Page:Memoirs of a Trait in the Character of George III.djvu/152

NO. 1. Mr. Maskelyne then proceeds to give us an account of the Watch's going from day to day, which might have passed for a good bull of that country, was perfectly characteristic of Lord Morton's understanding; by whom the rules to prevent any tampering with the Timekeeper were produced ready prepared, at the Board, in April, 1766, to which the trial previously determined on by his Lordship and Dr. Maskelyne (the personal enemies of the Inventor, to wit) was submitted as a matter of form, rather than of necessity. What estimate can be made of the judgment, or of the good nature of those present, when no person pointed out the ridicule these precautions involved? although it was the more obvious, because in Dr. Halley's plan, some years before, which all of them knew, (or they did no honour to their office) and which was to send the Timekeeper to roll six months on board a ship in the Downs: the vessel being to communicate by signal with Deal Castle, where the Clock was kept, it is ordered 'that the astronomical Clock should be locked up in the room where it stands, and the keys of the said room put in possession of some proper person, to be named by the Commissioners of Longitude, and by Mr. Harrison; and that no person should be allowed to take the time from the said Clock by a Watch, or otherwise.' Here it is evident as much precaution was thought necessary to prevent any unfair dealing with the Clock, as with the Timekeeper; and yet his Lordship, who certainly desired to be thought as clever a fellow as any round the Wrekin, had not an item of any such particular in his plan. We would not insinuate he had but one piece of learning, like Ephraim Jenkinson, in the Vicar of Wakefield, but the northern Peer recals to mind that "astronomical jargon" which an eminent Statesman, who was above affectation, but found it necessary to make something like a flourish, tells his Son, he got by heart from a Master, when he was to bring in his bill for the reformation of the Gregorian calendar. It leans to no impossibility, if we suspect the Gentlemen of the Royal