CHAP. III.
PROGRESS OF THE ATMOSPHERIC ENGINE.—SMEATON'S IMPROVEMENTS.—BRINDLEY, ENGINEER OF THE BRIDGEWATER CANAL.—INVENTS THE SELF-REGULATING FEEDER.—JAMES WATT.—HIS DESCENT AND PARENTAGE.—ANECDOTES OF HIS BOYHOOD.—HIS EARLY ACQUIREMENTS.—GOES TO LONDON.—RETURNS TO GLASGOW.—IS APPOINTED INSTRUMENT-MAKER TO THE UNIVERSITY.—OPENS A SHOP IN GLASGOW.—HIS FRIENDS AND PATRONS.—ADAM SMITH.—DR. BLACK.—ROBERT SIMSON.—PROFESSOR ROBISON.—WATT'S PERSONAL CHARACTER.—INDUSTRIOUS AND STUDIOUS HABITS.—HIS ATTENTION FIRST DIRECTED TO STEAM.—EXPERIMENTS ON HIGH-PRESSURE STEAM.—REPAIRS AN ATMOSPHERIC MODEL.—EXPERIMENTAL INQUIRY CONSEQUENT ON THIS.—ITS RESULTS.—DISCOVERS THE GREAT DEFECTS OF THE ATMOSPHERIC ENGINE.—DISCOVERY BY EXPERIMENT OF THE EXPANSION WHICH WATER UNDERGOES IN EVAPORATION.—DISCOVERS THE LATENT HEAT OF STEAM.—IS INFORMED BY DR. BLACK OF THE THEORY OF LATENT HEAT.
