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Hereditary Genius
223
desired to make him the representative of Italian science, and pushed him
forward in many ways, but Volta had no ambition of that kind. He was a man
of noble presence, strong and rapid intelligence, large and just ideas,
affectionate and sincere character. His scholars idolized him. He distinguished
himself early at college. Began to write on electricity aet. 24. During the last six
years of his life, he lived only for his family. Died aet. 82.
[S.] One of his two sons died aet. 18, full of promise. Watt, James; inventor of the
steam-engine and of much else. He had a share in the discovery of the
composition of water. Was very delicate as a child; was precocious, fond of
experiment; read with avidity and indiscriminately. Aet. 21, he had attracted
the notice of the authorities of the University of Glasgow, as being an
ingenious and philosophical workman. His progress to fortune was slow and
mainly due to his fortunate association with Boulton, who supplied energy,
concentration of purpose, daring, administrative skill and capital. Watt ailed
continually, and he was very irresolute until he approached old age, when his
vigour became more and more remarkable. Few men had read so much as Watt,
or remembered what they had read with such accuracy. He had a prodigious
and orderly memory, and singular clearness in explaining. As an inventive
genius he has never been surpassed.
[G.] A humble teacher of mathematics, and something of an oddity. Mr. Muirhead
says of him, in his Life of Watt, “It is curious to observe how decidedly a turn
for scientific pursuits seems, in some measure at least, to have been common to
every male of that family, so as to have become almost the birthright of both
the grandsons of Thomas Watt, 'the old mathematician.' And it may be added,
that the same inclination still continued to ' run in their veins' till the line of
direct male descent itself became extinct by the death, without issue, of both
the sons of the illustrious improver of the steam-engine.” (Page 17.)
[F.] A man of zeal and intelligence, for twenty years town councillor, treasurer,
and baillie of Glasgow.
[f.] Agnes Muirhead was a superior woman, of good understanding,
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