Dr. Roebuck, a forgotten public benefactor His birth and education Begins business as a physician at Birmingham Investigations in metallurgy Removes to Scotland, and begins the manufacture of chemicals, &c. Starts the Carron Iron Works, near Falkirk His invention of refining iron in a pit-coal fire Embarks in coal-mining at Boroughstoness Residence at Kinneil House Pumping-engines wanted for his colliery Is introduced to James Watt Progress of Watt in inventing the steam-engine Interviews with Dr. Roebuck Roebuck becomes a partner in the steam-engine patent Is involved in difficulties, and eventually ruined Advance of the Scotch iron trade Discovery of the Black Band by David Mushet Early career of Mushet His laborious experiments His inventions and discoveries in iron and steel, and death CHAPTER IX. INVENTION OF THE HOT BLAST--JAMES BEAUMONT NEILSON. Difficulty of smelting the Black Band by ordinary process until the invention of the hot blast Early career of James Beaumont Neilson Education and apprenticeship Works as an engine-fireman As colliery engine-wright Appointed foreman of the Glasgow Gas-works; afterwards manager and engineer His self-education His Workmen's Institute His experiments in iron-smelting Trials with heated air in the blast-furnace Incredulity of ironmasters Success of his experiments, and patenting of his process His patent right disputed, and established Extensive application of the hot blast Increase of the Scotch iron trade Extraordinary increase in the value of estates yielding Black Band Scotch iron aristocracy CHAPTER X. MECHANICAL INVENTIONS AND INVENTORS. Tools and civilization The beginnings of tools Dexterity of hand chiefly relied on Opposition to manufacturing machines Gradual process of invention The human race the true inventor Obscure origin of many inventions Inventions born before their time "Nothing new under the sun" The power of steam known to the ancients Passage from Roger Bacon Old inventions revived Printing Atmospheric locomotion The balloon The reaping machine Tunnels Gunpowder Ancient firearms The steam gun The Congreve rocket Coal-gas Hydropathy Anaesthetic agents The Daguerreotype anticipated The electric telegraph not new Forgotten inventors Disputed inventions Simultaneous inventions Inventions made step by step James Watt's difficulties with his workmen Improvements in modern machine-tools Their perfection The engines of "The Warrior" CHAPTER XI. JOSEPH BRAMAH.