[47] During his residence at Glasgow, a Mason's Lodge were desirous of possessing an organ, and Watt was asked to build it. He was totally destitute of a musical ear, and could not distinguish one note from the other, but he nevertheless accepted the offer; for having studied the philosophical theory of music, he found that science would be a substitute for want of ear. He commenced by building a small one for Dr. Black, and then proceeded to the large one, in the building of which he devised a number of novel expedients, such as indicators and regulators of the strength of the blast, with various contrivances for improving the efficiency of the stops. The qualities of this organ when finished are said to have elicited the surprise and admiration of musicians. During this period of his life Watt used likewise to construct and repair guitars, flutes, and violins, and had the same success as with his organ.--_Quarterly Review_, October, 1858. [48] Preface to _Elements of Experimental Chemistry_, Eleventh Edition. [49] _Life of Thomas Young, M.D., &c., by George Peacock_, page 143. [50] Lord Brougham gives the date of Dr. Black's birth as 1721.--_Lives of Philosophers._ Third Edition, 1855. [51] _Mechanics' Magazine_, vol. v. (new series), page 276. [52] After many appeals, a pension of 50_l._ a-year was granted by the Crown to Richard Cort, the sole surviving son of Henry Cort. [53] Discovered at the same time by Dr. Rutherford of Edinburgh. [54] The Phlogistic Theory explained the phenomena of combustion by supposing the existence of a hypothetical substance termed Phlogiston, the union of which with bodies made them combustible, and the disengagement of which was the occasion of combustion. Transcriber's Notes. Footnotes have been moved to the end of the book. Italics are shown thus: _sloping_. Bold type is shown thus: =shout=. Small capitals have been capitalised. Inconsistent hyphenation retained. Obvious typos and printer errors have been corrected. Old spelling forms are retained. In the appendix 'RICHARD CORT' has been corrected to 'HENRY CORT'. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Memoirs of the Distinguished Men of Science of Great Britain Living in , by William Walker, Jr.