In addition to the essential assistance received from M. P. W. Boulton, Esq., in preparing the present book, without which it would not have been undertaken, the author desires to record his acknowledgments to J. W. Gibson Watt, Esq., for information relative to James Watt;--to Charles Savery, Esq., Clifton, J. T. Savery, Esq., Modbury, Lieutenant-Colonel Yolland, R.E., and Quartermaster Connolly, R.E., for various facts as to the family history and professional career of Thomas Savery, inventor of the “Fire Engine;”--and to Thomas Pemberton, Esq., Heathfield; W. C. Aitkin, Esq., Coventry; George Williamson, Esq., Greenock; the late J. Murdock, Esq., Handsworth; and the late Mr. William Buckle, of the Royal Mint, formerly of Soho,--for various information as to the lives and labours of Boulton and Watt. In his treatment of the subject, it will be observed that the author has endeavoured, as much as possible, to avoid introducing technical details relating to the steam-engine. Those who desire further information on such points, are referred to the works of Farey, Tredgold, Bourne, Scott Russell, Muirhead (‘Mechanical Inventions of James Watt’), and other technical treatises on the subject, where they will find detailed particulars of the various inventions which are only incidentally referred to in the following pages. _London, October, 1865._ CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Anecdote of Matthew Boulton and George III.--Roger Bacon on steam power--Early inventors, their steam machines and apparatus--Hero of Alexandria, Branca, De Caus--The Marquis of Worcester--His water-works--His imprisonment--His difficulties--The water-commanding engine--His “Century of Inventions”--Obscurity of descriptions of his steam-engine--Persevering struggles--His later years and death Page 1–26 CHAPTER II. Zeal of the Marchioness of Worcester--Sir Samuel Morland--His pumps and fire-engines--His privations and death--Dr. Dionysius Papin--His digester--Experiments on the power of steam--His steam-engine--Proposed steamboat--Early schemes of paddle-boats--Blasco Garay--Papin’s model engine and boat--Destroyed by boatmen--Papin’s death 27–38 CHAPTER III. Thomas Savery--The Savery family--Savery’s mechanical experiments and contrivances--His paddle-boat--Treatise on ‘Navigation Improved’--Cornish mines and the early pumping machinery--Savery’s “Fire-engine”--Exhibition of his model--Explanations in the ‘Miner’s Friend’--The engine tried in Cornwall--Its failure at Broadwaters, Staffordshire--Savery’s later years--His death and testament 39–58 CHAPTER IV.