n 1758, has been described
by himself. After feasting his eyes on the beautifully finished
instruments in his shop, Robison entered into conversation with him.
Expecting to find only a workman, he was surprised to find a
philosopher. Says Robison:

I had the vanity to think myself a pretty good proficient in my
favorite study (mathematical and mechanical philosophy), and was
rather mortified at finding Mr. Watt so much my superior. But
his own high relish for those things made him pleased with the
chat of any person who had the same tastes with himself; or his
innate complaisance made him indulge my curiosity, and even
encourage my endeavors to form a more intimate acquaintance with
him. I lounged much about him, and, I doubt not, was frequently
teasing him. Thus our acquaintance began.

CHAPTER III

CAPTURED BY STEAM

The supreme hour of Watt's life was now about to strike. He had become
deeply interested in the subject of steam, to which Professor Robison
had called his attention, Robison being then in his twentieth year, Watt
three years older.

Robison's idea was that steam might be applied to wheel carriages. Watt
admitted his ignorance of steam then. Nevertheless, he made a model of a
wheel carriage with two cylinders of tin plate, but being slightly and
inaccurately made, it failed to work satisfactorily. Nothing more was
heard of it. Robison soon thereafter left Glasgow. The demon Steam
continued to haunt Watt. He, who up to this time had never seen even a
model of a steam engine, strangely discovered in his researches that the
university actually owned a model of the latest type, the Newcomen
engine, which had been purchased for the use of the natural philosophy
class. One wonders how many of the universities in Britain had been so
progressive. That of Glasgow seems to have recognised at an early day
the importance of science, in which department she continues famous. The
coveted and now historical model had been sent to London for repairs.
Watt urged its prompt return and a sum of money was voted for this
purpose. Watt was at last completely absorbed in the subject of steam.
He read all that had been written on the subject. Most of the valuable
matter those days was in French and Italian, of which there were no
translations. Watt promptly began to acquire these languages, that he
might know all that was to be known. He could not await the coming of
the model,