Page:Memoirs of a Trait in the Character of George III.djvu/43

xxxvi his Father had kept a Journal, or narrative, of their transactions with the Commissioners of Longitude and others: (which becomes of no small curiosity and interest, with reference to the object of these pages.) It often goes into detail where the minutes of the Board supply only a meagre outline of what passed, and, what is more important, brings us acquainted with particulars of which there is but a garbled account, or which there might be good reasons for excluding altogether from these official reports—such as the refusal of a check on the computations after the return from Jamaica; and of his repeated applications for the loan of the successful Timekeeper, to make others by, which although of the highest importance to the understanding of his case, do not, with one exception, appear on their minutes.—As, it is very unusual for persons situated in life as these Journalists were, to engage in a trouble more appropriate to men of education and leisure, it maybe concluded they had cogent reasons for commencing this account of their proceedings when brought into contact with a public Board, defectively constituted, as was the Commission of Longitude. These they have distinctly stated, and it appears that though the recommendations the Candidate brought with him from the most eminent scientific men (including Dr. Bradley), had insured him suitable encouragement in the long interval while he was prosecuting his labours, till he was enabled to state himself prepared for the