Monthly supplement of the penny magazine of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, issue 26, July 31 to August 31, 1832

This supplement opens with a vivid portrait of the great engineer James Watt, whose steam‑engine innovations reshaped the modern world. It recounts the enthusiastic public response that led to three statues—bronze in Glasgow, marble in the Hunterian Museum, and a yet‑to‑be‑installed masterpiece for Westminster Abbey—highlighting the artistry of Sir Francis Chantrey and the dignified design that captures Watt’s calm, reflective mind. The narrative then transports listeners to a historic 1824 meeting in London, where Prime Minister Lord Liverpool and leading figures such as Sir Humphry Davy and Michael Boulton praised Watt’s practical genius and argued for a national tribute.

The article continues with the spirited resolutions passed at that gathering, celebrating Watt’s global impact and the promise of future progress when science and the fine arts unite. Listeners will hear a compelling blend of contemporary commentary, vivid descriptions of the statues, and the era’s reverence for an inventor whose legacy still powers today’s imagination.