in their spheres. His private character was very amiable; and in his manners and conversation he is said to have been extremely fascinating.

TELF

THOMAS TELFORD.

IT is to the energies of genius in humble life that science is chiefly indebted for its most valuable discoveries, and extension of its empire. The names of Brindley, Watt, and Arkwright will never be forgotten; and with them, and others equally distinguished, will henceforth rank Telford, a civil engineer, and constructor of public works, unsurpassed in any country.

Thomas Telford was born in the year 1757, in the parish of Westerkirks, in the pastoral vale of Eskdale, a district in the county of Dumfries, in Scotland. His parents, although they occupied an humble station in the walks of life, were respected and beloved by all who knew them. The outset of the life of their son Thomas corresponded to their situation in society, and was strikingly humble and obscure in comparison with its close. He began the world as a working stone-mason in his native parish, and for a long time was only remarkable for the neatness with which he cut the letters upon those frail sepulchral memorials, which "teach the rustic moralist to die."

His occupation, fortunately, afforded a greater number of leisure hours than what are usually allowed by such laborious employ. ments, and these young Telford turned to the utmost advantage in his power. Having previously acquired the elements of learning, he spent all his spare time in poring over such volumes as fell in his way, with no better light than was afforded by the cottage fire. Under these circumstances, his mind took a direction not uncommon among rustic youths: he became a noted rhymster in the homely style of Ramsay and Ferguson, and while still a very

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