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24 exhausted his means in the development of principles which he saw-what he could make few believe—would double the wealth of the world, and up to its last ages work for the well-being of mankind. He needed the copartnership of a man like Boulton, whose mind should supplement the qualities which his own lacked; a man of clear, collected, working sense, who could not only grasp intellectually all the principles and philosophy of Watt's dynamics, but could render the inventor just the assistance he needed to utilize them and bring them into the great work which they are now performing for the world. His faith in their immense faculties was steady, genuine, and strong: and it held up that of Watt, and cheered and strengthened him in the hours of depression. Then he had the means as well as the mind to work up the new force to its great capacities. It is said that he expended nearly £50,000 in experiments on the steam engine before Watt had so perfected it as to yield any return of profit. Had not Watt found such a partner, the world might have lost the use and value of steam power for half a century. And who can estimate what it has done for the world in the last fifty years, on land or sea? What would England have been to-day without it? What would the flat lands of tidemills and windmills have been without it? Several minds of vivid speculation have essayed to give some