Page:A Letter on the Subject of the Cause (1797).djvu/33

 ſtudied in this proceſs, and communicated and compounded thoughts, and drawn concluſions on the ſubject. And that they had been frequently aſſiſted by the abilities of Dr. Roebuck, a man of great invention in mechanics, and of a general knowledge in the ſciences.

Thus it ſeems as if this undefined invention originated from a jumble of ideas, a compound of judgment and inventors; although Mr. Watt would perſuade us it was his bona fide invention.

Should your Lordſhip have an opportunity to couple theſe obſervations with future proceedings, I am ſenſible you will be convinced that by laying the foundation of his claim in ſuch a vague and unſpecific manner, the Patentee meant not to confine himſelf to any determinate ſpot on which he intended to build; but by the method of grafting one patent into another, expects to keep poſſeſſion of his monopoly for ever. As muſt eventually prove the caſe, if a Specification like that at preſent in diſpute ſhould ultimately be ſanctioned by law.

I think it is evident that after the principle, as Mr. Watt calls it, of condenſing in a ſeparate veſſel had occurred to him, and required the full ingenuity of theſe three men, himſelf a reputed mathematician, Robinſon a profeſſor of Chymiſtry and Philoſophy, and Dr. Roebuck, in the habit of building Engines on Newcomen’s plan; I think, my Lord, it is evicent ſo much of this immenſe ſaving, they