would fulfil, whilst I was conscious that it would not answer the general purpose of the Act of Queen Anne, and consequently that I had formed a vil-
or two decennaries how often the scene changes in human affairs; how want of health, some interminable lawsuit, and sundry vexations, might have frustrated the whole design, this was plainly the track which calculating prudence would have marked out for him; but it was incompatible with the high spirit of our Claimant; he would have thought it neither doing justice to the public nor himself, to solve the problem in this piecemeal way. He always believed he could come considerably within half a degree, or thirty miles (which the event verified) and to have lowered that hope would have deprived him of a powerful incentive to his labour. The same sterling honesty, but directly opposed to the prudential maxim
what's the value of a thing
But so much money as 'twill bring?
is conspicuous in his romantic offer to the Board, 26th February, 1763, to concur with them in procuring an Act of Parliament to alter the mode of trial, for, says he, "many may be thought on, that will do more justice to the Timekeeper than that prescribed by the 12th of Queen Anne."[subnote 1] This was certainly true, but if a trial by sea, of longer duration was contemplated, it is evident that as the risks on that element would have been greater in proportion, so nothing could be more contrary to the prudence with which Dr. Maskelyne compliments him, whether sincerely, or maliciously, we say not, but he had no right to impute motives to this original genius, which he might have found, if he was willing to know it, were quite to his character.
- ↑ It is singular enough; but he was answered, 'that it was next to impossible to procure and Act of Parliament to be altered, though it were for the public good.'—And this came from those persons, who were subsequently instructed by Lord Morton, that nothing was easier than such a feat, when a public and a severe private injury resulted.
