Page:Memoirs of a Trait in the Character of George III.djvu/15

viii framers of it, was that one class of interested, or of honorary candidates, became judges of the merits dishonour to him; and therefore he insisted upon it, he must.—After a long-time spent in this dispute, William Harrison agreed, that Mr. Maskelyne should observe; provided. Mr. Green [the other astronomer] took the next observation.—Mr. Maskelyne then went to work, but was so confused, with the above, that his observations were scarcely to be depended on: for every one that was present could see that he set some of his observations down dubious, when, at the same time, there was not a cloud near: nor was he in a condition to adjust his instruments.'

The reference to his friend's letter above, is explained by a private voyage to St. Helena, in a merchant brig, to find the Longitude by the Moon, with the assistance of Mayer's Tables, which were imported in 1756, and excited much interest among scientific men. Captain (afterwards Admiral) Campbell, an officer well versed in the mathematics, was employed by the Commissioners to verify the Longitude with the advantage thus afforded: but as these tables, though so useful under favourable circumstances, will not enable a seaman to overcome the physical impossibilities so often in his way, and as this gentleman, like Dr. Halley, was not disposed to estimate the Lunar process higher than its practical merits deserved, the trial was altogether a failure.—Not so with the ardent Cantabrigian introduced, who, contrary to the proverb, always found hope an excellent supper, as well as a good breakfast: and as the sharpers who plunder Samuel Simon, the Jew, in Gil Blas found Gaspard, his apprentice, just such a talkative young man as they wanted: so the Lunar party at the Commission of Longitude could not have met with a more enthusiastic zealot, for their purposes, than was Nevil Maskelyne, thus brought forward. He must have been either employed, or materially assisted by the Board, or by some patron who kept behind the scenes: for it was never said that his pecuniary