deeply interested in the Lunar scheme for finding the Longitude: this it was equally impossible he should dispute; for his sanguine temperament and inordinate anticipation had led to a curious scene in the West Indies, which becomes of impressive consequence towards developing the causes which led to the interference of George 3rd.[1]
- ↑ Prefaced thus, in the transactions of the junior Harrison on the second voyage.—'On William Harrison's landing at Barbadoes, he was told that Mr. Maskelyne was a candidate for the premium for discovering the Longitude: and therefore they [his informants] thought it very odd that he should be sent to make the observations to judge another man's scheme by: Mr. Maskelyne having declared, in a very public manner, that he had found the Longitude himself; and he had
no occasion, he should answer Mr. Harrison"—thus masking under the quintessence of affectation the gall and wormwood this challenge constrained him to swallow. This brings to recollection an anecdote connected with the acrimonious sparring between Pope and Cibber.—Mr. Richardson, the painter, and his Son, paying a visit one day to the Genius of Twickenham, found him reading a pamphlet. Unwilling to be any interruption, they sat down, requesting him to continue the perusal—to continue his task, they might have said; their attention being soon drawn to remark how his countenance was writhen with anguish as he proceeded; notwithstanding which, he would have smothered these appearances, on looking off the page, by saying with an air of careless indifference "This is one of Mr. Cibber's pamphlets, (It was probably that in which Cibber comments on the line—And has not Sawney too his Lord and W—e?) it is my amusement to read them." After they had taken leave, the young man observed to his father, that he never could feel any desire to partake of Mr. Pope's amusement.
