The early chapters relate to the history of a very important
branch of British industry--that of Shipbuilding. A later
chapter, kindly prepared by Sir Edward J. Harland, of Belfast,
relates to the origin and progress of shipbuilding in Ireland.
Many of the facts set forth in the Life and Inventions of William
Murdock have already been published in my 'Lives of Boulton and
Watt;" but these are now placed in a continuous narrative, and
supplemented by other information, more particularly the
correspondence between Watt and Murdock, communicated to me by
the present representative of the family, Mr. Murdock, C.E, of
Gilwern, near Abergavenny.