he has given, in the publication now before us, are not genuine, for he pretends to find each observation of the transit of the Sun to the hundredth part of a second of time,—a degree of exactness about twenty times beyond what any other observer has hitherto found practicable: moreover I know him to be deeply interested in the Lunar Tables; a scheme set up some years ago for the reward in competition with my Invention,[1] and for which large sums of money have already been paid by the public.
Although I flatter myself the reader is already in possession of very sufficient reasons for rejecting the whole Pamphlet as partial and inconclusive,
- ↑ See the Preface.
It was consistent therefore with the character of George 3rd immediately to interfere on seeing this state of the business; which—in its result, produced a remarkable domestic state paper; for as such may be regarded the minutes of the Board of Longitude that sat November 28th, 1772, from the serious public consequences that might have followed the contest the Commissioners were provoking. Had not this paper been official, it might have seemed incredible that any set of men seated in an apartment at the Admiralty, could in such peremptory terms, addressed to a person who they all knew had waited on them by his Majesty's direction, signify to the occupant of the throne, as in effect they, do, that he had better mind his own business and not interfere with them. The acrimony of political and of religious zealots is proverbial enough, yet here we have a scientific Cabal, supported by volumes stratum super stratum, whose conduct might make it supposed that not one of them could read or write.
